13 drug suspects slain in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - At least 13 drug personalities were killed by police officers or suspected vigilantes in separate incidents in Metro Manila in the past two days.

Six of the drug suspects were killed in simultaneous police operations in Manila.

John Ryan Verano, Rommel Aquino and Jester Luces were killed after they allegedly engaged members of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 3 in a shootout at a motel along Gonzalo Puyat street in Quiapo at around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The trio reportedly yielded sachets of shabu and three .38-caliber revolvers.

Archie Cruz, a dismissed police officer, Alex Abacial and Laima Borja were arrested in the operation.

Ryan Puao, 27, was shot dead by members of the MPD Station 11 under Superintendent Amante Daro during a drug raid along Muelle dela Industria street in Binondo at around 11 p.m.

Police said they recovered three sachets of shabu and a .38-caliber revolver from Puao.

Sherdy Arellano, 35, and Francis Valiente, 26, were killed in a reported shootout with operatives of the MPD Station 1 during a drug sting along Pacheco street in Tondo at past 1 p.m. yesterday.

Arellano and Valiente allegedly yielded 11 sachets of shabu, a .357 revolver and a .38-caliber revolver.

Julius Evangelista, 26, was apprehended in the operation.

Four more persons were killed in drug-related shootings in Caloocan and Navotas.

Ramil Serna, 27, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Baron street, Barangay North Bay Boulevard North in Navotas.

Nomer Navarette, 28, was talking to his friends along Cordero street in Barangay 67, West Grace Park when four men on two motorcycles fired at him.

Two boys, aged nine and 10, who were playing in the street were hit by stray bullets.

Navarette and the boys were rushed to the Caloocan City Medical Center. Navarette died while being treated. The boys were declared out of danger.

Police said Rolando Dionisio, 38, and Pascual Prajes, 36, were killed by unidentified assailants in separate incidents also in Caloocan.

Investigators said they were checking if the killings were related to drugs.

In Pasig City, a suspected drug pusher was shot dead by two armed men on Thursday.

Gleindear Tuazon, 38, died at the scene from gunshots to the body.

Tuazon was on the drug watchlist of Barangay Buting, Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said.

Reports said that Tuazon was standing near a store along Ilaya street when the two men on a motorcycle opened fire at him.

Two more drug suspects were killed in Pateros and Makati City.

Police identified the fatalities as Tirso Ibañez, 40, and Reynaldo Leonardo, 39.

Unidentified gunmen broke into Ibanez’s house along Armada street in Barangay Sto. Rosario-Kanluran and fired at him, Police Officer 3 Jacinto Lauigan said.

Police said Ibañez was on the drug watchlist of the barangay.

Leonardo, 39, of Barangay San Isidro in Makati, was shot dead by suspected vigilantes while sleeping at his house, probers said.

Leonardo died at the scene from a gunshot to the head.

A placard that read “huwag tularan, pusher ako. Susunod ka na (Don’t emulate, I’m a pusher. You’re next)” was found at the scene.