4 drug suspects slain

MANILA, Philippines - Four suspected users and pushers were shot dead in Metro Manila yesterday.

Alleged user Anthony Velasco, 26, was sorting scrap material in front of a junk shop when two men approached him. One of the two assailants then pulled out a short firearm and shot him in the right temple, killing him on the spot.

Witnesses said the assailants fled on foot, said Police Officer 3 Marvin Masangkay.

The shooting happened at around 8:10 a.m. in Barangay Payatas B, Masangkay said in his report.

The motive for the killing is still under investigation. However, Velasco’s mother admitted to probers he was hooked on illegal drugs.

In Manila, Mark Jason Rebolledo was shot by police officers during a drug sting along Ma. Cardena and Severino Reyes streets in Quiapo at past midnight yesterday.

The lawmen brought Rebolledo to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center but he died while undergoing treatment. 

Recovered from the suspect were a .38 caliber revolver, a sachet said to contain shabu and P300 marked money.

In Caloocan City, two unidentified men riding a motorcycle were killed in an alleged shootout with police officers in Bagong Silang at past 1 a.m.

A call from a concerned citizen prompted police officers to conduct a drug sting, which led to the shootout.

Police officers seized a .45 caliber pistol, sachets said to contain illegal drugs and their motorcycle.  

Probers are checking if the two men were involved in robberies and shootings in the area.