2 drug suspects, 3 others shot dead

MANILA, Philippines — Two drug suspects and three other persons were gunned down in Iloilo, Zamboanga Sibugay and three provinces in Luzon on Thursday.

Machinist Ramon Centeno, 43, was sitting along an alley in Barangay Paciano, Calamba, Laguna when a motorcycle rider pulled over and shot him at close range. Police said the fatality was arrested in 1995 for illegal drugs.

Abdulsucor Pangilan, 25, a resident of Barangay Sinusayan, Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay, was shot by an unidentified man while resting on a bench after playing basketball.

Probers are eyeing rivalry among drug pushers as the motive for the killing.

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesperson, said Pangilan was a drug courier in Cotabato City and on the drug watchlist in  Malangas.

Imelda Dimaya, councilwoman of Barangay Maharlika, Imus, Cavite, was in an establishment along Avenida street when she was shot at around 7 p.m. .

Farmer Virgilio Pablo, 49, failed to return when he went out to water his corn field in Barangay Laoac, Alcala, Pangasinan. His body, which bore multiple gunshot wounds, was found in the field at dawn yesterday.

Construction worker Wilson Idos, 32, was walking along Maramba street on his way home in Barangay Poblacion Sur, Sta. Barbara, also in Pangasinan when he was shot.

In Iloilo, May Luzurriaga, an employee of the engineering office of the Sara municipal government, and her companions were in a restaurant in Concepcion town when she was shot.

Closed-circuit television footage showed the gunman entering the restaurant and wearing a mask and sunglasses before approaching and shooting the victim.

Luzurriaga’s companions were unhurt. Witnesses said the  gunman fled on a motorcycle.

Investigations into the killings are ongoing.