MANILA, Philippines - Twelve people believed to be involved in the illegal drug trade were killed in various parts of Metro Manila in the past two days.
Police said suspected vigilantes struck in Caloocan City, killing seven alleged drug personalities in separate shooting incidents.
Sonny Gallegas, 34, was walking along Natividad Village, Barangay 168 in Deparo when two men on a motorcycle fired at him at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to probers.
Gallegas died at the scene.
Police said suspected drug pusher Gerald Magat, 27, was in his house in Manggahan, Barangay 185, Malaria when four unidentified assailants barged in and peppered him with bullets.
Three more drug suspects were killed when two motorcycle-riding assailants fired at a group of men playing the game of chance cara y cruz along an alley in Barangay 176, Bagong Silang.
Edward Asne and Billy Joe Batingal, 20, died at the scene. Julius Parolan was pronounced dead on arrival at the Tala Hospital, police said.
Police said the fatalities were allegedly involved in drug pushing.
Barangay watchman Benincio Francisco, 45; Bobby Sarmiento, 25, and Ernesto Asne, 30, were wounded in the attack.
Jay Medina, 35, said to be a drug pusher, was standing in front of his house along Sampaguita street in Barangay 175, Camarin when he was shot by unidentified assailants.
Police said Joel Torcelino, 36, was sleeping when three men broke into his house along Bongavilla street in Barangay 166, Caybiga and fired at him yesterday.
A sachet of shabu was reportedly found in Torcelino’s pocket.
Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Johnson Almazan said members of a vigilante group could be responsible for the killings.
In Quezon City, drug suspect Manuel Ocaya, 44, alias Nonong, died after he allegedly engaged police in a shootout during a sting along Barbara street in Barangay Gulod at past 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Police reportedly managed to buy shabu from Ocaya prior to the shootout.
Ocaya was brought to the Novaliches District Hospital and transferred to the East Avenue Medical Center where he succumbed to multiple gunshots to the body.
Police said they recovered a .45-caliber pistol and nine sachets of shabu from Ocaya.
Two suspected drug pushers were killed in separate incidents in Pasig City.
Fernando Antonio, 48, alias Joker, was shot dead by two men in front of his partner, police said.
Antonio was taken to the Rizal Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.
Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, director of the Eastern Police District, said Antonio was on the drug watchlist of Barangay Sto. Tomas.
A barangay official, Dolly Revana, said Antonio was allegedly behind the proliferation of shabu in the area.
Investigation showed that unidentified assailants broke into Antonio’s house at 74 Villa San Juan street in Barangay Sto. Tomas and fired at him repeatedly despite the pleading of his partner, Evangeline Ruiz.
Responding policemen recovered four empty shells of an unknown firearm at the scene.
Jason Coronado, 33, who was on the drug watchlist of Barangay Rosario, also in Pasig, was killed by unidentified assailants at around 2 a.m. yesterday.
Coronado died on the spot from gunshots to the body.
Police said Ronald delos Reyes, a barangay watchman, was patrolling Ortigas Avenue Extension when he heard gunshots.
Delos Reyes said he rushed to the scene and found Coronado bloodied and sprawled on the ground.
Two persons were killed by police and six others were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in the cities of Pateros, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa.
Romeo Rondolo, 54, and Nelia Rondolo, 53, were sleeping when four men broke into their house in Pateros and fired at them.
Romeo died at the scene while Nelia was declared dead on arrival in the hospital.
Authorities said the Rondolos are on the drug watchlist of the Pateros police.
Police arrested Raymond Pimentel, 36; Rozenie Alfar, 31; Ronalyn Alfar, 28, and Angelica Aban, 28, in a drug sting in Muntinlupa.
The suspects allegedly yielded several sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.
Didicus Ohaeri, 34, and Elenita Ohaeri, 49, were apprehended in an anti-drug operation in Las Piñas.
Police said they recovered three sachets of shabu and P10,000 in marked money from the Ohaeris.
The suspects are being held at the Las Piñas police detention cell on drug charges.