6 dead in shootings

MANILA, Philippines -  Six persons, three of them suspected drug pushers, were killed in separate incidents in Luzon in the past two days.

Gilbert Evangelista, alias Pipoy, a resident of Barangay Anilao in Malolos City, Bulacan, reportedly drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu to undercover agents before dawn yesterday. 

Mario Velasquez, 38, and Victor Gregorio, 44, fired at anti-drug operatives along the Valdefuente-Fortaleza road in Barangay Lourdes in Cabanatuan City on Wednesday, police said.

Meanwhile, police are investigating if four men shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding men on Wednesday were drug suspects.

In Cagayan, Romeo Macanang Jr. was plying his tricycle in Barangay Carig Sur while Jestoni de la Cruz, 25, was watching a basketball game in Barangay San Gabriel in Tuguegarao City when they were shot.

Mario Farolan, 52, president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, was driving his motorcycle with his wife Nerly on their way to the municipal hall when he was shot when he slowed down in Barangay Calaocan.

Estrady Manaois, 57, a municipal employee, was fired at on his way home after his night duty at the Binmaley Public market in Pangasinan.

Thirty-one other drug suspects were arrested on Wednesday.

 In Pangasinan, barangay captains Crisanto Coloma Jr., 61, of San Pedro West and Victor Chan, 48, of Carmen West in Rosales were among the five arrested after raids on their houses yesterday reportedly yielded shabu, guns and ammunition.

Coloma is ranked 10th on the provincial drug watchlist, police said.

Eleven were arrested in Bulacan and 15 in Cavite and Batangas.