Drug war: Ex-cop, soldier gunned down

MANILA, Philippines — A former soldier and an ex-police officer were among three suspected drug dealers killed in anti-drug operations in Sorsogon, Negros Oriental and Laguna in the past two days.

Ariel Dimaala, 31, a former soldier and a  resident of  Gumaca, Quezon, fired at police officers who tried to arrest him in Barangay Cambulaga, Sorsogon City on Wednesday, police said.

Police Officer 3 Richard Dollosa of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6, who went AWOL or absent without official leave, allegedly shot it out with anti-narcotics agents in Purok Avocado, Barangay 20 in Bacolod City yesterday. He was declared dead on arrival at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.

Two of Dollosa’s alleged cohorts, Jessie Concengco and Paul Chavez, were arrested and reportedly yielded 11 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P140,000.

Gaudencio Rojo III, alias Denden, the alleged leader of a drug ring, fired at anti-narcotics agents in Barangay San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna also yesterday, police said.

In Cavite, suspected drug pusher Ginell Mendoza was shot by unidentified motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Sampaloc 2, Dasmariñas on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, 13 drug suspects were arrested in simultaneous stings in Meycauayan, San Jose del Monte, Hagonoy, Norzagaray and San Miguel. Twenty-nine sachets of shabu were recovered from the suspects, Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, acting Bulacan police director, said.