5 drug suspects killed, 35 arrested

Four more suspected drug pushers were killed and 35 others arrested under Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded on Tuesday. Another was gunned down by suspected vigilantes.

Jessie Lagman, a resident of Barangay Mangino in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, allegedly drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu to antidrug operatives in Barangay Mangino in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. His companion Jerome Elpedes was arrested.

In Bulacan, an alias Richard of Barangay Sta. Elena in Hagonoy and his unidentified companion from Malolos City allegedly fired at undercover agents.

Sherwin Mendoza shot it out with policemen in a sting in Purok 4, Barangay Camambugan in Daet, Camarines Norte.

Police said guns, ammunition, sachets of shabu and marked money were recovered from the fatalities.

Jorico Silvano, 43, and his two companions were in a tricycle on their way to Kabankalan City when unidentified men asked them to pull over. The gunmen asked the companions of the victim to leave before shooting him.

Six bullet shells for a caliber .45 pistol were recovered at the scene.

Chief Inspector Ruben Pajarito, Cauayan police chief, said Silvano was among those subjected to Oplan Tokhang last year, but did not surrender.

Meanwhile, police have yet to determine the motive for the killing of Orlando Calalo, who was walking on his way home when a man wearing a black jacket and a red cap opened fire.

Sixteen other suspected drug personalities were collared in Malolos, San Miguel, Pulilan, Plaridel, Balagtas and San Ildefonso in Bulacan; two in Batac City, Ilocos Norte; seven, including the alleged owner of a suspected drug den and a 16-year-old girl, in Surigao City; eight in Lipa City, Tanauan, Calaca, Balayan and Rosario in Batangas, and one in Barangay Zone 3 in Libon, Albay.