MANILA, Philippines – Two men were killed and their female companion was wounded in an ambush in Mandaluyong City before dawn yesterday that police believe may be related to the illegal drug trade.
Antonio Silverio and his companion, identified only as Jason, were shot dead by unidentified assailants after they alighted from their vehicle at past 3 a.m. in Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City, police said.
The victims’ companion, Sharifa Guillan, 45, of Angono, Rizal, was rushed to a hospital, where she was reported to be in stable condition.
Investigators said that a placard stating, “Wag tularan, drug lord ng Rizal (Don’t emulate, drug lord of Rizal)” was found hanging on the vehicle.
In Pasay City, Jaime Colacito, 50, jobless, was shot dead at past 7 p.m. on Friday, case investigator Chief Inspector Rolando Baula said.
Baula said Colacito and a friend were standing along Ventanilla street in Barangay 124 when two unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle shot him.
Colacito’s 28-year-old niece told Baula that her uncle used illegal drugs and was just released from jail for three robbery cases.
In Quezon City, Marco Cruz, 27; Royce Alfred Marcelino, 23, and Ariel Mabitag, 38, were killed in a sting at a house on Lovebird street in Sitio Veterans, Barangay Bagong Silangan just before 1 a.m. yesterday.
Their names are on the Batasan police station’s watchlist as drug pushers.
Their deaths brought the number of drug suspects killed in Quezon City during police operations since July 1 to 100, figures from the Quezon City Police District showed.
In Muntinlupa City, alleged pusher Melchor Guinto was killed in a sting in Alabang yesterday morning after he allegedly shot it out with police officers.
His partner, Leilani Pinor, was arrested in the same operation, said Southern Police District spokesperson Superintendent Jenny Tecson.
In Las Piñas City, seven persons were arrested in a drug bust Friday night.
Tecson identified them as Eduardo Lanceta, Acer Hoy Felix, Arturo Tolentino, Braulio Egaya, Aries dela Vega, Jose Mark Tejeresas and Edu Jaime Jr.