6 killed for drugs in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Six people believed to be involved in illegal drugs were killed in separate incidents in Metro Manila since Tuesday night. 

A man and his 17-year-old partner were shot dead outside their house in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City.

Police said Jerecho Camitan, 21, and his partner, Erika Fernandez, were killed by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle at around 11 p.m.

A piece of paper, which read “tulak ka” (you are a pusher) was left by the killers on top of Camitan’s body, probers said.

Camitan and Fernandez died at the scene.

Four more drug suspects were killed in separate police operations in Pasig, Makati and Pateros. They were Richard Lara, 33; Frederick Mirasol, 23; Petronio Rosales, 35, and Ernesto Lovindino, 54.

Lara, an alleged drug user, was with his friends when two men on a motorcycle fired at him in Barangay Palatiw, Pasig at dawn yesterday.

Lara died at the scene from gunshots to the body.          

Senior Police Officer 1 Rusthom Valdez said Lara was on the drug watchlist of Barangay Palatiw.

Mirasol was walking along Salandaan street in Barangay Sto. Tomas when he was shot by unidentified assailants, police said.

Police described Mirasol as a known drug peddler in the area.

Rosales was gunned down at a coffee shop in Barangay San Antonio, Makati City by motorcycle-riding assailants, according to Southern Police District spokesperson Senior Superintendent Jenny Tecson.

Tecson said they are investigating if the killing was drug-related.

Lovindino was sitting in front of the barangay hall in Poblacion, Pateros when two unidentified men opened fire at him.

Police said Lovindino was on the drug watchlist of the Pateros police.

In Caloocan City, two alleged drug pushers were killed in separate police operations.

One of the fatalities was identified as Ernesto Pineda, 47.

Pineda died after he allegedly engaged anti-drug operatives in a shootout following a sting at his house in Barangay Tala.

Pineda was rushed to the E. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police said they recovered a .38-caliber revolver and three sachets of shabu from Pineda.

The other unidentified drug suspect was killed in a sting along Daang Bakal street, also in Caloocan.

P2-M shabu seized

Police confiscated around 900 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P2 million from three drug suspects in Quiapo, Manila on Tuesday night.

Mera Canillas, 27; Jabber Rataban, 30, and Gineline Alcisto, were arrested in a drug sting along Fraternal street.

Police said the suspects’ arrest came after they received information that they were involved in drug deals.

The suspects are being held at the Manila Police District jail on drug charges.

Meanwhile, various firearms and illegal drugs were seized during a raid on the house of a former optometrist in Quezon City yesterday.

Raided was the house of Joselito Sanga along N. Domingo street in Barangay Valencia, Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District director, said.

Sanga was allegedly involved in illegal drugs and gunrunning activities.

Eleazar said Sanga eluded arrest.

Seized during the raid were a. 45-caliber pistol, an M16 rifle, an AK47 airsoft, a KHMP5 airsoft, a. 22-caliber handgun, a smoke grenade, two sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Charges of illegal possession of firearms and drugs will be filed against Sanga, police said.