1 dead, 1 hurt in drug shooting

MANILA,Philippines — A construction worker was killed while his companion was wounded when they were shot prior to an anti-illegal drug operation in Quezon City on Tuesday.

Reynate Geconcillo, 24, and Alvin Sese, 21, were about to meet up with policemen they would assist in an anti-illegal drug operation when two unidentified men shot them at the corner of Don Vicente and Lamb streets in Barangay Bagong Silangan at around 9 p.m., according to Batasan police station commander Lt. Col. Romulus Gadaoni.

Geconcillo died at the scene from gunshot wounds in the head while Sese was able to escape despite sustaining two gunshot wounds in the body.

Sese is recuperating in a hospital, where he was brought by bystanders.

Police have launched a manhunt for the assailants.

Also in Quezon City, an Indian man and five others were arrested and P460,000 worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu were seized in separate stings on Tuesday.

Gurpreet Singh, 40, and his Filipino companion Jojo Devera, 32, were reportedly caught with 18 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P122,400, two .38 caliber revolvers and a digital weighing scale during a sting in Barangay Holy Spirit.

In Barangay Novaliches Proper, 25 grams of shabu worth P170,000 and drug paraphernalia were seized from Basari Bongcawaran, 43, and his wife Zenaida, 33, at around 4:10 p.m.

Sherwin Abriza, 37, and Carlito dela Cruz, 39, yielded around 25 grams with a street value of P170,000 in an operation in Barangay Bagbag at around 8 p.m.

In Parañaque City, Crisostomo Aquino Jr., Danica Manaoat and Ian Frondozo were arrested in separate stings before dawn yesterday.

Aquino and Manaoat were apprehended at Seaside Square at around 3 a.m. Police seized 5.4 grams of shabu with a street value of P7,300 and P200 marked money from the two suspects.

Frondozo yielded a gram of shabu worth P1,300 during the sting at his house at Puyat Compound in Barangay Tambo.