MANILA, Philippines - At least 20 persons were killed or found dead in various parts of Metro Manila over the past two days.
Ten of the killings were done yesterday alone and six of the victims were simply found dead, apparently summarily executed.
In Makati City, the bodies of two unidentified men stuffed in black plastic bags were found at the corner of Estacion and Arnaiz streets in Barangay Pio del Pilar at around 1:18 a.m. yesterday.
The Makati police are trying to determine who killed the victims and whether they were involved in the illegal drug trade.
In Pasay City, an unidentified man was found dead along Roxas Boulevard near the Cuneta Astrodome at around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
A sachet of shabu and a placard identifying the victim, who had been shot repeatedly, as a pusher were found near the body.
In Navotas, the body of a man aged between 45 and 50 was found along Road 10 in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South at around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said yesterday.
In Caloocan City, policemen on a routine patrol discovered the corpse of a man along Letre Road in Barangay 8 before midnight Wednesday.
A placard with a message, written in Filipino, stated “I am a pusher and snatcher. Sorry to all my victims. We’re even. I’ve paid my dues,” was found near the body.
The victim, whose face was covered in plastic, had been shot and his throat slashed.
Several minutes later, another corpse was found in a dimly lit portion of C-3 Road in Barangay 21.
The victim had been shot and his face was covered with a garbage bag. A placard was found near the victim but blood had soaked into it and made the message unreadable.
Residents said they heard three gunshots before they saw the victim lying on the street.
Shootings
In San Juan City, Mark Angelo Llaneta, 24, was in a pot session with two friends in Barangay San Perfecto at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when two unidentified assailants, wearing masks, shot him.
Witnesses said the assailants left after making sure Llaneta was dead.
Investigators said Llaneta was on the drugs watchlist of the San Juan City police.
In Pasig City, Nestor Querol, 36, was standing along Parian creek when four unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants shot him, said case investigator SPO1 Hermel Vergara.
The assailants fled while Querol was rushed to the Pasig City General Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival at past 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Police consider the incident “drug-related.”
In Mandaluyong City, Virgilio Mendoza, 54, was standing along Modesto Mateo street when he was shot by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen at past 8 p.m., case investigator PO3 Anthony Dacquel said.
Mendoza died at the scene while the suspects fled a few minutes before the investigators arrived.
Recovered at the crime scene were three shells and two deformed bullets of unknown caliber.
Police said Mendoza was in the drug watchlist of Barangay Pag-asa and previously surrendered to the Mandaluyong police office.
In Caloocan, three men were killed in what police believe to be drug-related attacks on Wednesday.
At around 11 a.m. four unidentified assailants shot dead Mark Brando Barredo, 38, and Bert Berry Barredo, along Gatepalm street, Lower Whispering Palm Subdivision.
Two unidentified assailants killed John Paul Altareros, 20, along Excess Lot in Barangay 176, Bagong Silang.
Shortly before midnight, four masked men gunned down Michael Cadena, 20, along Riverside street in Barangay 188, Tala.
In Quezon City, four men – including a barangay watchman – were killed in separate shootings since Wednesday night.
Tanod Angelito Luciano, 41, was gunned down by two assailants while he was seated on his parked motorcycle along Visayas street in Barangay Payatas B just before 10 p.m.
A vendor said she was at her stall when she saw two men on a motorcycle approach Luciano and repeatedly shoot him before speeding away.
Eleven fired shells and a deformed bullet were recovered at the crime scene.
Tricycle drivers Ruzzel Brito, 23, and Jarson Amoroso, 30, were repeatedly shot by unidentified assailants along Ilaw street in Barangay Paltok at around 11:20 p.m.
Ten used .45 caliber shells, a fired bullet and the victims’ belongings were found at the scene.
In Barangay Balingasa, Joselito San Juan, 40, was shot in his home along Market Drive at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday.
Investigators said San Juan and his wife were awakened after hearing somebody forcibly opening their front door, prompting a witness – who was not named – to go downstairs.
The attackers reportedly called out the victim’s name and one assailant proceeded upstairs to where San Juan was.
The assailant shot San Juan several times at close range, killing the victim at the scene, police said.
The assailants fled on board two motorcycles that were parked nearby while the witness reported the incident to authorities.
Three fired shells and two deformed bullets were recovered at the crime scene.
Police operations
In Manila, three persons were killed while five others were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Manila yesterday.
Rodolfo Tan, 48, and his brother, Jerome, 38, were shot dead by police during a bust at their house along Tahimik street in Tondo at around 2 p.m., said Superintendent Thomas Ibay, Manila Police District Station 2 commander.
Rodolfo reportedly pulled out a gun after sensing that he was transacting with a lawman. He allegedly tried to shoot the man who posed as a buyer, PO1 Willard Fajardo, but was shot by other police officers.
Jerome, his gun drawn, tried to help his brother but police officers also killed him.
Rodolfo’s wife, who was not named, was arrested after she yielded two sachets of shabu as lawmen cleared the area.
Police officers confiscated a total of two .38 caliber revolvers and 11 sachets of shabu from the suspects.
A few hours before the Tondo incident, Emilio Blanco, 36, died after reportedly trying to fight police officers from MPD Station 6 who raided his house on Mercurio street in San Andres Bukid at around 10:30 p.m.
Police said Blanco was included in the drug watchlist.
Hilario Maravite, Gerard Porras, Christian Teves and his live-in partner Marie Tamayo were arrested in the same operation.