6 gang members slain in Rizal drug bust

MANILA, Philippines — Six suspected members of a criminal gang were killed in an alleged shootout with anti-narcotics agents in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Lou Evangelista, Rizal police director, identified two of the fatalities only as Henry, the alleged leader of the gang, and an alias Atan.

Evangelista said the group, which is tagged in contract killings and robberies, are also into illegal drugs.

“They are remnants of the  Waray-Waray robbery gang who shifted to drug peddling because they earn more,” Evangelista said.

He said the gang had been under surveillance for one month.

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Calabarzon police chief, said a caliber .45 pistol, a caliber .40, a 9mm, three caliber .38 revolvers, a hand grenade and 50 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P100,000 were recovered from the fatalities.

PDEA agents

On the killing of five agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in an ambush in Lanao del Sur last week, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it would conduct its own investigation.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the ambush shows that the “growing culture of impunity has pervaded every segment of the society.”

“This cycle of violence that victimizes and puts in peril even state forces... We hope that the government will show a stronger resolve to address the... killings,” De Guia said. 

President Duterte was set to visit the wake of PDEA agents Kenneth Tabulo, Binzo Dipolla, Diobel Pacinio, Kristina Mae Torlao and Laurice Joy Amar at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao today before he leaves for Bali, Indonesia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders’ summit.  – With Janvic Mateo, Edith Regalado