17 more drug suspects killed

The list gets longer. Seventeen more persons believed to be involved in illegal drugs have been killed across the country in the past three days.

Three men were killed in a sting in Plaridel, Bulacan before dawn yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said Jerax Desiderio, alias Jingo de Guzman, and his cohorts, who were in a Ford Ranger, drew their guns after sensing that they were dealing with undercover agents. The two other fatalities have yet to be identified.

A man identified only as Jojo was found dead in a rice field also in Plaridel. Police said they found sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia near Jojo’s body.

Also yesterday, Mark Jayson Pasahol was slain during a sting in Barangay Pag-asa in Binangonan, Rizal.

Three unidentified men were found dead in General Trias, Kawit and Dasmariñas City in Cavite and another in Quezon on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Police said the bodies bore gunshot wounds and a placard identifying them not only as drug pushers, but also as carjackers and robbers.

Another unidentified man was found dead in Barangay Anolid in Mangaldan, Pangasinan yesterday. His body bore stab wounds.

In Laguna, an Indian man identified as Ram Sita, was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Tubuan in Pila town at around 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, John Kenneth Biernes, 24, a resident of Barangay Bantug Bulao in Cabanatuan City and Victorino Gajis, 39, of Barangay Sampaloc in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija were killed in an alleged shootout with police.

Senior Superintendent Manuel Cornel, Nueva Ecija police director, said Biernes was ranked third on the drug watchlist.

In Isabela, Jerry Santos, who surrendered under Oplan Tokhang on July 14, was shot dead while driving his tricycle after visiting his banana farm in Barangay Villaluz in Benito Soliven town.

Senior Inspector Jose Torrijos, Soliven police chief, said the suspect yielded two sachets of dried marijuana leaves and a sachet of shabu.

Cop killed

Meanwhile, in Pangasinan, Senior Police Officer 1 Randy Bandong was killed during a sting in Barangay Banaoang in Calasiao town before dawn yesterday.

Bandong’s service firearm and 8.27 grams of suspected shabu were recovered at the scene.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, Pangasinan provincial director, said Bandong, who was ranked second on the drug watchlist of the province, supplied shabu to construction workers, tricycle drivers and bus conductors in Calasiao.

In Cebu, Police Officer 1 Dave Agcol was killed while his wife PO2 Genevieve Agcol was arrested in an antidrug operation in Barangay Inayagan in Naga City on Wednesday.

Militiaman, village exec

A member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit who was on the drug watchlist of Ipil town was gunned down in Zamboanga Sibugay on Wednesday night.

Reynaldo Pasaporte, 49,was drinking coffee in a store along the highway in Barangay Malipayun when he was shot at around 8:30 p.m., said Superintendent Rogelio Alabata, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesman.

Village councilor and former village chief Jovencio Blando died in an ambush in Barangay Sta. Rosa in Aurora, Isabela on Wednesday.

Senior Inspector Mervin delos Santos, Aurora police chief, said Blando, who surrendered on July 23, was driving his motorcycle on his way home when he was waylaid.

In Albay, Edwin Lansam was killed in an alleged shootout with anti-drug operatives in Purok 3, Barangay San Lorenzo in Tabaco City.

Lansam reportedly resisted arrest when police served a warrant issued by a local court for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.