13 drug suspects killed

MANILA, Philippines – Thirteen more persons have been added to the list of slain drug suspects.

Leonardo Oliveros was on his way home after bringing his child to a school in Barangay Tuguegarao in Echague, Isabela yesterday when unidentified men in a sport utility vehicle opened fire.

A piece of cardboard identifying the fatality as a drug pusher was found near his body.

Police said Oliveros was arrested last year after a raid on his house yielded 14 sachets of shabu with an estimated value of P100,000, a hand grenade and ammunition for various firearms. 

Jade Flores, a resident of Barangay Sta. Clara in Sta. Maria, Bulacan; Jim Aryann, of Sto. Cristo in San Jose del Monte City, and an alias Utoy of Cacarong Bata in Pandi were killed in stings on Monday.

Their companion, identified as Ernesto Sta. Maria, 47, of Barangay Patubig in San Rafael town, was wounded.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said the suspects drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents.

Gilbert Aradanas, alias Dondon; Rod Mendoza, alias Diko; Paul Bergonio, alias Jepet, and a man who has yet to be identified were killed in simultaneous police operations also in Bulacan yesterday.

Caramat said 142 sachets of shabu, 16 guns as well as  ammunition, drug paraphernalia and marked money were recovered from the fatalities.

Jose Mercado was gunned down by suspected vigilantes at Nonino Resort in Barangay Nueva in San Pedro City, Laguna after midnight yesterday.

Raychell Macandili, 28, was walking on his way home  when a man wearing a mask in a Toyota Vios with no license plates fired at him in Malvar, Batangas on Monday.

In Cagayan, Bryan Tamayo died in an alleged shootout with police in Barangay Tallungan in Aparri on Monday.

Chief Inspector Pepito Mendoza Jr., Aparri police chief, said Mendoza was on their drug watchlist, but did not respond to their invitation under Oplan Tokhang. 

The fatality was also a suspect in the ambush attempt on Mendoza.

Pedicab driver Mark Anthony Mallon, 35,  was killed while sitting in front of his house at South San Jose village in Molo district in Iloilo City at around 6:05 a.m. yesterday.  He was the former driver of Edeljulio Romero, counsel for slain drug ring leader Melvin Odicta.

Leonil Capanang was selling fish in Barangay Dulonan in Arevalo, Iloilo when he was shot. 

The fatalities surrendered under Oplan Tokhang recently,  police said.

’High-value’ suspects

Meanwhile, former police officer Joven Francis Millares, 33, was among so-called ”high-value” drug pushers collared in separate stings across the country in the past two days.

Senior Inspector Rex Farren, Laua-an police chief, said Millares was nabbed after selling two sachets of shabu to a policeman who posed as a buyer in Barangay Cabariwan in Laua-an, Antique at around 5:45 a.m. yesterday.

Benjamin Calibuso, an employee of the Quirino Medical Center, was arrested in a sting in Barangay Rizal in Diffun town on Monday.

Armando Susano and Joel Estera were nabbed in Barangay Matango in Vinzons, Camarines Norte while Noli Vargas was arrested in Barangay Old San Roque in Pili, Camarines Sur. Their arrests were based on warrants issued by local courts.

Four others were nabbed in stings in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Calabanga, Camarines Sur and Ilawog in Camalig, Albay also on Monday.