10 more suspects slain in drug war

MANILA, Philippines – Ten more drug suspects were killed in separate incidents across the country in the past three days.

Roberto Silva and Jessie Silva, considered ”high-value” drug pushers by the Quezon police, were killed in a sting in Barangay Malabanan in Candelaria town before dawn yesterday.

In Camarines Norte, Romulo Encanto allegedly shot it out with police officers in Purok 3 in Barangay Poblacion in Capalonga town on Monday.

Police said Encanto was ranked fourth on the drug watchlist of Capalonga.

Joeffred Tinoco, 38, was killed in an anti-drug operation in Barangay Ponso in Polangui, Albay also on Monday.

In Pampanga,Edwin Reyes, a resident of Barangay Malabanias in Angeles City, died in an alleged shootout with police in Barangay Lourdes.

Senior Superintendent Sidney Villaflor, Angeles City police director, said Reyes drew his gun when he sensed that he had sold shabu to a policeman who posed as a buyer.

Villaflor said the fatality yielded a .38-caliber revolver and ammunition as well as seven sachets of shabu.

In Bulacan, a man who has yet to be identified was found dead in Barangay Caingin in San Rafael town. The body bore a placard identifying him as a drug pusher.

On Monday, Ryan Ybañez, 24, and Dominador Poles Jr., 30, were found dead in Barangay Dat-agan in San Fransisco, Agusan del Sur and Barangay Poblacio Jabonga in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, respectively.

Ronald Mabasle, 34, and Jejenito Sayson, 30, were shot dead by unidentified men in Barangay Tabon-Tabon in Sibagat town also in Agusan del Sur and in Poblacion 2, Santiago, Agusan del Norte, respectively, also on Monday.

Police said the fatalities were known drug personalities in their areas.

Zambales jail raid

Meanwhile, in Zambales, at least 35 grams of shabu with an  estimated street value of P240,000, a weighing scale, 226 grams of marijuana and bank deposit slips were seized during a raid on the provincial jail on Monday.

Senior Superintendent Christopher Mateo, Zambales police acting director, said he ordered an investigation of the persons whose names appeared on the deposit slips.

The bank deposits amounting to P113,000 were dated Aug. 8, 19 and 25 and Sept. 7 and 17.

Earlier this month, Gov. Amor Deloso relieved Chief Superintendent Romulo Salamat as provincial jail warden for failing to stop illegal activities, including the entry of illegal drugs in the facility.

16 nabbed

At least 16 others were nabbed in Luzon and the Caraga region.

In Ilocos Sur, Alberto Tomas, councilor of Barangay 43-Cavit in Laoag City, and his wife Imelda were arrested in a sting on Monday.

In Pangasinan,  Abaraham Catalon, 25, was arrested during a raid on their residence in Barangay Lipay in Villasis town on Tuesday.

Catalon was ranked third on the town’s drug watchlist, police said.

Seven more suspected drug personalities were arrested in stings in Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Butuan City on Tuesday.

Five others were nabbed while sniffing shabu in Candelaria, Quezon yesterday.

April Joyce San Jose, 40, was arrested for bringing a sachet of shabu when he visited her husband at the Sorsogon jail on Monday. – Ric Sapnu, Eva Visperas, Francis Elevado, Celso Amo, Raymund Catindig, Ben Serrano, Michelle Zoleta