13 slain in attacks, shootouts in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - At least 13 persons, including two minors, were killed in alleged shootouts and gun attacks in various parts of Metro Manila over the past two days.

In Quezon City, Kim Paolo Aguilar, 16, was shot dead in an alleged shootout by police officers along Sampaguita street in Barangay Bahay Toro before dawn yesterday.

He was reportedly seen armed with a handgun by police officers conducting Oplan Galugad in the area.

Aguilar was reportedly a runner for his father, an alleged drug pusher, said Superintendent Danilo Mendoza, Talipapa station commander.

He said only a loaded break-open pistol, no illegal drugs, was recovered from the boy, Mendoza said.

In Barangay Del Monte, Primo Sagua, alias Jabbar, died at the scene after he allegedly shot at police officers during a drug bust along Pat Senador street at around 2 a.m.

A Caspian 9mm pistol, bullet fragments, 10 sachets said to contain shabu and P200 marked money were recovered from Sagua.

Sagua was ranked sixth on the Masambong police’s drug watchlist.

At least 14 other drug suspects were arrested in separate police operations in Barangays Culiat, Immaculate Concepcion, San Antonio, Kaligayahan and Payatas on Thursday.

In Marikina City, alleged drug runner Edelyn Mejia, 16, and an alleged pusher, identified only as Mohaimen, were shot dead by four unidentified assailants at around 4:50 a.m. yesterday.

Mohaimen’s name was in Barangay Tumana’s drug watchlist as a pusher while Mejia was named as his runner, said Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, Eastern Police District director.

According to initial reports, Mohaimen and Mejia were allegedly waiting for customers along an alley at Singkamas Kaliwa in Barangay Tumana when they were attacked by four assailants riding a motorcycle.

Girl, 3, hurt

In another drug-related attack, a three-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet when unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants shot dead Rommel dela Cruz, 40, in front of the Sulyap sa Pag-asa Compound in Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City at around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Barangay personnel reportedly monitored the incident on closed-circuit television and went to the area to verify.

The girl was hit in the right foot and remains confined at the East Avenue Medical Center, where she was reported to be in stable condition.

Recovered at the crime scene were seven .45 caliber shells and six 9mm shells.

Dela Cruz’s widow reportedly told police that her husband had been a drug user.

In Caloocan City, an unidentified assailant shot dead Guillermo Ramores, 33, in Barangay 176 before dawn Thursday.

The body of an unidentified man was found at the corner of 6th and Rizal Avenues in Barangay 110 at around 2:30 a.m.

The victim had been shot repeatedly and a placard identifying him as a “basag kotse” or one who breaks into cars was hung around his neck.

In Malabon City, a man identified only as “Dino” was killed in an alleged shootout during a drug bust along Sanciangco street in Barangay Tonsuya shortly before 3 p.m.

Probers recovered a .38 caliber revolver and six sachets of shabu at the scene.

5 dead, 5 nabbed in Manila busts

In Manila, five alleged pushers were killed while five others were arrested in separate stings in Manila Thursday night and before dawn yesterday.

Albigar Garzola was shot dead at the corner of Lacson and Pacheco streets in Tondo at around 10:40 p.m.

“Jeffrey” and Jalid Dimiano were killed at almost the same time by police officers at McArthur Bridge in Sta. Cruz while Muklo Salic and “Hussein” were shot dead by police officers at the corner of Remigio street and Rizal Avenue shortly before 2 a.m.

Police said the suspects tried to shoot it out with operatives.

Five .38 caliber revolvers, several sachets of shabu and a motorcycle were recovered from the suspects.

Meanwhile, police arrested Anthony Roque, 36; Raymond Remorosa, 23; Jerry Montezon, 35; Leoncio Bacarisas, 50; and Jocelyn Abiscia 42, the Pandacan police station’s second most wanted drug suspect, in separate stings in Tondo and Pandacan.