Drug suspect shot dead; 27 arrested

MANILA, Philippines — An alleged drug pusher  was gunned down by suspected vigilantes while 27 others, including a barangay chairman, were arrested in anti-drug operations in Luzon, Cebu and Maguindanao on Friday.

Jonard Bismonte, 26, a resident of Barangay Banga 2, Plaridel, Bulacan, was standing along the road in Barangay Banga 1 when he was shot several times. He died at the scene.

Police said the victim was recently included on the drug watchlist in the town.

Ruben Beltran, 52, chairman of Barangay Minabuyoc, Talavera, Nueva Ecija,  and his alleged cohort Ronnel Roxas, 27, were arrested after selling shabu to policemen who posed as buyers. An M16 rifle and 20 sachets of shabu were allegedly recovered from the suspects.

Junkyard helper and drug surrenderee Roger Efren Melchor, 54, was nabbed in a sting in Barangay 19 Sta. Marcela, Laoag, Ilocos Norte. In Maguindanao, Almusid Karim, Ibrahim Karim, Madryu Karim, Fatima Karim, Reniel Ampuan, Jimmy Gomez, Nasser Usop Makaling-gi and Cortez Esmael were arrested in raids on their houses in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. They were alleged members of the Bua drug ring, which operates in Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Parang, Buldon, Barira and Matanog towns.

Juvenal Azurin, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao director, said the raids were based on search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Bansawan Ibrahim.

A manhunt for the other members of the drug ring is underway.

In Cebu, 30.7 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of over P100,000, were allegedly recovered from seven persons arrested in Barangay Dumlog, Talisay.

Police said sachets of marijuana leaves, drug paraphernalia and ammunition were among those recovered from the suspects, including a brother of a policeman.

“High-value” drug suspects Girlie Madenilla, 28, alias Gelai, was arrested for selling shabu to an anti-drug operative at a bar in Barangay Parian, San Fernando, La Union. – Ric Sapnu, Jun Elias, John Unson, Raymund Catindig, Iris Mariani  Algabre/ The Freeman