3 drug suspects slain in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines — Three suspected drug pushers died after they allegedly engaged police in a firefight  during a sting in Navotas City before dawn yesterday.

Police identified the fatalities as Jay-Ar Jumola, 21; Arnel Bagamasbad, 33, and an alias Gurang.

But Jumola’s family said he could not have fought back in the alleged encounter in Barangay Northbay Boulevard.

His mother, Cristina Ocdin, said Jumola suffered a gunshot in the head and his eyes were swollen, indicating that he could have been shot at close range and tortured.

Cristina said someone heard him plead for his life, “Sir maawa kayo sa akin, mag-aaral pa po ako sir, huwag niyo ako patayin.”

Jumola had wanted to enroll in first year high school, she said.

“They made it appear like an armed encounter. How could he have fought back when he suffered black eyes and a gunshot in the head?” Cristina said.

Lt. Col. Ilustre Mendoza, assistant chief of the city police, said they were tracking down another suspect who escaped during the gunfight.

The suspects allegedly opened fire at anti-narcotics agents Pat. Bryan Greg Calixtro and Cpl. Globert Batara when they sensed they were dealing with police.

Mendoza said the operatives hatched the sting along Champaca Street in North Bay Boulevard South after they received information that the suspects were allegedly pushing drugs in the area.

Police said the suspects were on the drug watchlist.

Probers said they recovered a 9mm pistol, two .45-caliber handguns and at least 25 grams of shabu worth P170,000 from the suspects.

Eleven persons were arrested when agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) raided a drug den in Navotas.

Director Joel Plaza, chief of the PDEA National Capital Region office, said they seized P102,000 worth of shabu during the  operation in Barangay North Bay Boulevard North.

Police nabbed 16 drug suspects in separate stings in Quezon City, Makati, Pasay and Pasig. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas, Robertzon Ramirez, Ghio Ong