2 dead, 9 held in drug war
At least two men were killed and nine arrested in Metro Manila since Saturday as the government continued its revived war on illegal drugs.
In Manila, a drug suspect and alleged contract killer was shot dead in an alleged shootout with police officers Saturday night.
Police officers from the Manila Police District Station 7 received a tip that Arvin Aquino, 35, also known by the aliases “Sundalo” and “Arbelboy,” was roaming around Old Antipolo street in Tondo.
The lawmen arrived at the area shortly before midnight and spotted Aquino. Sensing the presence of the policemen, Aquino opened fire and ran toward Delos Reyes street.
He barged into the house of Miguel Ideo, continuing to shoot at the police officers. A policeman was reportedly injured in the gunfight.
After a brief exchange, one of the operatives hit Aquino in the chest and killed him.
Operatives recovered from the crime scene Aquino’s loaded .45 caliber pistol and three sachets of suspected shabu.
Superintendent Alex Daniel, MPD Station 7 chief, said Aquino was responsible for killing Sigue- Sigue gang member Hasan Husen in Tondo on Aug. 9, 2016.
He was also wanted for the death of 32- year- old mother, Carmelita Flores, who was shot while breastfeeding her four-year-old son in her house, also in Tondo, last Aug. 30, 2016; and the attack that resulted to killing of a certain Annabel Bautista and injuring Raquel Manonog on Oct. 5, 2016.
Aquino was also recently tagged as the gunman who killed two women on Feb. 11, 2017 along Old Antipolo street.
In Caloocan, barangay watchman Pedro Ignacio, 50, was gunned down yesterday morning.
Ignacio, of Barangay 188, was driving a tricycle when two masked men riding a motorcycle approached him from behind at the corner of Orchid and Doña Aurora streets and shot him several times in the head.
Ignacio’s fellow watchman told police he was included in the drug watchlist for allegedly pushing illegal drugs in the neighborhood and submitted himself to authorities during Oplan Tokhang.
Meanwhile, a couple and seven other persons were arrested in separate drug stings in eastern Metro Manila.
Alex Labaladejo, 52, and his wife, Maluh, 51; James Flores, 43, were caught after handing a sachet of shabu to an undercover police officer along Padilla street in Barangay Sta. Lucia, San Juan City at around 1:30 a.m. yesterday.
Allan Pablo, alias Pusit; Dante Briones were cornered along Block 9 in Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City just before 2 p.m. Saturday. A sachet containing .3 grams of shabu was seized from them.
Mariel Mandapat yielded seven grams of shabu when she was caught along Acacia Lane, also in Barangay Addition, at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Joyce Buennaventura, Amelita Ariniego and Adrian Candidato were collared along 2nd street in Barangay Nangka, Marikina City at about 4:40 p.m. Saturday.
The trio yielded five sachets of shabu and the P300 marked money.
Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, director of the Eastern Police District, said all the suspects are behind bars while appropriate charges are being readied against them. –