MANILA, Philippines – Nine more deaths linked to the war on drugs were reported across the country in the past two days.
Two men known only for their aliases of Nazzier and Dekdek, residents of Bagong Silang in Caloocan City, allegedly drew their guns at police operatives during a drug sting in Barangay Muzon in San Jose del Monte City at around 1:45 a.m. yesterday.
A man and woman who have yet to be identified were found dead in Barangay Sapang Palay also in San Jose del Monte City.
Residents who reported the incident to the police said a piece of cardboard that read, “pusher/user, huwag pamarisan (pusher/user, don’t emulate),” were recovered near the bodies of the victims.
In Quezon, Jerry Causaping, alias Pugto, was killed in an alleged shootout with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Cotta in Lucena City at around 12:30 a.m. yesterday.
Causaping yielded 11 sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P38,150 and a caliber .45 pistol, police said.
In Isabela, police are looking into illegal drugs as the motive for the ambush of Ronald Roxas, 36, a resident of Barangay Rosario in Santiago City, on Monday night.
Initial investigation showed Roxas was driving his motorcycle when he was waylaid near an abandoned irrigation road at around 8:30 p.m. on Monday.
Rafe Diamante, 35, a former security guard, allegedly fired at anti-drug operatives in Sitio Lagutan, Barangay Manoc-Manoc on Boracay island in Malay, Aklan at around 4:57 a.m. yesterday. Six sachets of shabu were reportedly recovered from the fatality.
Jeffrey Raco, 23 and Jeric Reyes, 23, who were arrested based on a rape complaint, reportedly grabbed the firearm of Police Officer 2 Patrick Doroja while being handcuffed at the Rodriguez, Rizal police station on Monday.
Raco and Reyes were pronounced dead on arrival at the Ynares Hospital.
Senior Superintendent Adriano Enong, Rizal police director, said the fatalities were on their drug watchlist. – Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ed Amoroso, Raymund Catindig, Michelle Zoleta, Jennifer Rendon