2 dead in drug war

MANILA, Philippines - At least two persons were killed in Metro Manila over the past two days as the government continues its war against illegal drugs.

A man identified only as Tisoy was gunned down at the corner of Nicasio and Escoda streets in Navotas City at past 11 p.m. Sunday.

Police officers recovered a sachet of shabu, a weighing scale and drug paraphernalia from the victim.

Residents refused to talk to investigators, but a source at the Navotas police station said the victim was reportedly a robber and drug pusher.

In Manila, Elma Raga, 44, was shot dead while still holding two sachets of shabu in Singalong yesterday morning.

Police Officer 3 Jorlan Taluban said Raga was buying shabu from a man at the corner of Cadena de Amor and Dama de Noche street when an unidentified assailant approached her from behind and shot her in the head.

The victim’s husband admitted his wife was hooked on drugs and would usually run errands for users and pushers to get her fix.

15 suspects arrested

Meanwhile, at least 15 persons were arrested in separate operations in Metro Manila over the weekend.

Fourteen were apprehended in Quezon City alone.

Partners Zandy Ganancial, alias Pandong, 31, and Jasmin Martinez, 29, were caught with 12 sachets said to contain shabu, drug paraphernalia and marked money in a sting along Mapagbigay street before midnight Sunday.

Fairview police arrested five suspects in separate stings in Barangay Greater Fairview.

Richard Abracia, 25; Noel Pacis, 34; and Jemaima Bangalan, 24, yielded four sachets said to contain shabu, a weighing scale, marked money and paraphernalia.

Manuel de Guzman, 37, and Jill Marie Buloran were arrested with three sachets of alleged shabu and two sachets of marijuana along Fairlane street at around 2 p.m.

In Barangay Culiat, Alexander Luna Insigne, 48; Danilo Cruz, 38; Quennie Ilumin, 23; and Gemma Vargas, 38, yielded nine sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia during a sting at Metro Heights.

Meanwhile, Arend Cardenas, 31, was apprehended after a brief chase with security guards for allegedly starting a bonfire with two others at the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus.

Two sachets of shabu and a lighter were seized from Cardenas.

Felizardo Puno, 45, and Jonathan Ayad, 19, were nabbed along Mabilis street in Barangay Pinyahan at around 3:30 p.m.

Police seized two plastic sachets of shabu and the buy-bust money.

Caloocan police officers collared Richard Santos, 38, along F. Aguilar street in Bagong Barrio at around 8 p.m. Sunday. A sachet of shabu was recovered from him.