2 KILLED, 8 ARRESTED IN BULACAN DRUG BUSTS
TWO suspected drug pushers were killed in separate encounter while eight others were arrested in different buy- busts in Bulacan. Police Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr. identified the slain drug suspects as Andrew Santiago, a known drug dealer of Barangay Caingin, and Lynard Crisistomo of Barangay San Gabriel, both from the City of Malolos. They died after engaging operatives, led by Supt. Heryl Bruno of Malolos Drug Enforcement Unit with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency– Region 3, at about 3: 40 a. m. on Wednesday in Barangay Bulihan during a buy- bust. Meanwhile, eight other suspects were arrested, including two minors, in separate buy- busts in the city of Meycauayan and the towns of San Ildefonso, San Miguel, San Rafael and Marilao on Tuesday. Twentyfour sachets of shabu and buy- bust money were recovered from the suspects.
18 PUSHERS, USERS NABBED IN CAVITE
THE ongoing crackdown on illegal drugs in Cavite netted 18 suspects in separate buy-busts in the cities of Imus, Carmona and Rosario on Tuesday. Arrested in Imus were alleged drug dealer Marlon “Emboy” Angeles, with Rommel Villafranca, Rumulo Casiano, Aldo Manuel, Mel Layosa, Exiquel Montalban, Marites De Asis and Jonel Reyes who were holding shabu session. In a separate operation nabbed were reported pusher Oliver “Rommel” Sipat who sold shabu to a poseur buyer, Jerome Murtel, Adriano Parin, Efren Montoya Jr., 58, Edgar Arais, Serleo Hibe and Arnel Lizarda. Seized from the suspects were 28 sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia. Arrested in Carmona was Errol John Levardo of Barangay Bancal, Carmona, while in Barangay Muzon 2, Rosario, nabbed were Anthony “Mata” Alvarez and Mark Alvin “Baki” de Guzman who both surrendered in July last year.
PDEA NAMES FIRST DRUG- CLEARED CAGAYAN TOWN
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ( PDEA) on Wednesday confirmed Santa Teresita as the first among the 28 towns in the province to be declared as drug- cleared municipality. Louella Tomas, PDEA regional information officer, said Santa Teresita’s barangay ( villages) of Masi, Simbaluca, Villa, Luga, Buyun, Simpatuyo, Centro East, Mission and Centro West are now drug- cleared while the villages of Alucao, Caniugan, Dungeg and Aridowen are drug- free. She said the absence of drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pusher and user should also be validated before declaring a place as drug- cleared or drug-free. Meanwhile, the PDEA has clarified that those individuals who voluntarily surrender are called “tokhang” responders and not drug surrenderers.