5 killed in shootings

MANILA, Philippines -  Motorcycle-riding men shot dead five persons, including a drug suspect, on Wednesday.

Tattoo artist Rafael Tuppal was standing in front of a convenience store in Barangay District 2, Cauayan, Isabela when he was shot. 

Superintendent Narciso Paragas, Cauayan City police chief, said Tuppal, who was ranked ninth on their drug watchlist, surrendered under Oplan Tokhang last year.

Meanwhile, police are still investigating the motives for gun attacks that killed Glenn Ford Celis along Aguinaldo Highway in Imus, Cavite; Tereso Ariola and Respetiso Fernandez in Barangay Poblacion 1, Laurel and Calansayan, San Jose, Batangas, respectively, and Sonny Balinas in San Jose, Rodriquez, Rizal.

Police scalawags

In Rizal, a policeman who was arrested for selling shabu to undercover agents in Teresa town named six officials as protectors of a drug syndicate.

A chief inspector, senior inspector and four other policemen are protecting the group of Amin Imam Boratong that is operating a shabu tiangge, Police Officer 1 Fernan Manimbo told Chief Superintendent MaO Aplasca, Calabarzon police director.

“I could not reveal their names...pending validation of his expose,” Aplasca said. “We will deal with (these protectors) as soon as we gather evidence against them.”

22 nabbed

Another drug suspect was wounded in a gun attack by suspected vigilantes while 22 others were arrested under Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded.

Jerry Quilang, 52, chairman of Barangay Caritan in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, was driving his sport utility vehicle when motorcycle-riding men shot him at around 9 a.m. He was confined at St. Paul’s Hospital.

Superintendent Edward Guzman, Tuguegarao police chief, said Quilang is on their list of “high-value” drug suspects.

Three other suspects were nabbed in stings in San Jose Del Monte, two in Plaridel and one each in San Miguel, Norzagaray, Hagonoy and Angat, Bulacan. Police said they recovered 25 sachets of shabu, a caliber .38 revolver, marked money and drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

Twelve were collared in Mataas na Kahoy, Tuy, Mabini, San Pascual, Bauan, Sto. Tomas and Batangas City in Batangas and one in Paracale, Camarines Norte. – Raymund Catindig, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Eva Visperas, Ed Amoroso, Francis Elevado, Non Alquitran, Emmanuel Tupas, Ric Sapnu