WAR ON DRUGS

BULACAN: The dope war in this province continues to sizzle as police anti-narcotics operatives killed three armed suspected drug dealers in San Rafael and in the City of San Jose del Monte while eight other drug suspects were arrested in different police operations Wednesday. Bulacan acting police director Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., on Thursday identified the slain suspects as Mark Lester Marimon, 26, a resident of Barangay Tambubong; Julius Avela, 26, of Barangay Caingin, both in San Rafael town; and Ronald Francis Gariando alias “Botong”, 28, a native of Manila and presently residing in Robes II, Barangay Graceville, City of San Jose Del Monte. Supt. Rizalino Andaya, acting Chief of Police of San Rafael Municipal Police Station, said that an encounter ensued between operatives and three drug personalities – Marimon, Gariando, Avela, and May Ann Garcia when the latter sensed that they were transacting with police officers.The suspects fired towards the operatives that prompted the law enforcers to retaliate, resulting in the death of Marimon and Avela while their cohort Garcia was arrested. Recovered were eight transparent plastic sachets of suspected “shabu”; two caliber .38 revolver (Colt and Smith & Wesson) without serial number; seven fired cartridge cases, seven fired cartridge cases of caliber 9mm, buy-bust money and assorted drug paraphernalia. (PNA) QUEZON CITY: Around ₱1 million worth of shabu intended for distribution in three cities was seized from two suspects during a buy bust operation yesterday. Police identified the suspects as Gladwin Balaguer alias Weng, 39, of Barangay Sta Lucia, Novaliches and Joel Taruc, alias Joel, 38, Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon. Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, said the operation yielded four packs of shabu weighing more or less 200 grams, with estimated street value of ₱1 million. Eleazar said the suspects tried to escape onboard a black Fortuner when they sensed that it was a trap. A brief chase ensued. They were cornered along Congressional Road near Mindanao Avenue. It was disclosed that Balaguer and Taruc were on the watch list of QCPD- District Drug Enforcement Unit (QCPD-DDEU). Eleazar said they have been under surveillance for almost a month under Oplan Iceberg. The QCPD chief further revealed that the suspects’ source of shabu came from still undisclosed place in Region IV. It was also disclosed that the illegal drugs were meant to be distributed into several areas in Quezon City, Manila, and Caloocan.