15 dead in Cebu drug raids, shootings

MANILA, Philippines — Ten persons were killed in anti-drug operations while the bodies of five alleged victims of summary execution were recovered in Metro Cebu in the past two days.

Weaven Vinculado, Sherwin Dabasol, Cresencio Rafaran, Jerome Sonsona and brothers Duane and Jate Bonga allegedly shot it out with police officers serving search warrants in Sitio Tunga, Barangay Tangke in Talisay.

Police said three other drug suspects resisted arrest and fired at law enforcers also serving search warrants in Barangays Pasil, Tejero and Lahug in Cebu City.

Crisolito Unito was shot dead when he reportedly fired at police officers in a drug bust in Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu.

Senior Superintendent Lemuel Obon, Lapu-Lapu police chief, said Unito had links with a drug ring based in Ozamiz.

Packs of shabu with an estimated value of P7.7 million were seized in the operations, police said.

In Cebu City, five men were found dead in a vacant lot in Sitio Kan-Irag, Barangay Malubog. A van, which bore bullet holes, was recovered at the scene.

Chief Inspector Dindo Alaras, Mabolo police station chief, said the fatalities were victims of a “simple” shooting incident.

Alaras said they are looking into the possible links of the victims to the illegal drug trade, noting that sachets of shabu, guns, mobile phones and an undetermined amount of cash were recovered from the van found at the scene.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Central Visayas police director, denied reports that the victims were killed by his men.

”We were busy in our One Time Big Time operations and they want to include us?” Sinas said.

The allegations stemmed from an interview over dyAB Cebu of habal-habal driver Antonio Belande, 57, that he and one of the fatalities he identified as Cristopher Tangag were asked to board a vehicle by police officers while waiting for passengers at a mall in Sitio Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe.

Belande said a certain Charmaine Puran contracted them for P200.

Belande said he jumped from the vehicle when he heard one of the supposed police officers say that they would shoot him first.

He was shot in the leg and was taken to a hospital for treatment by a concerned citizen.

Belande and Puran maintained that the men who talked to them in front of the mall were police officers, saying they were wearing police uniforms under their jackets.

Superintendent Reymart Tolentin, spokesman for the Central Visayas police,  refused to give details about the incident pending the result of an investigation.   – Mae Clydyl Avila/The Freeman,