More suspects slain; 50 nabbed in Central, Northern Luzon

Drug war body count 

MORE DRUG SUSPECTS were killed while around 50, including a lawyer, were arrested in separate incidents in Central and Northern Luzon last week. 

Ilocos Sur

In Ilocos Sur, suspected vigilantes shot dead municipal employee Alex Cantoria, 54, in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Narvacan town also on Wednesday.

Police said Cantoria was on their drug watchlist and surrendered under Oplan Tokhang recently.

Lawyer for drug suspects

In Nueva Vizcaya, Cristopher Ramel, 53, a lawyer for drug suspects, was collared during a raid in his residence in Barangay Don Mariano Marcos in Bayombong town at around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.


Senior Supt. Leumar Abugan, Nueva Vizcaya police director, said Ramel did not respond to their invitations to surrender under Oplan Tokhang.

Police said 10 sachets of shabu were recovered from the suspect.

Ex-DAR Baguio employee nabbed

In Baguio City, at least 80 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P50,000 were seized during a raid on the house of Al Denver Walsayan, 33, Thursday.

Former Department of Agrarian Reform employee Carlo Organo, 48, and his partner Juliet Sambolledo, 47, were arrested on Wednesday. Five sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and ammunition for an M16 rifle were reportedly recovered from the suspects.

La Union

In La Union, Eustaquio Viduya Jr., a resident of Barangay Leones West in Tubao town reportedly shot it out with policemen in Barangay Lomboy in Sto. Tomas before dawn Monday. 

Chief Insp. Silverio Ordinado Jr., La Union police information officer, said the fatality yielded a caliber .38 revolver and two sachets of shabu.    

Mayor’s son's  brother surrender

Meanwhile, in Isabela, the son and brother of the mayor of Ramon town surrendered under Oplan Tokhang Tuesday.

Jessie Leonard Laddaran, 26, councilor of Barangay Ambatali and businessman Jason Laddaran, 28, admitted that they are drug users.

Jessie is the son while Jason is the brother of Mayor Jesus Laddaran.

Chief Inspector Genesis Cabacungan, Ramon police chief, said Jason and Jessie are on their drug watchlist.

Nueva Ecija

In Nueva Ecija, Antonio Pagarigan, chairman of Barangay Saint John in Guimba town, was arrested during a raid also on Tuesday. The suspect yielded two sachets of shabu, a caliber .45 pistol and ammunition, police said.

Roland Butacan, 32, was collared for allegedly selling three sachets of shabu in a sting in Barangay Villa Maria in Enrile, Cagayan.

In Rizal, Jeferson Redova, Zander Zamudio and Kip Pacis were arrested in stings in Barangays Rosario, Manggahan and Burgos, respectively, in Rodriguez town on Tuesday.

Bulacan

In Bulacan, Emiliano Belen, a resident of Barangay Maguinao in San Rafael town; Francisco Apilinia and Romeo Andres, of San Mateo, Norzagaray; Romick Cruz and Salvador Surban, of Batia and Duhat, respectively, in Bocaue; Buboy Fortes and Nardo Rodrigo, of San Martin, San Jose del Monte; Edgardo Bermudez of Basuit, San Ildefonso; Romualdo Santos of Pulo, San Rafael; a certain Andrew of Sto. Niño, Pandi, and a man who has yet to be identified were killed in separate police operations on Wednesday, said Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director.

Caramat said 44 others were arrested in simultaneous stings in the province.

He said 155 sachets of shabu, 15 assorted firearms as well as ammunition were recovered from the fatalities and the arrested suspects.

Four suspected drug personalities were earlier killed in alleged shootouts with police during stings in Bulacan and La Union Monday and Tuesday

Still in Bulacan, Romnick Cruz, alias Dodong, a resident of Barangay Batia in Bocaue; Theodore Fortes, alias Buboy, and Nanding Francisco, residents of Barangay San Martin in San Jose del Monte City, allegedly drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to policemen who posed as buyers, on Tuesday and yesterday, respectively.

Caramat  said 15 sachets of shabu, three guns and P4,500 in cash were recovered from the fatalities.

Caramat said Cruz was on the barangay drug watchlist while Fortes was ranked eighth among drug personalities in San Jose del Monte City. – With reports from Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Victor Martin, Jun Elias and Manny Galvez