Drug war: 6 suspects killed

MANILA, Philippines — Six drug suspects were killed in separate incidents in Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Batangas and South Cotabato in the past two days.

Tyron Janus Forges, 30, was killed in an alleged shootout with anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Poblacion, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur on Thursday.

In Isabela, an unidentified man was shot dead after he along with two other men beat up a police officer who accosted them along the highway in Barangay Batak, Santiago at around 1 a.m. yesterday. The fatality reportedly yielded a sachet of dried marijuana leaves.

A report received by Chief Inspector Rolando Gatan identified the police officer as PO3 Christian Espiritu.

Mudz Nilong and Jun Atienza, alias Daga, were killed in alleged shootouts with law enforcers serving a warrant of arrest at their houses in Barangay Lumakil, Polomolok and Wawa, Batangas City, respectively, on Thursday.

Superintendent Aldrin Gonzales, Soccksargen police spokesman, said Nilong, a known drug dealer in South Cotabato, was also tagged in the killing of PO2 Charlie Leyva in an ambush in Surallah town last year.

Police said Atienza was on the drug watchlist in Batangas City.

Also shot dead when they fired  at anti-narcotics agents were Jomari Reyes and Julius Siriban in Barangay Paltao, Pulilan and Bagbaguin, Meycauayan, respectively, in Bulacan also on Thursday.

Shabu queen held

Meanwhile, Jurilin Pegalan, 37, alias Inday Ilong, who has alleged links with the Parojinog drug ring, was among 122 persons arrested in simultaneous operations in Central Visayas on Thursday. 

Pegalan, who is in President Duterte’s  narco list, reportedly gets her supply of illegal drugs from detained Ozamis Vice Mayor Nova Parojinog, according to Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director.

Sinas said Pegalan was arrested at her residence in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu based on a warrant for illegal drugs issued by Oroquieta City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Judge Nora Montejo.

Police said Pegalan, a native of Barangay San Roque, Ozamis City, fled to Cebu and assumed the name of Jurylin Rosario Bangcong to elude arrest after the Parojinog drug ring was dismantled.  – Raymund Catindig, Jun Elias, Non Alquitran, John Unson, Emmanuel Tupas