Drug war: 3 dead, 16 arrested in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — At least three alleged pushers and users were gunned down and 16 more were arrested in Metro Manila since Tuesday.

In Manila, John Roy Aguilar, 34, was sitting in a pedicab along Wagas street in Tondo when several motorcycle-riding men arrived and shot him repeatedly shortly before midnight Wednesday.

Aguilar died at the scene. 

His relatives said they do not know if Aguilar had enemies but admitted that he was hooked on illegal drugs.

Aguilar’s former partner told probers that she left him because he refused to stop using drugs.

Manila Police District (MPD) Station 2 commander Superintendent Santiago Pascual III ordered a thorough investigation and has asked barangay officials to submit footages from closed-circuit televisions in the area.

Partners Rose Marie Casiquin and Anabel Mercado were shot in the head by a still unidentified assailant in Caloocan City on Tuesday.

Casiquin died at the scene and Mercado in a hospital hours later.

Residents of Barangays 36 and 37 said the two were allegedly involved in drugs, police said.

Also in Caloocan, Natividad Reta ran to her house during a drug bust Tuesday night.

Police officers who gave chase found seaman Marvin Asuncion, Esterlita Gatdula, Aries Basaron and Ranel Malagar reportedly using shabu in Reta’s house, allegedly used as a drug den. All four were arrested.

Two sachets of shabu were seized from Alex Siviliano, 25, after his arrest in Barangay La Huerta, Parañaque City.

John Ortega, 33, and Jerwin Niegas, 27, allegedly yielded a sachet of shabu and P200 marked money when they were arrested in Barangay San Isidro.

In Las Piñas, Joel Alcamponado, Robert Gonzaga, Marceliano Rosarito and Gerhad Bautista were reportedly caught using shabu at a house in Barangay Pulang Lupa at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

A sachet of shabu, a roll of aluminum foil, a strip of aluminum foil and two lighters were reportedly recovered from them.

Marklyndon Argana Belono, 27, and Negi Avaro Dagaas, 25, were caught playing cara y cruz, an illegal coin game in Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa City at around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Two sachets of shabu were reportedly found on their persons.

Al Marcelino Matilla, 39, was arrested after reportedly causing trouble in Barangay Cupang, also in Muntinlupa City. A sachet of shabu was reportedly confiscated from him.

Jhen Jhen Balani was arrested in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City at around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Balani reportedly yielded four sachets of shabu and P500 marked money.

In San Juan City, Edward Santos was collared in Barangay Batis. A sachet of shabu and P500 marked money were seized from him.  – With Ghio Ong, Non Alquitran