2 drug suspects slain in Ilocos Norte

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines — A former town councilor and another drug suspect were gunned down by motorcycle-riding men in Ilocos Norte on Wednesday.

Former Dingras councilor Nathaniel Ruben Taylan II, 32, was talking with Joefrey Blanes, 45, in front of his house in Barangay 11, Laoag City at around 4 p.m. when they were shot.

The victims were pronounced dead on arrival at the Governor Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital. 

Nine bullet shells for a 9mm pistol were recovered at the scene.

Chief Inspector Dexter Corpuz, Ilocos Norte police spokesman, said the fatalities were on the drug watchlist.

MILF leader, 17 others nabbed

Meanwhile, 17 other drug suspects, including a leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), were arrested in drug stings in the Zamboanga peninsula, Quezon and Bulacan in the past two days.

 Askim Andam, 23, platoon leader of the MILF’s 105th Central Mindanao Front, was collared after selling shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Banale, Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday. Four sachets of shabu and P300 in marked money were allegedly recovered from the suspect.

Four other alleged drug dealers were arrested in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City.

Businessman Mark Rainer Opeña, 29, and farmer Elpidio Malarasta, 50, were nabbed in Barangay Pinagbakuran, Sariaya, Quezon at around 4:30 a.m. yesterday.

Opeña yielded 16 sachets of shabu, unlicensed guns and cannibalized motorcycles, Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento, Quezon police director, said.

In  Bulacan, 11 persons were arrested in stings in San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan, Malolos, Pulilan, San Rafael, Bustos and San Ildefonso.

Police said 37 sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and marked money were recovered from the suspects.