Drug war: 6 killed, arrests up

MANILA, Philippines - Six persons were killed in drug-related shootings in Metro Manila in the past two days.

Four of the drug suspects were slain in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas.

Michael Lee, 34, a jeepney barker, was calling passengers at the corner of Langit Road and Barugo Road in Barangay 176, Bagong Silang, Caloocan when two men on a motorcycle arrived and shot him at close range on Monday.

Lee died at the scene from gunshots to the body.

In Malabon, Rommel Custodio was gunned down by unidentified assailants along C-4 Road in Barangay Longos yesterday.

Two more drug suspects, Arjay Sabila and Jude Igana, 20, were found dead with gunshots to the body in Barangay Bangkulasi, Navotas.

Sabila’s family said he went missing prior to the killing.

Police said the four were on the drug watchlist.

In Manila, a 23-year-old woman, said to be a police informant, was gunned down in Tondo yesterday morning.

Police identified the fatality as Gladys Tomas, of Tambunting street in Sta. Cruz.

Tomas was found dead along Old Antipolo street, Police Officer 3 Rodel Benitez of the Manila Police District homicide unit said.

Police have launched a manhunt for Rannie Guarin, allegedly a hitman tagged in the killing of Guarin.

In Quezon City, a man allegedly involved in illegal drugs was killed by motorcycle-riding assailants while sleeping beside his partner and child at their shanty along a sidewalk on Monday.

Riopoldo Evarley, 33, was still able to wake up his partner, Mamitas Moloboco, after he was shot in the head at the corner of Congressional and Luzon Avenues in Barangay Culiat.

Moloboco told police that she saw Evarley bloodied, prompting her to seek help from barangay officials.

Evarley died at the scene from a gunshot to his right temple, police said.

Probers said no gunshot was heard. But a witness saw two men on a motorcycle fleeing the crime scene.

Senior Inspector Elmer Monsalve, head of the Quezon City police homicide division, said they were verifying Evarley’s involvement in illegal drugs with barangay officials.

Probers said they recovered an empty shell of a .45-caliber pistol at the scene.

7 drug suspects fall

Seven suspected drug personalities have been arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Metro Manila.

In Marikina, police apprehended Joan Balictar, Michael Camano, Dennis Bautista and Chris Paul Atienza during a drug sting along Libis street in Barangay Concepcion Uno.

They allegedly yielded five sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Police conducted an operation against Balictar following reports that he was behind the proliferation of illegal drugs in the barangay.

Balictar was nabbed after he handed over a sachet of shabu to a police officer who posed as a buyer.

Police said Balictar’s companions were caught in the act of sniffing shabu.

In Taguig City, three construction workers were collared in a pot session beside a mall at Fort Bonifacio on Monday.

Police said Ryan Lomosco, 30; Regie Limbo, 22, and Miguel Cerio, 28, were caught while allegedly using shabu.

Police Officers 1 Dexter John Desesto and Herbert de Villa were patrolling in the area when they chanced upon the suspects.

They are being held at the Taguig police station on charges of violating Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.