Ex-junkie slain, 36 others held for drugs

MANILA, Philippines — A former drug user was killed while 36 suspected users and pushers were arrested in Metro Manila over the past two days.

Fish vendor Alvin Osman was waiting for a ride in Barangay Longos on his way to the Malabon fish port when an unidentified assailant approached him from behind and shot him in the head before dawn yesterday.

His relatives said Osman was a former drug user, police said.

In Caloocan, an informant was arrested in a sting on Friday night.

Mark Louie Fernandez was apprehended following a tip that Fernandez and his partner, identified as “Gracia,” were known drug pushers in Barangay 63, Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo said yesterday.

Modequillo said he has ordered an investigation of claims the pushers’ supplier is a police officer. 

Six sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, and .38 caliber and .22 caliber bullets were reportedly confiscated from Fernandez.

Also in Caloocan, Jasue Eulin, Marvie Manlangit, Marjohn Balaoro, Crisalto Bueno, and Jomar Dandan were allegedly caught in a drug session at a house in Barangay 120 Friday night. A sachet of shabu and drug paraphernalia were reportedly seized from them.

Dominador Albos and Amadeo Buenafe were also caught in a drug session in Barangay 176, also in Caloocan.

Police recovered from the suspects two sachets of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia.

In Quezon City, 28 persons were arrested in separate anti-drug operations over the past two days.

Among them is Roberto Villanueva, 40, who was caught in a sting at around 1 a.m yesterday in Barangay Matandang Balara. A total of nine sachets of shabu were found in his possession.

On Friday, nine people were arrested in another sting at around 10:30 p.m. in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa.

The targets of the operation were Andrew Landagora, 28, and Marvin Miguel, 24. Seized from them were four sachets of shabu.

The other five suspects – Christopher Custodio, 41; Ronald Monteros, 30; Erwin Marticio, 33; Mary Ann Advincula, 32; Ian Jacinto, 41; Roder Nacion, 44; and Milagros Sahagun, 29 – were apprehended for sniffing shabu.

Seven other drug suspects were caught at around 10:45 p.m. in Barangay Culiat. Four sachets of shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia were confiscated from Romel Bacaro, 53; Janice Rosario, 28; Michael Hondrada, 38; Luisito delos Reyes, 60; Alvin Rolle, 40; Josel Rosario, 20; and Guillermo Yap, 59.

Meanwhile, police arrested Arnel Peloton, 51, and Liza Young, 26 at around 10 p.m. in an apartelle in Barangay Project 6. Six sachets of shabu, a weighing scale and drug paraphernalia were confiscated from them.

In Barangay Greater Fairview, police arrested Christian Silverio, 20; Angelo Silverio, 23; Jeremiah Fernandez, 23; and Ian Spencer Lapore at around 11 p.m. for allegedly peddling marijuana.

Johnsen Edralin, 32, and Orlando Tobias, 32, were also arrested at around 11:35 p.m. in Barangay San Martin de Porres for carrying eight sachets of shabu.

Six sachets of shabu were seized from Hanadi Sanday, 22; Angelica Elias, 18; and Mhae Patilan, 18, during a drug bust in Barangay Culiat at around 2:30 a.m. – Emmanuel Tupas