More drug suspects, gun- for-hire slain in shootouts

MORE DRUG SUSPECTS were slain lawmen and alleged vigilantes last week in Northern and Central Luzon.

A man who has yet to be identified reportedly drew his gun Tuesday when policemen tried to recover a motorcycle he allegedly stole from a certain Maron Gabuyo in Barangay San Juan in Ilagan City, Isabela.

In Pangasinan, police said Usang Reyes of a gun-for-hire syndicate that is also involved in extortion drew his gun when he sensed he had dealt with undercover operatives during an entrapment in Barangay Nacasayan in Urdaneta City. His companion Eric Serain was arrested.

In La Union, three suspected members of a gunrunning syndicate – Army reservist Rogelio Regacho Jr., 33; Ronnel Laroco, 29, and Benson Aquino, 26, – were arrested in a sting in Barangay San Pablo in Balaoan, La Union on April 9.

Three guns and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.  

Motorcycle-riding men killed Virgilio Velasco, 35, in Hagonoy, Bulacan April 7.

Velasco was standing in front of a water refilling station in Barangay San Pedro when a motorcycle pulled over.

One of the riders pulled out a gun and shot Velasco, killing him at the scene, according to Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., acting Bulacan police director.

Renato Taba and a certain Cyrus reportedly drew their guns when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Tigbe in Norzagaray, Bulacan on April 6. 

An alias Enteng and a man known only as Noli allegedly fired at anti-drug operatives in Barangay Mabolo in Malolos April 9.

Police said three .38-caliber revolvers, an improvised shotgun, sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and marked money were recovered from the fatalities, who were known drug pushers in their barangays.

Ralph Tabbu, 56, was walking in Barangay Pulong Buhangin in Sta. Maria when he was shot on Thursday night. He allegedly yielded four sachets of shabu. – Ric Sapnu, Raymund Catindig, Eva Visperas and Jun Elias