5 drug suspects killed in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Five persons believed to be involved in illegal drugs were killed in separate police operations in Metro Manila since Friday night.

In Manila, two drug suspects identified as Angelito Tongol, 50, and Alvin Arbuis, 25, were slain in separate stings.

Investigators said Tongol was killed after he allegedly traded shots with Police Officer 3 Andres Ruben, who posed as a buyer of shabu at 1:20 a.m. yesterday.

When Tongol sensed that he was dealing with a police officer, the suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Ruben, prompting the policeman to return fire.

Tongol was declared dead on arrival at the Ospital ng Tondo.

Police said they recovered 12 sachets of shabu and a loaded caliber .45 pistol from the suspect.

Arbuis, said to be a member of the Batang City Jail gang, was shot dead by police in an alleged pot session at his house at the corner of Valderama and Lara streets in Binondo.

Arbuis, who was allegedly engaged in a pot session with two other men, was killed in what police said was a shootout.

Arbuis allegedly yielded three sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride, two strips of aluminum foil and a loaded caliber .22 revolver.

His two cohorts managed to escape.

In Caloocan City, 54-year-old William Sia, alias “Choy,” was killed by six gunmen before 11 p.m. on Friday at the corner of C-3 Road and Baltazar street.

Sia’s son, Richard, 22, told police that he was standing outside their house when the suspects, who were all wearing masks, arrived and ordered him to leave.

When Richard returned home after a few minutes, he found his father dead.

Police said they recovered two sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia at the scene.

Suspected drug pusher Albert Beltran, 38, was killed in an alleged gunfight with operatives of the Caloocan police community precinct 1 along Katarungan street in Barangay 150, Bagong Barrio.

Authorities said a closed-circuit television footage showed Beltran selling illegal drugs in the area.

Beltran was included in the drug watchlist, police said.

Police said they recovered four sachets of shabu, five lighters, aluminum foil and a 9mm pistol from the suspect.

In Malabon, Reynaldo Reyes, 35, who was included in the drug watchlist of the barangay anti-drug abuse council, was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle.

Investigation showed that Reyes was walking on his way home when the assailants shot him along M. Sioson street in Barangay Dampalit.

Reports said the suspects on a black Suzuki Skydrive motorcycle with no plate number were wearing helmets.

Reyes had surrendered to authorities under Oplan Tokhang prior to the killing, police said.

Oplan Tokhang involves police officers visiting the homes of suspected drug pushers and users and asking them to change their ways.