3 slain in drug stings; 36 others arrested

MANILA, Philippines — Three suspected drug pushers were killed and at least 36 others were arrested in separate operations in Metro Manila over the weekend.

Police identified the fatalities as Arvie Garcia, of Tondo; Darwin Nazardo, of Paco, and Bernie Obena, of Malate, all in Manila.

Operatives of the Manila Police District Station 9 drug enforcement unit hatched a sting against Obena at his house along Kasaganahan street, Leveriza in Malate on Saturday night.

After the drug deal was consummated, Obena allegedly opened fire at police, prompting them to retaliate.

Nazardo and Garcia were killed by police in separate anti-narcotics operations in Paco and Tondo, respectively.

Police said Garcia was on the drug watchlist.

In Quezon City, 27 drug suspects were arrested in the past two days.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Joselito Esquivel Jr. said the suspects were apprehended in Barangays  Manresa, San Roque, Socorro, Tatalon, Pag-asa and Sta. Lucia.

Police said they recovered shabu and drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

In Mandaluyong City, three men were nabbed by police during a drug sting in Barangay Addition Hills.

They were Mario Ramirez Jr., alias Kabayo, 45; Mark Jackson Guhiting, 28, and Jose Ariel Consigna, 45.

A policeman who posed as a buyer allegedly bought a sachet of shabu for P200 from Ramirez.

Glenoy Moroña, 31, was collared while smoking cigarettes at a public place in Barangay Plainview.

Moroña tried to escape but was cornered by members of the Police Community Precinct 2 after a brief chase.

When frisked, he allegedly yielded four sachets of shabu.

Raymundo Rafil, 18, was arrested by village watchmen for allegedly smoking marijuana along Ma. Clara street in Barangay Barangka Drive.

In Pasay, Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Christian Leria and his cohort, Cedric Garcia, were nabbed by police for alleged possession of shabu with an estimated street value of P2 million. 

In Marikina City, drug suspects Carlos de Goyo, 34, and Dennis Suniega, 45, were nabbed during a sting at the corner of Panorama and Vaco streets in Barangay Concepcion Dos.

De Goyo and Suniega allegedly yielded five sachets of shabu and P500 in marked money.

In Pasig City, Aubrey Albia, alias Boninay, 20, and Ma. Liza Teologo, 45, were apprehended for alleged possession of six packs of shabu along Evangelista Compound in Barangay Palatiw.

The suspects are being held by police on drug charges. – Emmanuel Tupas, Non Alquitran