2 dead, 10 arrested in drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Two persons were killed while 10 others were arrested in Metro Manila over the past two days as the government continued its war against illegal drugs.

In Quezon City, Abdul Aziz Daimon, 29, was shot dead during an alleged shootout with police following a drug sting near his house in Barangay Payatas A at around 11:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Xander dela Cruz, 18; Michael Adipen, 37, and Rizen Sobrepena, 23, were arrested during the sting. A 12-gauge shotgun, a loaded .38 caliber revolver and 19 sachets said to contain shabu were recovered from the crime scene.

In Malabon, pedicab driver Mamerto Velasquez, 43, was on his way home after attending a hearing at the barangay hall over a physical injuries case against him when a still unidentified assailant shot him in the head in Barangay Tugatog on Wednesday.

Velasquez earlier surrendered under Oplan Tokhang. Investigators will look into the victim’s drug history and the physical injuries case for possible leads, Police Officer 2 Aaron Blanco said.

In Manila, Barangay 852 councilor Ronald Falcis and Jennifer Garilao, 43, were arrested in a sting in Pandacan before dawn yesterday.

Drug surrenderee Antonio Coronel, 59, was arrested during a raid on his house in Barangay Sagad, Pasig City on Wednesday. He allegedly yielded 18 grams of shabu with a street value of P70,000.

In Caloocan, Junnifer Balaoro, Joel Rodriguez and Rhovil Reyes were reportedly caught in a drug deal in Barangay 188.

Reyes was caught handing a sachet of shabu to the two, police said. When frisked, the suspects reportedly yielded 10 more sachets of shabu.

Alexander Gabriel, who is in the barangay drug watchlist, was arrested in a sting. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Rey Galupo, Non Alquitran