Cebu cops kill 6 in drug raids

MANILA, Philippines — Six suspected drug personalities were killed in alleged shootouts with police officers in simultaneous anti-drug operations in Cebu after midnight yesterday.

Three of the fatalities were identified as Rene Fernandes and Abasa Enconas, both 25, and residents of Sitio Magay, Barangay Tangke and Iba, Lagtang, respectively, and Zebar Canciancio of Riverside, Lawaan Dos, all in Talisay City.

However, the partner of Enconas, Jiliene Sumatra, 22, claimed they were sleeping when police officers entered and escorted her out of their house.

Sumatra said she heard three gunshots and after a few minutes, Enconas’ body was brought out. She said her partner was a drug user, but not a pusher.

In Mandaue, Karl Niño Macachor a resident of Barangay Tabok, and Ranchie Castañeda of Sudlon Guizo allegedly fired at police officers serving search warrants.

Raymart Quingco reportedly shot it out with anti-narcotics agents in Carmen town.

“The suspects initiated the shootout... If they did not resist arrest, this wouldn’t have happened,” Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director, said.

Sinas said the fatalities were either known drug pushers in their areas or “high-value” suspects.

He said 74 other drug suspects were arrested and sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P8.2 million and marijuana plants valued at P3.4 million were also confiscated yesterday.

Sinas said police officers conducted  18 drug stings, 22 raids and served 30 warrant of arrests in less than 12 hours.

There was no reported casualty on the side of police officers.

2 shot dead in Masbate

Meanwhile, in Masbate on Tuesday, Samuel Pablo and Antonio Pablo, residents of Barangay Concepcion in Cataingan town, were riding a motorcycle on their way to Barangay Poblacion when an unidentified man on another motorbike shot them several times, a report received by Senior Inspector Malou Calubaquib, Bicol  police spokesperson showed.

Probers have yet to determine the motive for the killings. – Mae Clydl Avila/The Freeman, Emmanuel Tupas