MANILA, Philippines - Six more suspected drug personalities were killed in Bulacan and Laguna in the past two days.
Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., Bulacan police acting director, identified five of the fatalities as Jimmy Jimenez, councilman of Barangay Pantubig in San Rafael town; Ferddie Roxas, 45, alias Ato Tayao, a resident of Barangay Rueda in Plaridel; Marvin Balingit, 38, of Barihan, Malolos; an alias Paolo and Elmer de la Cruz, of Barangay Balatong in Pulilan.
Roxas and Balingit were killed in a police operation in Barangay Banga 1st in Plaridel on Thursday night. Paolo and De la Cruz were slain in a sting in Barangay Tabang early yesterday.
Caramat said the fatalities drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to policemen who posed as buyers.
Police said assorted guns as well as ammunition, eight sachets of shabu, marked money and a Nissan Urvan were recovered from the fatalities.
Jimenez was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding men on Thursday. A piece of cardboard identifying the fatality as a pusher was found near his body.
A man who has yet to be identified was killed when he drew his gun at anti-drug operatives in Barangay Santisima Cruz in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Thursday night.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Laguna Medical Center.
Superintendent Chitadel Gaoiran, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police spokesperson, said 59 drug personalities have been killed in the region since July 1.
Prevendido drug ring
In Antique, Bonie Gregori, a leader of the Prevendido drug ring and eight of his cohorts were arrested in a sting on Thursday.
Gregori was collared after handing a sachet of shabu to undercover agents in front of his nipa hut in Barangay Camandagan, some 15 kilometers away from Tobias Fornier town.
Gregori is the nephew of Richard Prevendido, the leader of the drug ring, who was identified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Senior Inspector Jigger Gimeno, Anti-Illegal Drugs Group-Western Visayas team leader, said Gregori is reportedly the second in command in the drug ring.
Also nabbed were Glen, Aquilino, Robert and Aquilino Jr., all surnamed Pedrajas; Crisanto Morada III, Arjie Eiman, Johnny Rapido and Jonafe Tabio.
Anti-drug operatives said six big sachets of shabu estimated to cost over P100,000, an M16 rifle, a .45-caliber pistol and P5,000 in cash were recovered from the suspects.
16 more nabbed
Meanwhile, 16 other drug suspects have been arrested in separate incidents in Luzon.
Nine were nabbed in a police operation in Barangay Bancal in Meycauayan City, Bulacan yesterday.
Rosauro Brizuela was arrested in Barangay Cobo in Tabaco City, Albay while Sonny Guevarra, 24, was collared in Barangay Guinacutan in Vinzons, Camarines Norte on Thursday.
In Camarines Sur, Jessie Sy, 32, and Edwin Bacunawa, 41, were nabbed in Barangay Cobangbang in Daet and South Poblacion in Jose Panganiban, respectively.
The arrests were based on warrants for illegal drugs issued by local courts.
James Acosta, 33, and Roland Abriam, 21, were nabbed during a pot session in Barangay Pico in La Trinidad, Benguet also on Thursday. Police said the suspects were on the barangay drug watchlist.
Victor Calderon was arrested in Barangay Central West in Bauang, La Union on Thursday. – Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Celso Amo, Ed Amoroso, Francis Elevado, Jennifer Rendon