‘Narco cop,’ 6 other drug suspects slain

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer accused of involvement in the illegal drug trade and six other alleged drug pushers were killed in separate incidents in Luzon in the past two days.

Police Officer 2 Ian Rey Abitona, desk information officer of the Infanta police, allegedly drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu to an undercover agent in Barangay Pilaway, Infanta at around 7:35 a.m. yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police director, said the operation stemmed from complaints received by the Counter-Intelligence Task Force.

Abitona, a former intelligence officer of the Drug Enforcement Unit, was allegedly involved in the recycling or sale of shabu and other illegal drugs seized in stings, and a suspect in the killings of his accomplices.

In Cavite, Roberto Advincula reportedly engaged police officers in a shootout during a drug sting in Barangay Buhay na Tubig, Imus at around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

Roy Sumpay was shot dead when he fired at anti-narcotics agents serving a search warrant at his residence in Barangay Agos, Polangui, Albay.

In Isabela, drug surrenderee Enrile Cadiz, 39, was shot by unidentified men at his house in Barangay Old Centro 1, San Mateo, Isabela also on Wednesday.

Police said Cadiz was arrested in a drug sting in 2016, but released on bail.

In Bulacan, Estong Villanueva, Kelvin Acuna and an alias Toto fired at police officers in drug stings in San Ildefonso, Plaridel and Bocaue, respectively.

Meanwhile, in Kalinga, around P30 million worth of marijuana plants that were uprooted in 17 plantations in Barangay Bugnay, Tinglayan were destroyed on Tuesday and Wednesday.