5 more drug suspects slain; 17 nabbed

MANILA, Philippines – Five more persons alleged to be involved in the illegal drug trade were killed in separate incidents in Luzon in the past two days.

Four were slain by suspected vigilantes in Bulacan on Monday.

Botchog Mercado was walking along the road in Barangay Libis in San Rafael town when an unidentified man fired at him. A piece of cardboard identifying Mercado as a drug pusher was found near his body.

Kier Balaguer, alias Bombitan, and an alias Aweng were in a vacant lot in Barangay Banga also in San Rafael when three men appeared from behind and shot them repeatedly.

Ariel Sacdalan, 47, and his son were walking in Barangay Pulong Buhangin in Sta. Maria when he was gunned down. 

Police said the fatalities were on the barangay drug watchlist.

In Camarines Norte, Ernie Gaza allegedly drew his gun when he sensed that he had sold shabu to an undercover agent in Barangay Dogongan in Daet town yesterday.

Superintendent Wilmor Halamani, acting Daet police chief, said the fatality was a newly identified drug suspect.

17 nabbed

Meanwhile, 17 other suspected drug personalities were arrested in stings on Monday.

Jeffrey Manggol, alias Omar, 39, and his companion Jervy Ymas, 31, did not resist arrest when cornered in Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal at around 3:45 p.m.

Manggol is ranked first on the drug watchlist of Rodriguez, said Superintendent Bogard Arao, town police chief.

Arao said the suspects yielded 10 sachets of shabu, P200 in cash and a 10-inch kitchen knife.

Lloyd Mark Canonigo, alias Dodong, was collared in a sting while Jerry de la Cruz, alias Boyet; Mark Adrian Sierra, alias Kirat; John Carlo Hilario, alias Nonoy, and Mary Rose Lucion, alias Rose, were  nabbed while sniffing shabu in Barangay San Isidro in Antipolo City.

Eight sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the suspects, police said.

In Taytay, Joseph Ugay, 37, was arrested after he handed a sachet of shabu to a police officer who posed as a buyer in Barangay San Juan at around 8:30 p.m.

Ugay’s companions, Raymart Villaflor, 20, and Harris Nolasco, 30, were also arrested.

Alexander de Lima, Jonathan Pereras, Roy Orbon, Victor Azur and Cristine Palermo were nabbed in a police operation in Barangay San Juan in Baao town, Camarines Sur.

Ronald Buwag, 46; Cristopher Tawil, 20, and Jerry Balisal were arrested for selling a brick of marijuana to an anti-drug operative in Barangay Arellano in Quezon, Isabela. – Ric Sapnu, Francis Elevado, Non Alquitran, Celso Amo, Raymund Catindig