5 drug suspects killed in Luzon

MANILA, Philippines – Suspected vigilantes shot dead three more drug suspects while two others were killed in a police operation in  Luzon in the past two days.

Ronaldo Sobrado, 41; Maria Royette Sobrado, 36, and Raymundo Butiong, 41, were at a house in Barangay Poblacion 4 in Lian, Batangas when six unidentified men entered and shot them several times at around 3:20 p.m. on Monday.

Witnesses said the assailants, who were wearing baseball caps and jackets, fled in a white car.

Police said the Sobrados were earlier arrested for illegal drugs while Butiong surrendered under Oplan Tokhang.

Roy Ramos, with aliases of Taroy and Talugo, and his partner, identified only as Rarat, residents of Barangay Cristo in Pulilan, Bulacan, were killed when they allegedly drew their guns during a sting yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said Ramos was a “high-value” drug pusher.

B’gay captain nabbed

Meanwhile, Manuel Huelar Jr., chairman of Barangay 35 in Bacolod City, and his companions Joshua Roberto Arroyo and Christian Joseph Mijares were arrested in a sting in Barangay Singcang on Monday night.

Police said the suspects yielded sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Julius Navales, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director for the Negros Island Region, said Huelar is a high-value target.

Huelar denied that he is a drug pusher, saying he is willing to undergo a drug test.

Police said they are monitoring at least 34 barangay officials in Negros Occidental for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

In Pampanga, Maria Victoria Soriano, treasurer of Barangay Plaza Burgos in Guagua, was arrested on Sunday. She reportedly yielded five sachets of shabu and P40,000 in cash.