Drug suspect, 4 others slain in shootings

MANILA, Philippines - Another drug suspect and four other persons were killed in separate shooting incidents in the past two days.

Gerald Bartolazo was on his way home to Barangay San Antonio in Biñan, Laguna when he was shot at around 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Police said Bartolazo is on their drug watchlist. 

Lucina Carulla, 60, was sitting in front of her house in Barangay Guiset Norte, San Manuel, Pangasinan when motorcycle-riding men opened fire. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Don Laureano Perez Memorial Clinic. 

Louie Vallo, 36, was eating dinner with his son at their house in Barangay Mancup, Calasiao also in Pangasinan when two men entered and shot him. Vallo’s son was unhurt.

In Camarines Sur, Nestor Musa of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit and 22nd Infantry Battalion,  was on his way to Barangay Villasocoro in Libmanan town when he was shot, also on Sunday.

In Ilocos Sur, Mario Cabbab, 44, allegedly shot Gian de la Cruz, 23, a resident of Barangay Buliclic, Sta. Lucia yesterday. The two reportedly had an altercation after De la Cruz refused to lend money to the suspect.

A manhunt for Cabbab  is underway.

P4.1-M shabu seized

Meanwhile, anti-drug operatives recovered packs of shabu with an estimated street value of P2.6 million from Jennie Bee Goriona, Vivian Sian and Susan Sobrepeña in raids in Iloilo City yesterday.

Police said the suspects are newly identified drug pushers.

In Agusan del Sur, around P1.5 million worth of shabu were recovered during a raid on the house of former Army soldier Roel Salva in Purok 24, Barangay Poblacion, Bayugan City on Sunday.

 Salva eluded arrest, but his son Markkin Lowell, 22, was  collared for alleged possession of shabu with an estimated value of P232,460 as well as drug paraphernalia.

Obstruction of justice

In Batangas, Magno Almanzor, 57, councilman of Barangay Bilibinwang in Agoncillo town, was charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly hiding a sachet of shabu recovered during a raid on the house of drug suspect Casiano Alvarez, alias Noel, during the “One Time, Big Time” operation of the police on Friday.

In Pampanga, Francisco Manabat, 50, chairman of Barangay Bantay Bayan of Sta. Ines; Cesar Sta. Cruz, 49, and Willie Marin, 53, were nabbed for allegedly selling shabu to anti-drug operatives who posed as buyers. – Ed Amoroso, Eva Visperas, Raymund Catindig, Francis Elevado, Ben Serrano, Jennifer Rendon