17 drug suspects killed; 23 cop chiefs relieved

MANILA, Philippines - Seventeen more drug suspects were killed in separate incidents across the country on Thursday.

The bodies of seven unidentified men, believed to be victims of summary execution, were found in Bulacan. 

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said they received reports that the bodies were dumped along Liana road in Barangay Tungkong Mangga in San Jose Del Monte City at around 9:30 p.m. 

Caramat said the faces of the victims were wrapped in packing tape and their hands bound with  straw. Their bodies bore placards that read: “pusher wag tularan (pusher don’t emulate).”

Three men were killed in alleged shootouts with police in Tarlac, Bulacan and Pampanga. They were identified as a certain Alex, Harvy Gabia, 35, and Eric de la Cruz.

In Rizal, an alias Balong was killed while two others, including a 16-year-old, were arrested in a sting in Barangay San Jose in Rodriguez town.

 In Ilocos Sur,  Michael Molina was driving his Pajero with Roger del Castillo after bringing their children to school in Barangay 2 in Vigan City when unidentified men  opened fire, said Chief Inspector Greg Guerrero, Ilocos Sur police spokesman.?

Molina managed to drive to the St. James Hospital where he and Del Castillo died while being treated.

Guerrero said the fatalities were on their drug watchlist and surrendered under Oplan Tokhang recently.

In Laguna, an alias Mon-Mon was killed in an alleged  shootout with police in Barangay Poblacion, Biñan City at around 9:30 p.m.

Elpidio Geroy, alias Budiong, reportedly shot it out with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Jereos in La Paz district in Iloilo City. 

Police said Geroy reportedly yielded a 9mm pistol, a homemade 12-gauge shotgun as well as ammunition and P15,000 in cash.

Also killed in alleged shootouts with police during stings were George Jackson, alias Junior Tagalog, in Barangay Alawihao in Daet, Camarines Norte and Raul Oranza, 42, alias Opaw, in Barangay Ampayon in Butuan City.

Unsatisfactory performance

Meanwhile, 22 police chiefs in Cagayan Valley were relieved from their posts over their “unsatisfactory” performance in the implementation of Project Double Barrel, Chief Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, Cagayan Valley police director, said yesterday.

Sosa identified the police officials as Superintendents Engelbert Soriano (Cauayan City) and Manuel Bringas (Ilagan City); Chief Inspectors Pilarito Mallilin (San Mateo), Mario Fajardo (Luna) and Edgardo Esteban (Maconacon); and Senior Inspectors Ruby Capinpin (Roxas), Prospero Agonoy (Quirino), Ben Bumanglag (Delfin Albano), Jonathan Binayug (Palanan), Aladine Revocal (San Pablo), Ignacio Layugan (Dinapigue) and Richard Limbo (Divilacan) of the Isabela police. ?

In Cagayan, Chief Inspector Alvin Mabazza (Alcala) as well as Senior Inspectors Antonio Palattao (Allacapan), Eugenio Catubag (Rizal), Ronald Balod (Sta.Praxedes), Mario Maraggun (Calayan) and Christopher Danao (Buguey) were relieved from their posts.?

Chief Inspectors Larry Pingkihan (Kasibu) and Jeffry Bulong (Ambaguio) as well as Senior Inspector Rudil Bassit (Kayapa) of the Nueva Vizcaya police were sacked along with  Senior Inspector Alex Orbillo of Nagtipunan, Quirino.

‘Zero accomplishment’

In Aurora, Senior Superintendent Danilo Florentino, provincial police chief, was placed on floating status for allegedly posting “zero accomplishment” against illegal drugs.

Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police director, appointed Senior Superintedent Fidel Drapesa as Aurora police chief in an acting capacity.

“He has virtually no accomplishment to speak of,” Aquino said of Florentino. “He is the weakest link among the provincial directors. His sins have piled up so I have to relieve him.”

Aquino said Florentino also failed to provide a rehabilitation center for drug dependents in the province.

Top drug suspects nabbed

In South Cotabato, three top drug suspects were arrested in separate operations on Thursday.

Police said Maria Fideliz Herrera, who ranked sixth on the drug watchlist of the Koronadal City police, and her companion Louie Valmores were collared after selling shabu to undercover agents.

Rolando Codenera was arrested in General Santos City based on  warrants  for drug offenses and illegal possession of firearms issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Oscar Noel Jr.

Also on Thursday, Sandy Subida, 55, was arrested during a raid on his house in Barangay del Remedio in Cardona, Rizal.  – Ric Sapnu, Ed Amoroso, Ben Serrano, Francis Elevado, Celso Amo, Raymund Catindig, Jennifer Rendon, Manny Galvez, John Unson, Non Alquitran, Jaime Laude