4 slain in drug war; 45 arrested

MANILA, Philippines - The father of a suspected drug lord and three more drug suspects were killed in separate incidents in the past two days.

Buenaventura David, alias Jun, allegedly drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu worth P1,000 to undercover agents  in Barangay Balagtas, San Rafael, Bulacan  at around 11 p.m. on Monday.              

Johnlee Alcantara and an alias Onad allegedly shot it out with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Real, Calamba and Tagapo, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, respectively, yesterday.

Police said the fatalities yielded sachets of shabu and guns.

Unidentified motorcycle  – riding men shot Wilfredo Serenio, 53, in Barangay Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City on Monday.

Serenio’s son Ricky is a self-confessed member of the Berya drug ring operating in the Negros Island Region. Ricky had implicated more than 40 policemen in the region in the illegal drug trade.  He was recently arrested for illegal possession of firearms and explosives as well as grave coercion, but freed on bail.

Gina, widow of Serenio, said she believes the assailants were also responsible for the killing of their son Wilmar last month.

At least 33 other drug suspects have been arrested in Bacoor, Cavite and 12 in San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan, Baliwag, Bocaue and Balagtas in Bulacan since Monday. – Ed Amoroso, Gilbert Bayoran, Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Emmanuel Tupas