10 killed in Central Luzon as PNP renews drug war

TEN ILLEGAL DRUG suspects were killed in Central Luzon since Monday to date after the Philippine National Police renewed its ‘war’ against illegal drugs. 

In Bulacan, one died in a gun attack perpetrated by suspected vigilantes on Thursday.

Glen Mark Deogracia, a resident of Barangay Poblacion in Calumpit town, was standing in front of a school when unidentified men shot him.

Deogracia was initially taken to the Calumpit District Hospital then transferred to the Bulacan Medical Center, where he died while being treated.  

Police said a knife and a cigarette pack containing 21 sachets of shabu were recovered from the victim.

Nine suspects were earlier killed in Bulacan Monday and Tuesday as police launched renewed “war” against illegal drugs.

Tricycle driver Elmer Pangsanjan, 41, alias Whitey, a resident of Barangay San Juan; Francis Bondoc of Kaingin both in Malolos City and Michael Maglanque of Tigpalas in San Miguel town reportedly shot it out with police operatives and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency yesterday.

Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police chief, said the fatalities were on the drug watchlist in their respective barangays.

Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said Errol Caperal of Barangay Sumapang Matanda also in Malolos, an alias Lord of Camalig in Meycauyan, Christopher Eustaquio Batia of Bocaue, Roberto Bautista, an alias Nognog and a certain Bentong of Barangay FVR in Norzagaray were killed in separate anti-drug operations on Monday.

Caramat said 21 other drug suspects were arrested.

He said 85 sachets of shabu and 14 assorted guns were recovered from the suspects, including the fatalities.

Pangasinan

Still in Pangasinan, 31 sachets of shabu were reportedly seized from carpenter Freddie Abalos, 39, a resident of Barangay Basing in Lingayen, farmer Robert Rosario, Danilo Cabobos and vendor Mario Santos of Agno in Tayug during raids on their houses also on Thursday. 

Lito Bulatao, alias Gerap, a newly identified drug personality, and Herminio Muñoz, who is on the drug watchlist, were arrested in Barangay Balite in San Carlos City also in Pangasinan on Wednesday. 

In Pangasinan, Cristina Balicud, 37, was arrested after a raid on her house in Barangay Poblacion in Asingan town yielded five sachets of shabu, P431,000 in cash and an improvised caliber .22 revolver.

Police said they also recovered seven motorcycles and 30 goats believed to be stolen and sold to Balicud.

Two drug suspects were also arrested in Sta. Rita, Pampanga on Monday. Sachets of shabu were reportedly recovered from the suspects.

-- Ric Sapnu, Eva Visperas, Raymund Catindig