11 suspects slain, 50 nabbed in drug war

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven more drug suspects were killed in separate incidents in Luzon in the past two days. 

Four were slain by suspected vigilantes in Laguna and Nueva Vizcaya on Wednesday.

Edgardo Mariquit, Elizabeth Mariquit and Gorgonio Villegas were gunned down in Barangay Ibaba in Sta. Rosa City while Gary Vergara, 34, was killed in Barangay Luyang in Bayombong.

Police said the fatalities surrendered under Oplan Tokhang recently.

In Benguet, Jerry Toda and Alan Lorenzano reportedly drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents during a sting in Barangay Lower Tomay in La Trinidad at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

A .38-caliber revolver, a caliber .45 pistol, five sachets of shabu and a sachet of marijuana were recovered from the fatalities, police said.

Mark Leo Lansang, 28, allegedly traded shots with police during a sting in Barangay Pampang in Angeles City, Pampanga. He reportedly yielded a .38-caliber revolver, a sachet of shabu and P16,000 in cash.

In Camarines Sur, Roger Purcia was killed in a reported shootout with police in Barangay Matacla in Goa town at around 3:15 p.m. also on Wednesday.

Inspector Aldin Orquita, Goa police chief, said the fatality was ranked second on their drug watchlist.

In Laguna, Barangay dela Paz councilor Arlan Arcega died in a shootout with police in Biñan City at around 11 p.m.

Leonardo Aquino, alias Nardo, fired at police officers who posed as buyers of shabu in an anti-drug operation in Barangay Taal in Bocaue, Bulacan before dawn yesterday.

Meanwhile, village councilor Julio Galvan, alleged to be a “high-value” drug pusher, was wounded in a gun attack in Barangay Santiago in Bauang, La Union on Wednesday night.

Galvan was taken to the Bethany Hospital in San Fernando City for treatment, said Chief Inspector Silverio Ordinado Jr., La Union police spokesman.

Initial investigation showed unidentified men barged into the suspect’s house and shot him several times.

50 nabbed

Fifty other alleged drug personalities were arrested in police operations.

Robert Reganit, 30, was nabbed in Barangay Sabang in Calabanga, Camarines Sur.

Manolo Mercado, Jojo delos Santos, Raymond Condez and Ryan Gonzales were collared in Bocaue, Bulacan yesterday.

In Quirino, public school teacher Milmore Nagtalon, 37, was arrested during a sting at his school in Barangay Magsaysay in Diffun town on Wednesday. ?

Michael Rosario, alias Bong, was collared during a raid on his residence in Barangay Pit-ao in San Clemente, Tarlac.

Businessman Rey Maloloy-on, 38; welder Bernardo Niemo, 29, and Jessie Dulay, 42, were nabbed in Barangay Pasig in Claveria, Masbate; Zone 4 in Bulan, Sorsogon and Cayambanan in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, respectively.

Ten other suspected drug personalities were arrested in stings in Sta. Rosa and Biñan, Laguna; five in Barangay Poblacion in Alaminos, Pangasinan, and three in Sudipen, La Union and Santiago City, Isabela.

Nine others were collared in Zamboanga del Norte, five in Zamboanga Sibugay and eight in Zamboanga City on Wednesday.

Police said sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the suspects. – Artemio Dumlao, Jun Elias, Raymund Catindig, Celso Amo, Ric Sapnu, Roel Pareño, Ed Amoroso, Eva Visperas, Francis Elevado