Drug war: 8 more slain in Luzon

Seven more drug suspects and a barangay official who was active in the anti- drug campaign have been killed in separate incidents in Luzon.

An alias Monmon was slain in a reported shootout with police during a sting in Barangay Bitungol, Norzagaray, Bulacan at around 1:45 a.m. yesterday.

Police said the fatality was on the barangay drug watchlist.

A caliber .38 revolver, two sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia were reportedly recovered from the fatality.

Angelo dela Rama, alias Buknoy, allegedly shot it out with a police officer who posed as a buyer of shabu in a sting in Barangay Minuyan in San Jose del Monte City on Wednesday. His six cohorts, who were arrested, yielded 14 sachets of shabu with an estimated street value of P16,000, police said.

Robert de la Cruz, an alleged member of the TengsicoCabreros drug ring operating in Ilocos Sur was shot dead after attending a barangay assembly in Sabangan in Santiago town on Wednesday.

Chief Inspector James Patrick Calibuso, Santiago police chief, said De la Cruz surrendered under Oplan Tokhang recently, but did not stop selling illegal drugs.

Also on Wednesday, Laurino Matanguihan and Danilo Pesigan were killed in alleged shootouts with police in Calamba City, Laguna.

Matanguihan and Pesigan drew their guns during a raid on their houses in Barangay Parian, Calamba City, police said.

A man who has yet to be identified was found dead in Barangay Altura Bata in Tanauan City, Batangas. His his hands were tied and face covered with packing tape while his body bore a note identifying him as a drug pusher.

In Camarines Sur, Jayson Nel Balares, 33, a former fireman, was killed in an antidrug operation in Barangay Sta. Teresita in Baao town on Tuesday.

Village chief shot dead

In Ilocos Sur, Purisimo Dante Francisco Jr., 46, chairman of Barangay 3 in Vigan City, was driving his tricycle on his way to visit his family in Barangay Calabanginan when unidentified motorcycle-riding men opened fire Wednesday night.

The victim was reportedly a witness to a murder case filed against suspected drug addicts in his barangay.

In Baguio City, July Day Manarang, 32, was critically wounded in a gun attack in front of a machine shop in Bokawkan road on Tuesday night. Police said the victim is a suspected drug pusher.

More nabbed

Meanwhile, more ” highvalue” pushers and other drug personalities were arrested in the past three days.

Armando Meneses, 42, a missionary, was arrested in a sting in Barangay Roxas, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya on Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Billy Mangali, Solano police chief, said the suspect is on the drug watchlist of the provincial police.

Six high-value drug targets in Goa and Bato towns in Camarines Sur; Malinao, Bacacay and Tabaco City in Albay and Juban, Sorsogon and 16 other drug suspects in Calamba, Laguna were arrested yesterday and on Wednesday.

Drug-free barangays

In Pangasinan, five barangays in Dagupan City have been declared drug-free.

Superintendent Neil Miro, city police chief, identified the barangays as Mamalingling, Salisay, Pogo Grande, Tebeng and Mangin.

Miro said he is confident that at least 80 percent of their barangays will be cleared of drugs before the end of the year.