6 drug suspects shot dead in North, Central Luzon

By Ramon Efren Lazaro

Six more drug suspects were killed in separate incidents in Ilocos Sur, La Union and Ilocos Norte and Bulacan last week.

Leonardo Portela, a resident of Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur, allegedly engaged anti-narcotics agents in a shootout in Candon City.

In La Union, Rodante C. Acosta was shot dead when he fired at police officers who posed as buyers of shabu in Barangay Baroro, Bacnotan.

Chief Insp. Silverio Ordinado Jr., La Union police information officer, said  Acosta was a newly identified drug personality and resident of Barangay Lettac Norte, Santol, La Union.

Ordinado said joint police personnel of Bacnotan and La Union Police Provincial Office-LUPMFC conducted drug net operation in the said area.

Acosta drew his firearm tucked on his waist when he sensed transacting with a police poseur buyer prompting him to engage in a firefight that resulted in the death of the suspect..

Recovered from the suspect were one handgun “Brojas Custom Limited Edition” with serial number 526973 inserted with one magazine with 3-live ammunition, 9 small heat sealed sachets of alleged shabu, and P1,000 buy-bust money. All evidences are now under custody of Scene of the Crime Operatives.

Acosta was declared dead-on-arrival when brought to the nearest hospital for medical treatment. He suffered gunshot wounds on his body parts.

Meanwhile, police are looking at illegal drugs as the motive for gun attacks in Ilocos Norte and Isabela that left a drug surrenderee dead and two others wounded.

Arsenio Cajigal, 47, an employee of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, was in a van with his co-worker Alexter Baldugo, 47, when they were shot by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Apatut-Lubong, Pinili town.

Cajigal was pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital, where Baldugo, who was wounded, was confined.

In Isabela, former barangay kagawad Rizalino Borromeo, 49, was walking in Barangay Caliguian when he was shot.

Police said the victims surrendered under Oplan Tokhang in 2016.

Car thief slain in shootout

Marcelino Pena and two others known only by their aliases of Michael and Pilan opened fire when they sensed they had sold shabu to undercover agents in Pandi, Bocaue and Meycauayan, respectively, according to Chief Supt. Chito Bersaluna, acting Bulacan police director.

Bersaluna said the fatalities yielded 21 sachets of shabu, three .38 caliber revolvers and marked money.

He said five other drug suspects were arrested in stings in Malolos, Hagonoy and Sta. Maria. – Erwin Beleo, Raymund Catindig, Eva Visperas, Jun Elias, Emmanuel Tupas