Ex-BIR employee, lawyer held for drugs

MANILA, Philippines — A lawyer, a former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) employee and two others were arrested in an anti-narcotics operation in Quezon City on Tuesday night.

Arnel Torres, 48, a lawyer; retired BIR employee Magdaleno Tabalera, 71; Noel Lumagbas, 41, and Raymond Rosales, 29, were apprehended by police while allegedly engaged in a shabu session at a house along Dahlia street in Barangay Central.

Superintendent Christian de la Cruz, Kamuning police station commander, said they received information that a pot session was being held in the area.

Police said they recovered three sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and gambling cards.

Nine other drug suspects were nabbed in Barangays Doña Aurora, San Isidro, Damayan, Escopa and La Loma. 

Anti-drug cop hurt in shooting

In Pasig City, a police officer and a bystander were wounded in a drug-related shooting yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Fitz Walter Gullanan, 26, assigned with the Pasig police Drug Enforcement Unit, suffered a gunshot wound in the arm. Yolanda Duroja was hit by a stray bullet.

Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, Ronnel Collo.

Investigation showed that Gullanan was conducting surveillance operation in Barangay Palatiw when two men on a motorcycle opened fire.

Although wounded, Gullanan returned fire, prompting the suspects to escape on foot.

Duroja was hit in the shootout.

In Las Piñas, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested two suspected drug pushers during a raid on a drug den in Barangay Manuyo on Monday.

They were Arlan Eugenio and Alvin Quijano.

The target of the operation, drug suspect Adrian Cristobal, eluded arrest, according to NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin.

Barangay officials said Cristobal had surrendered to police under Oplan Tokhang but returned to his old ways.

Police apprehended nine more suspected drug pushers and users in  Muntinlupa and Parañaque.

Among the suspects were Edgardo Colivar, 52; Joseph Liwanag, 30; Michael Gaa, 35; Diosdado Delingan, 47, and John Ike Andag, 20.

They are being held by police on charges of violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.  – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Ghio Ong