3 drug suspects, 4 others slain

MANILA, Philippines — Three drug suspects and four other persons were killed in separate incidents in Luzon on Monday.

Erwin Santos, 33, and an alias Michael engaged anti-drug operatives in a shootout in Barangay Bayugo, Meycauayan, Bulacan, Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, provincial police acting director, said.

Drug surrenderee Rommel Navarro, 18, a resident of Purok 4, Barangay Tagoytoy, Camalig, Albay was driving his motorcycle with his parents when two men on another motorbike opened fire. Navarro’s father Galo, 53, was fatally shot while his mother was unhurt.

The shooting could be due to rivalry among drug pushers, Chief Inspector Darwin Asejo, Camalig police chief, said.

Asejo said eight sachets of shabu were recovered from Navarro’s pouch.

Meanwhile, farmer April Glen Lupi was on his way home after a drinking spree in Barangay Dy-Abra, Tumauini, Isabela when he was shot. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Tumauini Hospital.

 In Nueva Ecija, the body of an unidentified man was found floating in Jaen-San Leonardo river in Barangay Langla.

Another man was found dead in Purok 3, Barangay Sto. Cristo Norte, Gapan.

Police have yet to determine the motives for the killings.

‘Slain CSC exec a drug suspect’

In Cagayan, police confirmed yesterday that the director of the Civil Service Commission in Cagayan Valley who was shot dead in a gun attack on Friday was on the drug watchlist.

Neil Agustin surrendered under Oplan Tokhang in August last year, police said.

Authorities said probers are looking into the possibility that the motive for the killing was work-related or a love triangle.

“If there is no evidence that it was work-related, we will look at the second angle. If there is still none, illegal drugs will be the focus of our investigation,” an investigator said.

Agustin was driving his Toyota Altis on his way home to Ilagan, Isabela when he was shot in Barangay 10, Tuguegarao. His aide Randolf Castañeda was injured after he was hit by shards of the broken windshield. – Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Celso Amo, Kurt dela Peña, Ramon Efren Lazaro