VILLAGE OFFICIAL KILLED IN LAGUNA DRUG BUST

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna: An incumbent barangay (village) councilman and listed as a high-value target pusher on the provincial police’s drug watch list was killed in an encounter in Victoria, Laguna recently. Senior Supt Joel Pernito, provincial director, said suspect Estelito Victoria, incumbent official of Barangay Daniw of Victoria town, fired at and wounded poseur buyer and Police Officer 2 Noel Hacutina Jr., the operatives’ team leader. Pernito said Victoria was on the top priority list of Oplan Double Barrel and arrested on July 1 for violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act but was out on bail and continued to engage in trading shabu. Hacutina, on the other hand, was conferred the Medalya ng Sugatang Magiting while confined at the hospital recently by Chief Supt. Valfrie Tabian, Region 4A police director.

4 ‘ PUSHERS’ NABBED IN SOUTH COTABATO

COTABATO CITY: Four suspected drug traders were arrested by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the local police in separate operations on Thursday night. Chief Insp. Jardi Mont Sibal, Banga chief of police, said Ricardo Alabado, who surrendered last September, was target of a buy-bust after confirming that he returned to selling drugs. Seized from him during the operation were 11 sachets of shabu. In Koronadal City, PDEA operatives also arrested three persons, including two women, in separate anti- drug operations. Kath Abad, PDEA-12 spokesman, said Rowena Macasaet, 54, alias “Mommy,” was arrested in Navarro subdivision. PDEA agents seized four sachets of shabu from Macasaet, who manages a boarding house and most of her clients are boarders, students and some professionals. At about 11 p.m., another operation netted Maria Theresa Gunting, 36, and Glen Mark Rivera, 39, both of Jose Abad Santos Street. Seized from the suspects were a big sachet of shabu and drug paraphernalia.