Drug war: 3 persons dead, P9.1-M drugs seized

MANILA, Philippines — At least three persons with alleged links to the illegal drug trade were killed and P9.1 million worth of shabu and party drugs were confiscated over the past two days as part of the government’s war on drugs.

In Manila, suspected pushers Noel Cervantes and “Athan” were slain in an alleged shootout during a drug sting in Tondo before dawn yesterday. The sting was set up along Lambingan Bridge at around 4 a.m.

Superintendent Jerry Corpuz, Manila Police District Station 7 commander, said the suspects have a standing warrant for the killing of a policeman last year.

 Probers recovered 20 sachets of shabu, P14,000 marked money, .22 caliber and .38 caliber revolvers and the suspects’ motorcycle, Corpuz said.

Also in Manila, newly elected Barangay 100 chairman Joseph Moran, 57, was talking to his constituents in front of his office on Jacinto street when two men, wearing facemasks and helmets, shot him at around 5:45 p.m.

Moran was declared dead on arrival at the Tondo General Hospital.

Superintendent Jay Dimaandal, MPD Station 7 commander, said Moran was reported to have undergone a drug rehabilitation program when he was still a member of the barangay council.

His predecessor, Ave Carpio, was gunned down in 2016. Dimaandal said there were reports Carpio was also involved in the illegal drug trade. 

Party drugs

At least P7.4 million worth of party drugs were confiscated from three alleged pushers in Quezon City Wednesday night.

Hazel Grace Lanugan, Rafael Tadoran, and Warren Calicdan were arrested in a drug sting jointly conducted by the Northern Police District (NPD) drug enforcement unit, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Quezon City Police District Station 10 at a house along Tomas Morato street Barangay Obrero.

NPD director Chief Superintendent Gregorio Lim yesterday said their anti-narcotics operatives tracked down the alleged party drug pushers in Quezon City through an informant.

Police confiscated P7,435,200 worth of illegal drugs – 2,756 ecstasy pills worth P4,685,200, 248 ecstasy capsules worth P620,000, 1,300 milliliters of liquid ecstasy stored in nine bottles worth P250,000, 100 grams of shabu worth P680,000, and six liters of liquid ecstasy place in a white container worth P1.2 million.

Taguig drug den

In Taguig, seven persons were arrested in a sting at a drug den in Barangay Ususan Wednesday.

Gary Cruz, who allegedly maintained the drug den, was arrested after he allegedly sold 50 grams of shabu to police officers who posed as buyers, said Superintendent Jenny Tecson, Southern Police District spokesperson.

Cruz allegedly yielded another 250 grams of shabu, with a street value of P1.7 million, shortly after the sting.

His alleged accomplices Zosima Rogerson, Napoleon Tolentino Jr., Jose Gallardo Carlos, Ariel Legaspi, Arturo Villar and Rene Pascual were also arrested during the operation.

Doctor, partner caught

In San Juan, doctor Amante Ramos and his partner Venus Angeles, 36, were arrested in a sting near the headquarters of the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame on Wednesday.

Ramos is allegedly the supplier of illegal drugs in Barangay West Crame, said Senior Superintendent Bowenn Joey Masauding, city police chief.

Ramos used to be a surgeon at a private hospital in Tuguegarao but stopped practicing five years ago allegedly due to his drug habit, according to Senior Superintendent Bernabe Balba, Eastern Police District director.

Ramos “returned only this year” to practicing his profession and admitted “he was involved in illegal drugs,” Balba said.

Three more persons were arrested for drugs in Pasig City and five in Makati City.