Army man, bank manager nabbed for guns, drugs

MANILA, Philippines — A former member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and a bank manager, along with four others, were arrested in a police operation in Barangay Rizal, Makati City on Friday night, an official said yesterday.

Former Army man Nolan Yatar and bank manager Albert Altes were arrested along with Wayne Balaysoche, Rodalyn Apolinario, John Evans Brillantes and Melavin Almario, according to Major Gideon Ines, deputy chief of the Makati City police.

Police secured a search warrant from the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 against Yatar after they received reports that he allegedly possessed illegal firearms, Ines said.

He said police officers saw Altes, Balaysoche, Apolinario, Brillantes and Almario allegedly gambling and having a drug session at Yatar’s house when they served the warrant.

Yatar was dishonorably discharged from the AFP for being absent without official leave, Ines said.

Recovered during the operation were a .38 caliber revolver with four bullets, seven sachets of shabu with a street value of P5,000 and drug paraphernalia.

Drug suspect slain in Tondo

In Manila, police officers shot dead alleged pusher Larino Ochangco in a reported shootout during a drug sting in Tondo before dawn yesterday.

A .38 caliber revolver was recovered at the scene along Clarivel street, where Ochangco was shot at around 2:20 a.m.

Ochangco surrendered to authorities under Oplan Tokhang and was in the drug list, police said.

In Quezon City, at least 20 persons were arrested in separate anti-drug operations since Friday. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Romina Cabrera