Drug war on: Scores slain in North, Central Luzon

MORE DRUG SUSPECTS, including a public school teacher and a former police officer, were killed in North and Central Luzon last week.

In Dagupan City, Pangasinan, a former policeman who has allegedly turned into a drug personality was killed in an encounter during a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Tambac Melag.

Supt. Christopher Abrahano, chief of police, said ex-cop Vicente Moulec was shot by police at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday because he drew a gun at arresting lawmen.

In Bulacan, Napoleon Miras, alias Nono, a resident of Barangay Antipona in Bocaue, and a certain Edong, a resident of Barangay Longos in Pulilan, were killed in separate anti-drug operations on Sunday.

Miras’ companion identified as Eunice Ripia, alias Nice, was arrested.

       A suspected drug pusher, who has yet to be identified, was killed during a raid on a compound in Barangay Grace-ville in San Jose del Monte town. Eight others were arrested.

Vigan

In Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Franklin Amistad, 57, was gunned down on a crowded street in Barangay 7 night of July 24. 

       He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Gabriela Silang General Hospital.


Pangasinan

Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, Jay Relosa and Jestoni Bernardo were killed when they shot it out with police during a raid on their residence in Binmaley town, said Senior Supt. Ronald Lee, provincial police director.

Lee said Relosa was the top drug suspect in Binmaley.

       Rodel Jalimao, 30; Jaydee Juguilon, 24, and Emmanuel de Lemios were killed in separate anti-drug operations in Paracale, Camarines Norte last week.

Public school teacher

A public school teacher who was ranked third on the list of drug personalities in Aurora, Isabela was shot dead Tuesday.


       Cesar Alejandro, 51, was driving his motorcycle in front of his school when unidentified men on another motorcycle shot him at around noon, said Senior Inspector Mervin de los Santos, Aurora police chief.

De los Santos said Alejandro was among those who recently surrendered under Oplan Tokhang.

Ex-cop

Also Tuesday, a  former police officer was shot dead when he allegedly engaged anti- drug operatives in a shootout in Barangay Tambac in Dagupan City.

Vicente Moulic, a resident of Barangay Maasin in Mangaldan town, reportedly drew his 9mm rifle after sensing that he was dealing with an undercover agent.

Moulic was initially suspended for drug use, but was reinstated when he appealed his case. He was dismissed from the service when he went on AWOL or absence without official leave.

Three were also killed in Pangasinan and one in Benguet early last week.

 Jay Relloza, said to be the top drug supplier in Binmaley, Pangasinan, and his companion Jestoni Bernardo, 27, were shot dead after they reportedly resisted police officers out to serve a warrant for their arrest.

Probers recovered two handguns and several plastic sachets said to contain shabu from the suspects.

Dagupan City

In Dagupan City, Jay Morante of Barangay Malued was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-riding men in Centro Pantal.

City police chief Superintendent Christopher Abrahano said Morante was on the police drug list and was the ninth to be killed in the city since July 1.

Benguet

In Benguet, mechanic Anthony Salaing was shot morning of July 17 in a village in La Trinidad, where two drug suspects were executed last week by unidentified men.

Salaing, whom police said was on the drug list, was declared dead on arrival at the Benguet General Hospital.

He was the fifth to be killed in La Trinidad since the nationwide anti-drug war started.

Bulakan

Also in Bulakan town, Jhonny de Leon was allegedly killed in a shootout with police in Barangay Sta. Ana.

Police said a .38-caliber revolver, three sachets of shabu and P500 in cash were recovered from the suspect.

Two other drug suspects were shot dead in Pangasinan.

Lourdes Panlilio, alias Naneng, 31, was walking with her siblings in Barangay Casantaan in Urdaneta City when two men on a motorcycle pulled over and shot her.

Police said Panlilio was ranked seventh on the drug watchlist in Urdaneta.

Tricycle driver Rechel Agpon, 37, who was among the most wanted drug suspects in Calasiao town was shot dead in Barangay Banaoang on Monday.

In Isabela, Jerry Cardenas, 23, a suspected drug pusher in Cauayan City, was gunned down in Barangay District One.

Parade

Meanwhile, around 600 suspected drug users and pushers who have surrendered from July 11 to 22 joined a parade in Mangatarem, Pangasinan Tuesday

Free legal assistance

Members of the Pangasinan police who may face charges for implementing President Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign will be given free legal assistance.

An agreement providing free legal assistance to police officers had been signed between the local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Baby Ruth Torre, IBP-Pangasinan president, said they are the first in the country to ink the pact with PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa and Solicitor General Jose Calida on July 21.

“We are hoping the memorandum of agreement will be implemented nationwide,” Torre said.

She said they signed a similar agreement in February with the former acting provincial police chief and regional director of the National Police Commission.

In Angles City on July 22, Jaymor del Rosario, 46,was killed in an alleged shootout with police during a sting in Barangay Cutud.

Senior Superintendent Sidney Villaflor, Angeles City police director, said the suspect yielded four sachets of suspected shabu and a .22-caliber rifle.

Pangasinan

In Pangasinan, Nikki Cacam, 27, was shot dead by unidentified men who barged into his house in Sitio Inansuanan, Barangay Lucap in Alaminos City.

Mechanic Joseph Parcasio, 50, was repairing a motor vehicle in front of his house in Barangay Hucab in Lagawe, Ifugao when he was shot in the head.

Cagayan

In Cagayan, Reynante Urias was driving his motorcycle when unidentified men on another motorcycle fired at him in Barangay Kapanikian Norte in Allacapan town.

        Police said the fatalities were on the drug watchlist in their respective areas

Kalinga haul

Also on July 22, around P7 million worth of marijuana plants were destroyed in Barangay Loccong in Tinglayan, Kalinga.

The marijuana plants were uprooted from a 20,000 square-meter plantation, said Senior Supt. Victor Wanchakan, Kalinga police director.

In Baguio City, four were slain July 22.

Joel Nider, 35, was gunned down by unidentified men in front of his restaurant in Barangay Sto. Niño at around 3:29 p.m. while Marvin Lazarte, a jeepney barker, was shot along Magsaysay Avenue.

Nash Palomique and his companion, who has yet to be identified, were killed in an alleged shootout with police along Labsan street.

Senior Superintendent George Daskew, Baguio police director, said Nider, who was previously arrested for illegal drugs, could have been killed by members of his own drug ring.

In Isabela, Vivencio Gamiao, 40, was gunned down while driving his motorcycle along the highway in Barangay Cabaruan in Cauayan City.

Two other suspects were found dead in Pangasinan.Their bodies, which bore  placards identifying them as drug pushers, were dumped in Barangay Babasit in Manaoag town. A sachet of suspected shabu was found  near one of the body.

Killing each other

Senior Superintendent Ronald Oliver Lee, Pangasinan police officer-in-charge, said drug personalities themselves could be killing each other.

“There is purging (among drug suspects),” Lee said.

         He said an investigation into whether vigilante groups are behind the killings of drug suspects in the province is underway.

He noted that the killings of 21 of 34 drug suspects in Pangasinan were perpetrated by unidentified men.

Lee said 6,230 other drug personalities have surrendered in the province.. – Ric Sapnu, Francis Elevado, Eva Visperas, Raymund Catindig, Michelle Zoleta, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Celso Amo, Ben Serrano and Cesar Ramirez