8 more suspects killed in drug war

MANILA, Philippines - Eight more drug suspects were killed, seven by suspected vigilantes, in separate incidents in Luzon and the Visayas on Friday.

Police Officer 1 Albino Abil, a member of the Obando, Bulacan police and a resident of Barangay Gumaok Central in San Jose del Monte City, was repairing his motorcycle in front of his house when men wearing bonnets opened fire.

The assailants reportedly left a placard that read, “wag tularan, adik, pusher na pulis, carnapper (don’t emulate, addict, police pusher, carnapper),” near Abil’s body.

Village watchman Romeo Margate, 48, was at his farm in Barangay Mission, Nagbukel, Ilocos Sur when unidentified men shot him.

Marvine Yago, 26, was  shot dead while fetching water from a well in the backyard of his employer’s house in Barangay Resurreccion in San Juan town.

Chief Inspector Greg Guerrero, Ilocos Sur police spokesman, said Yago was on their drug watchlist.

In Isabela, Rolando Manuel, 56, was on his way to attend mass at a village chapel in Barangay Turod in Luna town at around 6: 30 a.m. when he was gunned down.

Unidentified men shot dead Joemar Sanidad, 37, while driving his motorcycle along the Abra-Kalinga Road in Barangay Bumagcat?in Bucay, Abra.

In Baguio City, Franklin Bambico, 33, was walking on his way to a store when he was gunned down at around 1 p.m.

Bambico was on the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, said Senior Superintendent George Daskeo, Baguio police director.

In Samar, Leonardo Garalza, 37, was shot dead by unidentified men in Barangay East Awang in Calbayog City at around 4:45 p.m.

Nine bullet shells for a .45-caliber pistol and a placard identifying the fatality as a drug pusher were recovered at the scene.

Construction worker Anthony Dacilo, 41, was killed in a sting in Barangay Gubat in Daet, Camarines Norte at around 11 a.m.

Senior Inspector Malu Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said the suspect yielded a .45-caliber pistol, ammunition, three sachets of shabu and P8,220 in cash.

Jimmy Biligan, who was on the list of most wanted drug personalities in Suyo, Ilocos Sur, was wounded in an ambush in Barangay Libtong in Tagudin town. He remains confined at the Lorma Hospital in San Fernando City, La Union .

Biligan reportedly surrendered under Oplan Tokhang in July.

More arrests

Meanwhile, more top drug suspects were arrested as police intensify their anti-drug campaign.

Yolanda Ubana, 46; Nonita Viterbo, Romeo Denso, 41, and Predionisio Santiago were arrested in separate police operations in Camarines Norte and Albay, also on Friday.

Jeremiah Jay Abata, with aliases of Jeremiah and Jacko and a member of a drug ring operating in the Cordilleras, was arrested in Barangay Bakakeng Central in Baguio City.

Rosemarie Pareja, 34; Jonatahan Niegas, 37, and Phillip Niegas, 39, were collared in stings in Barangays 1 and 2 in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur on Friday and Thursday.

At least four grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P47,600 were allegedly recovered from the suspects. – Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Celso Amo, Miriam Desacada, Artemio Dumlao, Ben Serrano, Victor Martin, Francis Elevado