5 drug suspects slain

MANILA, Philippines — Five drug personalities were killed in alleged shootouts with police officers in separate areas of the country in the past two days.

Killed in Bulacan were Jomar Bangog, Christian Dominguez and Gerardo Alejo.

Bangog and Dominguez were killed in a sting in Barangay Lawa, Meycauayan on Tuesday night, according to Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director.

Alejo was killed in Barangay Longos, Pulilan yesterday morning.

The suspects allegedly drew their guns, trigerring the encounters that resulted in their death.

Probers said they recovered handguns, plastic sachets said to contain shabu and marked money from the suspects.

In Cagayan, Maximo Uminga Jr., 29, allegedly engaged police officers in a shootout following a sting in Barangay Liwan Norte, Enrile town on Tuesday night.

Uminga was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in Tuguegarao due to several gun-shot wounds. 

Police said they recovered from the suspect seven plastic sachets said to contain shabu, a .45 caliber pistol and marked money.

Uminga surrendered under Oplan Tokhang in 2016, but he refused to undergo rehabilitation, according to Senior Superintendent Warren Tolito, Cagayan police director.

The suspect was recently monitored to have engaged in the illegal drug trade.

In Negros Occidental, an unidentified gunman shot and killed an alleged drug suspect in Victorias City.

Freddie Molase, alias Bongbong, was declared dead on arrival at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.

Molase, 45, had been charged for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, according to Chief Inspector Eduardo Corpuz, Victorias police chief.

The court dismissed the charges due to a technicality.

Probers are eyeing an old grudge as the motive for the killing. – Raymund Catindig, Gilbert Bayoran