More druggies killed in North, Central Luzon

MORE DRUG SUSPECTS were killed in Central and North Luzon last week.

The body of a man believed to be a victim of summary execution was dumped in Barangay Manano in Mallig town in Isabela.

Chief Insp. Charlemagne Tabije, Mallig police chief, said the body, which was hogtied and wrapped in packing tape, bore gunshot wounds.

Police said a purse that contained five plastic sachets of shabu was found in the pocket of the unidentified man.

Bulacan shootout

In Bulacan, Jimmy Boy Gruta, alias Toto, was killed in an alleged shootout with police in Sitio Dulong Bayan in Barangay Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said Gruta resisted arrest after handing over a sachet of shabu to PO2 Erickson Lacasaman, who posed as buyer.

Caramat said a .38-caliber revolver and ammunition as well as several sachets of shabu with an estimated value of P9,000 and P500 in cash were recovered from Gruta, a known drug pusher  in Sta. Maria.

P2.7-B marijuana haul in Kalinga

Meanwhile, about 35 hectares of marijuana plantation in Kalinga were cleared in a series of police operations in the past two weeks.

Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Sarona, Cordillera police director, said about 12 million fully grown marijuana plants with an estimated value of P2.7 billion were uprooted.

Sarona said they are targeting 80 hectares of marijuana plantations on Mt. Chumanchil.

In La Union, four persons were arrested for carrying P5.1 million worth of marijuana leaves.

Virgilio Galawa, 23; Ryan Palinas, 22; Edison Tagaban, 17, and Jerry Tacay, 33, were collared at a checkpoint in Sitio Cabaroan in Barangay Poblacion in Santol town Monday.

Rogelio Vargas was in an eatery in Barangay Pinmaludpod, Urdaneta City when he was killed by a lone gunman who posed as a customer on Saturday.

P8-M marijuana  raided in Ifugao

TINOC, Ifugao – Authorities discovered P8 million worth of marijuana plantation here in Sitio Lukutan, Ahin, Tinoc, Ifugao on Monday.

Planted with a total of 40,000 fully grown marijuana plants, the marijuana were at a 10,000-square meter plantation. 

Upon discovery, policemen put the illegal plant on fire while some were brought to the Ifugao provincial office in Lagawe for evidence.

No one was caught taking care of the marijuana in the area, police said.

The marijuana haul in Ifugao on Monday was the first ever since the Duterte administration took over and launched its drive versus drugs.

Authorities have discovered marijuana plantations in Tinoc often, though concentration has been focused in Benguet, Kalinga and the tri-boundaries of Benguet-La Union and Ilocos Sur.

Espino wants name cleared

In Dagupan City, Pangasinan, former governor now congressman Amado Espino Jr  said, “I want to see the President at mabigyan naman ako ng chance at makapag paliwanag,” after a pronouncement by President Duterte.

Espino said he was completely surprised with the pronouncement where he was included in New Bilibid Drug Matrix.

He said was against illegal drugs and worked hard to secure the passage of Republic Act 9165,otherwise known as comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Espino was the principal author of RA 9165.

3 men dead

Three men were found dead in Bulacan, said Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, provincial police acting director.

Two of the fatalities were identified as Rely Reyes, 25, a resident of Barangay Dulong Mabon in Pulilan town and  Emetrio Guzman of Pandi.

Caramat said the bodies of the victims were wrapped in packing tape and bore gunshot wounds and notes identifying them as drug pushers.

In Quirino, a former member of the defunct Philippine Constabulary was gunned down in a reported shootout with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Andres Bonifacio in Diffun town before dawn Friday.

Ricardo Buizon was the most wanted drug personality in the town, and refused to respond to calls to surrender under Oplan Tokhang, said
Chief Inspector Maciste Serrano, Diffun police chief.

Serrano said two sachets of shabu and a .38-caliber revolver were recovered from the suspects.

Cagayan ambush

In Cagayan, Edward Bareng, 40, a resident of Barangay Ballang in Buguey town survived an ambush by unidentified men in Barangay San Vicente.

Chief Inspector Christopher Danao, Buguey police chief, said Bareng identified his attackers as Jofel Alipio, Alex Alipio and Aries Ligsay.

Danao said Bareng was on the their drug watchlist.

Meanwhile, seven employees of the Tarlac provincial office tested positive for drug use.

“They have to undergo a second confirmatory test just to make sure,” said Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap.

At least 7,000 drug personalities have surrendered in Tarlac since July 1.

Yap said they held an anti-drug summit recently to activate barangay anti-drug abuse councils in partnership with the Department of Health.

