7 drug suspects, 5 others killed in shooting incidents

MANILA, Philippines - Seven more suspected drug pushers and five other persons were killed in separate shooting incidents in the past two days.

Three were slain in Bulacan on Thursday, one of them identified as Olivia Francisco.

Witnesses said motorcycle-riding men shot Francisco and another woman who has yet to be identified in Barangay Malhacan in Meycauyan City. 

An unidentified man was found dead in Barangay Burol 2nd in Balagtas town.

 Kevin Lugtu, 34, allegedly drew his gun at anti-drug operatives in Barangay Sapang Bato in Angeles City, Pampanga on Thursday.

Police said the fatality yielded two sachets of shabu and a .22-caliber revolver.

However, Lugtu’s relatives said he was unarmed and carrying his three-month-old son when the policemen arrived.

They said they found Lugtu’s body slumped near his baby, who was unharmed.

Lugtu’s wife and father were recently arrested for illegal drugs.

In Albay, Jonathan Buban was killed in a sting in Barangay Salvacion in Daraga town at around 4:30 a.m. yesterday. Police said Buban was ranked second in the town’s drug watchlist.

Also yesterday in Iloilo, Rommel Sagbay, alias Kurt, and an unidentified man were found dead in Barangay Tinorian in Barotac Nuevo town and Banuyao in La Paz district in Iloilo City, respectively. The victims were hogtied and their bodies bore multiple gunshot wounds.

Village councilman Buds Jardeleza said Sagbay was on the barangay drug watchlist.

5 gunned down

Meanwhile, five persons, including three students, were gunned down in front of a school in Laguna shortly after midnight yesterday.

Ranel Barce, 18; his brother Arnel, 17; Darvin Villareal, 18; Rico Laserna, 32, and Mark Robin Ignacio, 27, were standing in front of the Canlalay Elementary School when four men arrived and opened fire.

The victims were pronounced dead on arrival at the Biñan and Perpetual Help Hospitals.

Police still have no leads in the killings. – Ric Sapnu, Jennifer Rendon, Francis Elevado, Ding Cervantes, Ed Amoroso