7 killed in drug war

MANILA, Philippines – At least seven suspected pushers and users were killed in Metro Manila over the past two days amid the government’s war on illegal drugs.

In Manila, Zaldy Alvarez, 50, was shot dead after he reportedly fired at police officers during a sting at his home on Almeda street in Tondo at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Lawmen arrested Alvarez’s partner, Gloria de Guia, 40, and confiscated a .38 caliber revolver said to belong to the slain suspect and three sachets said to contain shabu.

Driver Jerome Bayutas, 36, was slain in a separate sting in front of his partner Catherine Fernandez’s house on V. Francisco street in Sta. Mesa at around 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Fernandez, 34, was also arrested. She was the Sta. Mesa police station’s sixth top drug personality.

Recovered from the suspects were Bayutas’ .38 caliber revolver and two sachets said to contain shabu.

In Caloocan City, Angelo Delector, 28, was killed in a drug bust along Milagrosa Extension in Bagong Barrio at around 3 a.m. yesterday.

Delector was on the police drug watchlist. 

In Quezon City, three persons were killed in drug-related shootings since Tuesday.

Igmedio Fernandez, 45, was shot near a health center along IBP Road in Barangay Batasan just before 5 a.m. yesterday.

Fernandez was found with a note, identifying him as a drug pusher and robber, placed on his head.

Jovito Rosales, 43, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants in front of his rented home on Mario street in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon just before 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Massage therapist Herman Cunanan, 49, was gunned down as he was on his way home in Barangay Payatas B at around 10:20 p.m.

His killers had stuffed a note claiming Cunanan was a pusher and a swindler in the front left pocket of the victim’s pants.

Meanwhile, police officers killed an alleged pusher identified only as Milo and arrested 33 others during a raid on a drug den in Barangay Old Balara at past noon yesterday.

Milo was allegedly a runner of “Toto Baka,” who owns a two-story house reportedly used as a drug den. Baka managed to escape during the raid.

Initially, 65 persons were brought in for questioning but 33 were put under arrest after they tested positive for illegal drugs, said Superintendent Lito Patay, Batasan police station commander.