In Masbate, Julios Ducot, the fourth most wanted drug personality in Claveria town, was arrested in a sting on Friday.

More drug suspects slain

A most wanted drug suspect in La Union, was gunned down by unidentified men Wednesday morning.

Hermie Licudan was driving his motorcycle with his wife on their way to the Bacnotan municipal hall when two men on another motorcycle opened fire, said Chief Inspector Reynaldo Soria, town police chief.

Licudan was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bacnotan District Hospital.

In Bulacan, three men were killed and four others were arrested in anti-drug operations in Barangay San Juan in Balagtas town and Barangay FVR in Norzagaray.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said the fatalities were known only by their aliases of Ikong, Danny and Good Job.

Three died in a reported shootout with police in separate stings in Bulacan on Tuesday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, identified the fatalities as Rodesto Jenotan, 52;  Rodrigo Maringal, 40, and Danilo Bardaje.

Caramat said the suspects drew their guns when they sensed that they were dealing with anti-drug operatives.

Jenotan’s partner Marites Nicolas was arrested. A hand grenade, 17 sachets of shabu, a weighing scale and drug paraphernalia were reportedly recovered from the suspects.

In Tarlac, Jonathan Salvador, alias Jojo, 38, a resident of Barangay Poblacion Norte in Paniqui town shot it out with lawmen during a sting, said Senior Superintendent Westrimundo Obinque, town police acting director.

Salvador’s partner Carmille Franilla, 23; his brother Jovan; Ailyn Peyte, 22, and Rolly Sagun were arrested.

Obique said Salvador was ranked 10th on the barangay drug watchlist.

Also on Tuesday, Marvin Cabradilla was shot dead by unidentified men while playing billiards in Barangay Lingsat in San Fernando City, La Union at around 4:05 p.m.

Cabradilla, who was ranked ninth on the drug watchlist of the La Union police, was arrested for drug possession in 2014, but freed after posting bail.

3 found dead

In Isabela, three men were found dead along the highway in Barangay Paddad in Alicia town.

The fatalities were identified as tricycle driver Robert Cariño; Jonathan Salvador, 20, and Dario Bisteros, 23.

Chief Insp. Santos Tecbobolan, Alicia police chief, said Cariño surrendered under Oplan Tokhang last week while Salvador and Bisteros were not on their drug watchlist.

Three drug pushers were neutralized while five others were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by the Bulacan Police on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, acting Bulacan police provincial director, identified the three slain suspects as Rodesto Jenotan alias Hudas, 52, of Cabanatuan City and resident of Bocaue, Bulacan; Rodrigo Maringal, alias  Boy Cruz, 40, of Norzagaray, Bulacan and Danilo Bardaje alias Jomar Fulgo.

The arrested suspects, on the other hand, were identified as Leodegario Bernardino alias Joel Donaire, 28 ; Jose Rendora alias Macmac Eugenio, 50; Bernard Estrella alias Annabelle, 34;  Rafael Serna, 21, and Marites Nicolas, 44.

Supt. Charlie Cabradilla of the Boacue, Bulacan police,  said Jenotan was killed during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Bambang.

Jenotan, Cabradilla said, apparently recognized the undercover police officer  and hurriedly ran to his bed and took a hand grenade.

“But before the suspect was able to remove the grenade pin, the operatives shot him to defend themselves,” he added.

Recovered from the scene were the  live hand grenade, 17 sachets of shabu (with estimated weight of 2 grams worth P2,500), ammunition, drug-using paraphernalia’s and a marked P500 bill.

In Norzagaray, Supt. Rizalino Andaya reported that Maringal and Bardaje were killed while four other suspects were arrested after a shootout during another buy-bust operation conducted by the elements of Norzagaray police in the suspect’s drug den at Phase 1 Brgy. FVR.

Kalinga haul

At least P866.5 million worth of fully-grown marijuana plants were uprooted and burned during another anti-illegal drugs operations at Mt. Chumanchil, Loccong village in Tinglayan, Kalinga, anti-drug agents said Tuesday.

Juvenal Azurin, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera chief, said the marijuana plants were destroyed in the presence of teams from the PDEA-Cordillera and PDEA-Cagayan Valley, Kalinga provincial police and Tinglayan town police, Army’s 3rd Regional Public Safety Battalion, Mountain Province and Ifugao Provincial Safety Company members.

The latest marijuana eradication drive was done from Aug. 15 to Aug. 19. – With reports from Ric Sapnu, Freddie Lazaro, Jun Elias, Raymund Catindig and Eva Visperas