Fatalities pile up in NL as drug war intensifies

MORE DRUG SUSPECTS were killed or arrested last week in North and Central Luzon by lawmen and suspected vigilantes even as police have launched a manhunt for Edmundo Uclos, chairman of Barangay Mabuttal in Ballesteros town in Cagayan and his brother Arnulfo after raids on their houses on Tuesday yielded 50 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P200,000.

Police said the suspects are “high-value” drug pushers who surrendered under Oplan Tokhang last year. 

Meanwhile, among those willed was Lucina Carulla, 60, who was sitting in front of her house in Barangay Guiset Norte, San Manuel, Pangasinan Tuesday when motorcycle-riding men opened fire.

She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Don Laureano Perez Memorial Clinic. 

Louie Vallo, 36, was eating dinner with his son at their house in Barangay Mancup, Calasiao also in Pangasinan when two men entered and shot him. Vallo’s son was unhurt.

In Ilocos Sur, Mario Cabbab, 44, allegedly shot Gian de la Cruz, 23, a resident of Barangay Buliclic, Sta. Lucia Tuesday.

The two reportedly had an altercation after De la Cruz refused to lend money to the suspect.

A manhunt for Cabbab is underway.

In Pampanga, Francisco Manabat, 50, chairman of Barangay Bantay Bayan of Sta. Ines; Cesar Sta. Cruz, 49, and Willie Marin, 53, were nabbed for allegedly selling shabu to anti-drug operatives who posed as buyers. 

On Sunday night, security guard Manuel Nillo Tani, 38, was allegedly shot dead by his drinking buddy Salvador Padilla in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

Padilla was arrested in a follow-up operation. Authorities have yet to determine the motive for the killing.

Meanwhile, another security guard, Dante Garcia, 50, was wounded while his companion Rogelio Cayab-yab, 47, was unharmed in an attack in nearby Malasiqui town.

Garcia and Cayabyab were on their way home from the wake of a friend when the suspect, identified as Reynaldo Aquino, shot them.

 Probers are eyeing a quarrel over a card game at the wake as the motive for the attack. 

Lucina Carulla, 60, was sitting in front of her house in Barangay Guiset Norte, San Manuel, Pangasinan when motorcycle-riding men opened fire Sunday night. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Don Laureano Perez Memorial Clinic. 

Louie Vallo, 36, was eating dinner with his son at their house in Barangay Mancup, Calasiao also in Pangasinan when two men entered and shot him. Vallo’s son was unhurt.

In Ilocos Sur, Mario Cabbab, 44, allegedly shot Gian de la Cruz, 23, a resident of Barangay Buliclic, Sta. Lucia Monday. The two reportedly had an altercation after De la Cruz refused to lend money to the suspect.

In Pampanga, Francisco Manabat, 50, chairman of Barangay Bantay Bayan of Sta. Ines; Cesar Sta. Cruz, 49, and Willie Marin, 53, were nabbed for allegedly selling shabu to anti-drug operatives who posed as buyers. – By Eva Vispera, Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig