Drug war: 1 dead, 16 arrested in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — At least one person was killed and 16 others were arrested since Friday as the government continued its war against illegal drugs.

Computer technician Mark Angelo Aribe, 24, was watching children playing in a computer shop along Quirino street in Tondo, Manila when an unidentified assailant approached him from behind and shot him at around 11:45 p.m. Friday, Police Officer 3 Dennis Turla said.

A sister of Aribe, who died at the scene, told police he was released from a drug rehabilitation center in Pasig City last April and had been trying to fix his life.

Turla said they are still trying to determine the motive for the killing and the identity of the assailant.

In Quezon City, 13 persons were arrested in anti-drug operations since Friday.

Jomar dela Cruz; Jose Retulan, 18; Renen Alas, 38; Raymund Cruz, 26; and Rizalino Gaspi, 18, were caught in a sting in Barangay Kaligayahan at around 3:30 a.m. Friday.

Police seized four sachets of shabu, a digital weighing scale and assorted drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

Michael Cagadas, 32, and Rocky Sodonio, 22, were caught using shabu in Barangay Apolonio Samson at around 4 a.m. Friday by police officers on routine patrol.

Four sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and an improvised shotgun with ammunition were confiscated from them.

Rene Zapanta, 35, and Sherilyn Napay, 40, were arrested in a sting in Barangay Balong Bato at around 6:30 p.m. Friday. Two sachets of shabu were seized from them.

Ma. Cristina Sy, 38; Mark Isagani Soliman, 34, and a 16-year-old boy were arrested in a sting in Barangay Payatas A at around 1 a.m. yesterday.

Sy is in the barangay’s drug watchlist as an alleged pusher while Soliman and the boy were reportedly her customers. Three sachets of shabu and marked money were seized from the suspects.

Mark Soriano, 30, was arrested in another sting in Barangay Batasan Hills at around 4:05 a.m. yesterday. Two sachets of shabu and a .38 caliber revolver were seized from him.

Meanwhile, 34 minors were rounded up in Quezon City for violating a curfew ordinance on Friday.

“They were turned over to their barangay officials for processing before returning to their homes,” Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said.

In Pasig City, Kurt Simon Concepcion was nabbed in a sting in Barangay Canio-gan at around 11:10 p.m. Friday.

Eight sachets of shabu and P200 in marked money were confiscated from the suspect.

In the same barangay, police arrested Alfred Valencia in another drug sting at around 11:45 p.m. Friday. Seven sachets of shabu and P200 in marked money were found in his possession.

In Marikina City, Hakey Muldong was arrested in a drug bust in Barangay Sto. Niño at around 3:30 p.m. Friday. An undetermined quantity of shabu was found in his possession.