Girl, six others slain in drug war

At least seven persons, including a 15-year-old girl, were killed in Metro Manila in the past two days as the government continues to wage war against the illegal drug trade.

Jennica Perez was killed by unidentified motorcycleriding assailants who were attacking drug surrenderee Annabelle dela Cruz along Sto. Rosario street in Barangay Plainview, Mandaluyong, Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula said.

Perez was in the area when Dela Cruz was shot after the surrenderee attended a dawn mass

Dela Cruz tried to run from her assailants, who gunned her down along with Perez, who also tried to escape.

The girl died while being treated at a hospital.

In Quezon City, drug surrenderee Angelo Pusta, alias Boyong, 41, was gunned down during a drug bust at his house along Nitang Avenue in Barangay Gulod at around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Novaliches police officers were reportedly able to buy P500 worth of shabu from the suspect through the help of an informant.

The lawmen killed Pusta when he allegedly shot at them after realizing the transaction was a sting.

He was brought to the Novaliches District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival after sustaining three gunshot wounds in different parts of the body.

His companion, Wiilliam Pelago, alias Taba, 46, also an alleged drug peddler, was arrested.

Recovered at the crime scene were seven sachets said to contain shabu, a coin purse, a .45 caliber Colt M1911-A1 pistol, a digital weighing scale and fired cartridge cases.

Police officers recovered the marked money from Pusta’s short pants.

Also in Quezon City, barangay tanod Rico Baraquiel was shot dead, reportedly by his neighbor, Pedro Amigo, outside his home along Insurance street in Barangay Sangandaan before dawn yesterday.

A witness told police he was outside the victim’s house when he saw Amigo approach, pull out a gun and shoot through a window, hitting Baraquiel, who was seated in the house.

Amigo also shot at the witnesses but missed, the witness said.

Baraquiel was rushed to the Quezon City General Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after sustaining a lone gunshot wound in his upper back.

Amigo remains at large.

A police source said they are looking into reports that the killing could be linked to the arrest of Amigo’s brother earlier this month.

Judy Amigo, 32, and two others were arrested in a drug sting on Dec. 2.

Also in Mandaluyong, Michael Desvarro was selling cigarettes along A. Bonifacio street in Barangay Hagdan Bato Libis when unidentified men shot him repeatedly, killing him, according to Sapitula.

He said that Desvarro was in the police station’s drug watchlist.

Eleazar Florez Sarvida was drinking with his friends in Barangay Addition Hills when unidentified assailants shot him dead, Sapitula said.

Sarvida was in the EPD’s drug watchlist, he added.

The same assailants killed Jonathan Pinasbo, a neighbor of Sarvida, in his apartment at around 9:50 p.m., police said.

Missing

Edward Tugade Rigor went missing shortly after he was shot by unidentified gunmen along Ginhawa street in Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong, Sapitula said.

He said Rigor was “barely hit” by the bullet and was able to run after the attack.

Meanwhile, 17 alleged drug suspects were arrested in antiillegal drug operations in Muntinlupa, Makati and Taguig City.

Senior Superintendent Nicolas Salvador, chief of the Muntinlupa City police, said 12 suspects were arrested in Barangays Sucat, Putatan and Cupang.

Three more suspects were caught in Barangay Pio del Pilar in Pembo, Makati and two others in Taguig City.