12 drug deaths within 24 hrs, including former cop

CEBU, Philippines - The killing spree in Cebu continues.

 Twelve drug suspects, a former policeman included, were killed in different places across the province from midnight last Tuesday until early evening yesterday.

In Naga City, former policeman Dave Agcol succumbed to a gunshot wound when he allegedly opened fire against operatives of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) 7 who were enforcing a court-issued warrant at his residence in Barangay Inayagan early evening Tuesday.

Agcol who was dismissed from police work in 2009 for drugs allegedly did not quit the business.

He was rushed to the hospital but did not make it there alive.

The search warrant issued by the court was for him and his wife, PO3 Genevieve Agcol, assigned in Naga City Police Office.

 The RSOG operatives recovered a .45 caliber pistol from Agcol and another .45 caliber revolver from his house. 

 Genevieve who arrived only after the encounter is now under the custody of RSOG.

In Toledo City, four drug personalities were killed in a shootout with operatives of the Toledo City Police in Barangay Poblacion dawn yesterday.

 Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director, Senior Supt. Jose Macanas, said it was supposed to be a "normal" buy-bust operation but resulted in a shootout with the group of Jerome Gara, the subject of the bust.

Gara, 49, is a resident of the area.

PO2 Joselito Genon said Gara and his cohorts drew their firearms after PO1 Wilmer Guillen bought P200 worth of shabu from Gara.

This resulted in a shootout and the four suspects were killed. Gara's companions were identified as Remy Dolino, 22; Carlito Marinay; and certain Richard Borbon, all residents of Toledo City.

Genon said they recovered a .45 caliber pistol; three .38 caliber revolvers; 100 grams of shabu valued at P500,000; drugs paraphernalia; and two motorcycles from the suspects.

Another subject of a buy-bust operation was also killed in Moalboal town in western Cebu at past 2 p.m. yesterday. 

PO3 Ramon Chinel said the subject of the bust, Marciano Tabotabo, 41, and his two cohorts sensed the transaction was a trap and pulled their guns.

It was Tabotabo's cohort, identified only as "Gamy" who attempted to fire the first shot but his gun reportedly conked out. This allowed the cops to open fire to defend themselves, resulting to Tabotabo and Gamy's deaths.

Tabotabo's other companion, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested.

A KG9 submachine pistol was recovered from Tabotabo while a .38 caliber revolver was recovered from Gamy. The 17-year-old also had with him a .22 caliber revolver.

Shabu weighing 16.92 grams worth P250,000 was seized.

Chinel said Tabotabo has been in their watch list and was placed under surveillance for weeks before the bust was carried out yesterday. 

 In Cebu City, two men allegedly involved in the drug trade were shot dead just two hours between each other in Barangays Pasil and Duljo at past midnight yesterday.

Police found the body of a Chrisar Babatid, 27, lying lifeless on L. Flores Street, Pasil.

Initial inquiry revealed Babatid was drinking with friends when an unidentified gunman on board a motorcycle with another person shot him several times.

The suspects then bolted away.

Babatid suffered multiple gunshot wounds in his body and head. He was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

Quoting Babatid's relatives, police said he was allegedly involved in peddling illegal drugs but surrendered voluntarily a month ago.

More than an hour later, 40-year-old Matt Rizon was shot dead in Duljo.

A resident of the place told the police he heard bursts of gunfire from the crime scene.

In both shooting incidents, police recovered empty shells of a caliber .9mm from the crime scenes.

Up north in Liloan town, an alleged drug pusher who has just surrendered to authorities was shot  to death by two unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

 SPO2 Bryan Batiquin said the victim, Eddie Pangatungan alias "Edie Waray," 51, was playing majong when one of the assailants disembarked from the motorcycle and shot him.

 The assailants were wearing full-faced masks.

 "Maybe wa ni siya kabayad," Batiquin said.

In neighboring Mandaue City, two men also met their untimely death yesterday in Barangays Cubacub and Alang-alang.

Although details are sketchy in the Cubacub incident, SPO2 Tirao Plania said the shooting of Jiji Codizar, 28, could be drug-related.

No one reportedly witnessed the shooting. Eleven empty slugs from a .45 caliber revolver was recovered from the crime scene.

In Barangay Alang-Alang, suspected drug pusher Gerard Mayol was killed during a buy-bust operation conducted by the police late yesterday afternoon.

Mayol was shot when he reportedly tried to open fire upon sensing that he was dealing with a policeman who acted as a poseur-buyer. — With Garry B. Lao/JMO (FREEMAN)