7 more drug suspects killed

MANILA, Philippines – Seven more suspected drug personalities were killed in separate incidents across the country in the past two days.

Among them was Roderick Ariate, the most wanted drug suspect in Pio Duran town in Albay, who was killed in a reported shootout with police in Barangay Banawan on Tuesday.

Senior Inspector Arthur Gomez, Albay police spokesperson, said three sachets of shabu, P500 in cash and a .38-caliber revolver were recovered from the fatality.

In La Union, Christian Ugay, who was tagged in the killing of a woman drug user in Caba town on Sunday was killed in a sting in Barangay Sta. Rita East in Aringay town also on Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Silverio Ordinado Jr., La Union police information officer, said Ugay was a member of a drug ring led by Salvador Marzan, the third most wanted drug personality in the Ilocos region.

Also in La Union, Ernesto Daligues Jr., 21, was shot dead by unidentified men while walking in Barangay Poblacion in San Gabriel town after midnight yesterday.

In Bulacan, Joselito Joson, alias Bad Boy, was killed when he shot it out with police in Barangay Biñang in Bocaue town on Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said the fatality was on the barangay drug watchlist.

Joson allegedly yielded a least 25 sachets of suspected shabu, a .38-caliber revolver and P500 in cash.

Unidentified men gunned down Fundador Soriano, 34, alias Kojie; Iluminada Supnet, 59, and tricycle driver Ramil Fabro in separate incidents in Pangasinan.

Police said Soriano and Supnet were on the drug watchlist of the police in Binmaley and Sta. Maria towns, respectively, while Fabro was a newly identified drug personality.

Also on Tuesday, village councilman Rodolfo Gayagas was killed in a reported shootout with police in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City.

Village chief Federico Gayagas Jr., Samson Gonzaga and Johnny Abong were wounded.

Chief Inspector Dianne Catedral, Negros Island Region director, said Bacolod police Station 6 personnel were serving an arrest warrant for a certain Jaime Benares for illegal drugs when the shootout occurred. Benares was arrested.

Senior Superintendent William Senoron, Negros Occidental police, said the village chief was on the drug watchlist of the police. – Eva Visperas, Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Celso Amo, Gilbert Bayoran, Cesar Ramirez, Jun Elias, Gerry Lee Gorit