6 drug suspects killed

MANILA, Philippines - Six more drug suspects were killed in stings across the country in the past two days.

Rafael Reyes, 44, alias Bungo; Ramil Montaos, 33, and Jojit Martin drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay San Juan in San Ildefonso town and Lalakhan, Sta. Maria, respectively, on Thursday, said Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., Bulacan police acting director.

Caramat said guns, ammunition and sachets of shabu were recovered from the fatalities.

Ronald Pasco, alias Kukang, resisted arrest and fired at police operatives in Barangay Maria Magdalena in San Pablo City, Laguna also on Thursday.

An alias Tamor shot it out with police operatives in Barangay San Juan in Taytay, Rizal around 6:45 a.m. yesterday, said Senior Superintendent Adriano Enong, Rizal police director.

The fatalities were on the drug watchlists of their respective barangays, police said.

In Basilan, Said Umal was reportedly killed in a shootout with police officers serving a warrant of arrest in a village in Lantawan town yesterday.

Police said Umal, an Abu Sayyaf bandit, was a known drug pusher in the town.

Shabu den

Meanwhile, anti-drug operatives dismantled a shabu den in Barangay Parian, Calamba City on Thursday afternoon.

Jigger Montallana, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency regional director, said Richard Luistro, Joseph Ursa and Regina Amparado of the Manambit drug ring were arrested.

Montallana said the suspects yielded 100 grams of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Raymond Ambrocio, 39, and his partner Ma. Celestine Catuday, 24, did not resist arrest during a sting in Barangay Plaza Aldea in Tanay, Rizal at around 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Superintendent Bartolome Mangindon, Tanay police chief, said the suspects yielded 13 sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and a hand grenade.

In Maguindanao, the military said it would tap the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to arrest Mayogantong Bansil, another “high-value” drug suspect. 

The government and the MILF signed an agreement of cooperation and coordination in the campaign against illegal drugs in MILF-controlled areas in July.

The MILF turned over 13 drug suspects arrested in North Cotabato on Friday last week. – Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, John Unson, Ed Amoroso, Roel Pareño, Non Alquitran