2 village execs gunned down

MANILA, Philippines — Two barangay officials have been shot dead in Quezon and Sorsogon.

Analiza Aribe, 57, treasurer of Barangay Bukal in Buenavista, Quezon, had just arrived from Subic, Zambales and had gone to her father’s house to rest when an unidentified man entered and shot her at around 4:30 a.m. yesterday.

Aribe was declared dead on arrival at the Buenavista health center.

Salvador Atienza, 48, councilman of Barangay Boton, Casiguran, Sorsogon, was driving his tricycle when two men on a motorcycle shot him several times on Tuesday.

Investigations into the killings are underway.

Narco cop nabbed

There was still no reported death in anti-drug operations in the provinces, but a policeman and several “high-value” suspects were arrested on Tuesday.

Senior Police Officer 1 Jessie Lopez of Magalang, Pampanga allegedly connived with his superior Senior Inspector Phillip Pelle to extort P30,000 from the wife of drug suspect Roel Canlapan.

Lopez was arrested in an entrapment in Barangay San Nicolas.

Pelle was not present during the operation, but is also facing charges for robbery and extortion.

Amando Orbeta, 46, president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, was collared in a sting in Barangay Babangonan. He yielded 12 sachets of shabu and P32,580 in cash, police said.

Village watchman Roberto Almodiel, 42, was nabbed at a lodging house in Barangay Nursery, Masbate.

Six other drug suspects were arrested in San Jose del Monte, Bustos and Meycauayan in Bulacan and Sta. Maria, Isabela.

In South Cotabato, Ruel Espinosa, the alleged leader of the El Patron drug ring, was charged with illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act on Tuesday.

Espinosa was arrested during a raid on his hideout in Barangay Sto. Niño, Koronadal on Monday. He reportedly yielded sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P500,000, two rifles, a caliber .45 pistol and a grenade launcher.

Gil Castro, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Soccsksargen director, said the El Patron drug ring also operates in Sultan Kudarat and Tacurong City.  – Ed Amoroso, Emmanuel Tupas, John Unson, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ric Sapnu