More killed in Northern, Central Luzon drug war

MORE DRUG SUSPECTS were killed or arrested in Northern and Central Luzon last week.

On Wednesday motorcycle-riding men shot dead five persons, including a drug suspect, on Wednesday.

Tattoo artist Rafael Tuppal was standing in front of a convenience store in Barangay District 2, Cauayan, Isabela when he was shot. 

Superintendent Narciso Paragas, Cauayan City police chief, said Tuppal, who was ranked ninth on their drug watchlist, surrendered under Oplan Tokhang last year.

Another drug suspect was wounded in a gun attack by suspected vigilantes while Jerry Quilang, 52, chairman of Barangay Caritan in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, was driving his sport utility vehicle when motorcycle-riding men shot him at around 9 a.m. He was confined at St. Paul’s Hospital.

Supt. Edward Guzman, Tuguegarao police chief, said Quilang is on their list of “high-value” drug suspects.

Three other suspects were nabbed in stings in San Jose Del Monte, two in Plaridel and one each in San Miguel, Norzagaray, Hagonoy and Angat, Bulacan. Police said they recovered 25 sachets of shabu, a caliber .38 revolver, marked money and drug paraphernalia from the suspects.

The father of a suspected drug lord was killed in Bulacan Monday. Buenaventura David, alias Jun, allegedly drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu worth P1,000 to undercover agents  in Barangay Balagtas, San Rafael, Bulacan  at around 11 p.m. on Monday.              

At least 12 drug suspects have been arrested in San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan, Baliwag, Bocaue and Balagtas in Bulacan since Monday. 

Meanwhile, a suspected drug trafficker was killed in an alleged encounter with police officers in Tarlac City before dawn Wednesday.

Marelon Kasan, 33, of Paco, Manila, was said to be the supplier of illegal drugs to users who earlier surrendered under Oplan Tokhang, but have returned to drug use, city police chief Superintendent Luis Ventura said.

Kasan reportedly pulled out a gun after sensing that he was dealing with undercover agents, who conducted a sting at around 3 a.m. in Barangay Minane.

Police said they found from Kasan’s wallet several transaction receipts from a money remittance firm, showing alleged payment made by drug surrenderees for the shabu they bought.

Ventura said the receipts bore the names of persons who have surrendered to the police and expressed willingness to be rehabilitated.

Probers also recovered several plastic sachets said to contain shabu and drug paraphernalia from the suspect’s pockets, and a gun. 

Meanwhile, the city police arrested three barangay councilmen for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The suspects were identified as Daniel Quilala of Barangay Alfonso, and Noel Sanches and Gil Pascua, both of Barangay Sta. Rita. -- Raymund Catindig, Eva Visperas, Ric Sapnu