Drug war: 7 suspects slain

MANILA, Philippines – Suspected vigilantes shot dead seven more suspected drug personalities in separate incidents on Monday.

Felizardo Claridad, 40, alias Burnok, and Rudy Padilla, 23, residents of Barangay Poblacion East in Sta. Maria, Pangasinan, were riding a motorcycle when unidentified men in a white van with no license plates fired at them.

They were pronounced dead on arrival at the Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital.

Romeo Belbis, 50, with aliases of Romy and Manok, was cleaning the tomb of his relatives at the Urdaneta City Catholic cemetery when he was shot.

Police said the fatalities were on their drug watchlist.

In Bulacan, Reynaldo Lomidao, alias Rey Malaya, was shot dead along MacArthur highway in Barangay Poblacion in Marilao town.

Three bullet shells for a caliber .45 pistol and a piece of cardboard identifying the fatality as a drug pusher were recovered at the scene.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said the fatality was a known drug pusher and user in his barangay.

James Job, 15; John Rey Soledad, 23, and Felbez Andrada, 24, who were last seen riding a motorcycle, were found dead near the border of President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat and Tantangan, South Cotabato.

Soledad and Andrada were involved in drug trafficking in Barangay Dumalidig in Tantangan, police said.

Village chiefs fall

Meanwhile, Boyet Geronimo, chairman of Barangay Potiocan in Malasiqui, Pangasinan was arrested during a sting in Barangay Bolaoit. 

Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, Pangasinan police acting director, said a sachet of shabu and P500 in cash were recovered from the suspect.

Superintendent Roland Sacyat, Malasiqui police chief, said Geronimo is a “high-value” drug target, who surrendered under Oplan Tokhang on Aug. 3, but did not stop his illegal activities.

Roberto Bagabaldo of Barangay Burgos in Pakil, Laguna, was arrested during a raid on his residence yesterday morning.

Superintendent Chitadel Gaoiran, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) police command spokesperson, said Bagabaldo was another high-value drug suspect.

The suspect reportedly yielded four guns as well as ammunition.

In Masbate, Charlie Rubis, who was ranked seventh on the drug watchlist of the police in Mandaon town, was arrested in  Barangay Poblacion at around 8:30 a.m. yesterday. 

Rubis’ arrest was based on a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 46 Judge Teofilo Tambago for illegal possession of firearms.