8 more drug suspects slain
Seven more suspected drug pushers were killed in alleged shootouts with police officers while another was found dead in the past three days.
Two were slain in antidrug operations in Daet and Mercedes towns in Camarines Norte, two in Pangasinan and one each in Bataan, Rizal and Zambales.
The suspects reportedly engaged undercover police operatives in a firefight as they resisted arrest during stings.
One of those killed in Pangasinan, identified as Jaime Tolentino, was ranked second on the drug watchlist of Tayug town.
Ryan San Juan, who was killed during an anti- drug operation in Barangay Del Remedio, was among the top drug suspects in Cardona, Rizal.
In Kalinga, the eighth most wanted drug personality was found dead in an irrigation canal the other day.
The decomposing body of Noel Batong-od, 34, alias Virgo, bore a gunshot wound in the head.
W. Visayas’ most wanted
In Western Visayas, the region’s most wanted drug personality, Melvin Odicta Sr., surrendered yesterday.
Odicta yielded a day after his wife Meriam and their son Melvin Jr. appeared with their lawyers before Senior Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso, Iloilo City police acting director, and Superintendent Salvador Dagoon, deputy director for operations and intelligence chief, to clear their names.
Odicta reportedly named the protectors of drug syndicates in the region, including police officers and government employees, during a closed- door meeting with police officials.
Central Luzon
Meanwhile, in Central Lu- zon, at least 49 suspected drug pushers have been killed and 445 others arrested from July 1 to July 13, said Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, regional police director.
Aquino said a majority were slain during operations in Bulacan.
He said at least 13,682 selfconfessed drug users and suspected pushers have surrendered in the region.
Aquino said the suspects yielded 369 sachets of suspected shabu, 27.17 grams of marijuana, 59 guns and ammunition as well as a hand grenade.
On Thursday, seven more drug suspects were arrested in Bulacan while 400 surrendered in Olongapo City.
In Urdaneta, Pangasinan, 1,177 surrendered yesterday.
Ex-vice mayor’s son
In Jones, Isabela, Glenford Raspado, 30, son of slain vice mayor Florante Raspado, was among 50 drug personalities who responded to Oplan Tokhang.
Like all those who surrendered, Glenford signed an oath to stop his illegal activities and help in the anti-drug campaign.
In La Union, police arrested Roberto Abalos, 53, an employee of the Bureau of Customs, after anti- drug operatives found five sachets of shabu and ammunition during a raid on his house in Barangay Poro in San Fernando City on Thursday.
Senior Superintendent Angelito Dumangeng, La Union police director, said Abalos is on the drug watchlist of the province.
Dumangeng said 2,800 drug personalities have surrendered in La Union.