3 drug suspects killed

MANILA, Philippines - Three more suspected drug pushers were gunned down by unidentified men in Luzon on Tuesday. 

Eduardo Tacadeno, 28, a resident of Angadanan, Isabela, had just arrived with his girlfriend at the Kawilihan videoke bar when motorcycle-riding men opened fire.

Aside from his involvement in illegal drugs and robbery, Tacadeno has a pending case for frustrated murder, said Senior Inspector Fernando Manangan, Angadanan police chief.

Unidentified men were also behind the killings of Roberto Tayuma, a resident of Barangay Sta. Ines in Plaridel town, and Marvin Bongar, 19, of Barangay Muzon in San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan. 

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said Tayuma was on the drug watchlist of the Plaridel police and surrendered under Oplan Tokhang last year. 

Bongar was walking with his friends when he was shot. The gunmen left a piece of paper identifying the fatality as a drug user and robber.

No to rallies vs EJKs

Meanwhile,  Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said he does not support the call of some Catholic Church leaders to hold demonstrations to oppose alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.

“I do not think that we have to go to the streets to voice our objections to ungodly ways…If we will always react by going out to the streets, we will not be able to accomplish other things such as giving food to the poor,” said Arguelles.

“When expressing your opinion, it can be done in all avenues, all places,” he added.

He urged the public to offer prayers to cure the country from the malady of illegal drugs. – Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig , Evelyn Macairan