4 drug suspects slain

MANILA, Philippines -  An anti-drug operative and three other suspected drug personalities were killed in separate incidents across the country in the past two days.

Macario Grasparil, an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay San Juan, Sibalom, Antique on Tuesday, police said.

Inspector Clark Phillip Dinco, Sibalom police chief, said Grasparil got his supply of illegal drugs from the Prevendido drug ring. The alleged leader of the syndicate, Richard Prevendido who remains at large, is the top drug personality in Western Visayas.

Grasparil reportedly yielded 11 sachets of shabu.

Alvin Agapito was in a passenger jeepney when shot by motorcycle-riding men during heavy traffic in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Guiguinto, Bulacan town at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The fatality is on the barangay drug watchlist.  

“High-value” drug pusher Jose Mortel, 58, allegedly fired at anti-drug operatives who raided his house in Barangay District 10 in Balayan, Batangas yesterday.

Drug surrenderee Vincent Liggayu, 36, was standing in front of his house in Barangay Victory Sur, Santiago City, Isabela when the assailants opened fire. Jose Alejandro, 63, a bystander, was hit by a stray bullet and brought to the Southern Isabela General Hospital for treatment.

Police said 18 other suspects were arrested in drug stings in Meycauayan, Pulilan, San Miguel, Plaridel, Pandi and Obando in Bulacan; 10 in Balayan, Batangas and five in Daet, Camarines Norte on Tuesday.

2 shot dead

Meanwhile, police have yet to determine the motive for the killings of two other persons in Isabela and Pangasinan also on Tuesday.

Joren Agustin, 18, a student of agricultural engineering at the Isabela State University, and his girlfriend were riding a motorcycle when the shooting occurred. The woman was injured when their motorcycle crashed.

Remedios delos Santos was at her house in Barangay Bituag, Urbiztondo, Pangasinan when she was shot. – Ramon Efren Lazaro, Raymund Catindig, Jennifer Rendon, Ed Amoroso, Emmanuel Tupas, Francis Elevado, Eva Visperas, Ric Sapnu