4 dead, 7 nabbed in drug war

At least four persons were killed and seven others were arrested in Metro Manila since Thursday as the government continues its war against the illegal drug trade.

In Pasig City, two drug surrenderees were shot dead by unidentified assailants an hour apart.

William Pintucan, 40, was with his nephew in his room on the third floor of his house in Leticia Ville Subdivision in Barangay Pinagbuhatan when five armed men barged in at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday and shot him repeatedly.

The assailants sped away on motorcycles. Police officers from Police Community Precinct 8 gave chase but failed to catch them.

Police recovered two spent shells and a slug and drug paraphernalia at the crime scene.

Pintucan surrendered to police at the height of Oplan Tokhang last year but reportedly resumed his drug habit. His name is on the barangay drug watchlist.

Jeepney barker Joel Retuba, 27, was calling for passengers at a jeepney terminal in Barangay Rosario when four men arrived on two motorcycles at around 9:25 p.m. Thursday. The men drew their handguns and shot the victim several times.

Retuba was reported to be a pusher and is on Barangay Rosario’s drug watchlist.

Drug surrenderee Jovit Billones, 24, was shot dead by eight armed men in Mandaluyong City Thursday.

He was fixing his motorcycle along Sgt. Bumatay street in Barangay Plainview when the assailants arrived on motorcycles at around 2:30 p.m. Thursday and attacked him.

Billones was one of the drug personalities in Barangay Burol, said Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, Eastern Police District director.

In Caloocan City, alleged pusher Arnold Valiente, 27, was shot dead and three others were arrested during an operation Thursday night.

Anti-narcotics officers led by Senior Inspector Cecilio Tomas had gone to BMBA Compound to check a resident’s claim of rampant selling of shabu in the area, according to Chief Inspector Ilustre Mendoza, assistant city police chief.

Valiente reportedly shot at the lawmen who pursued him. Sarah Joy del Rosario, 30; Redentor Nolasco, 52; and Jayson Urbano, 30, were arrested.

Police recovered a .45 caliber pistol, bullets, 11 sachets of shabu, six sachets of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Henry Sumbiling, 28, and Mary Grace dela Peña, 44, were arrested by watchmen in Barangay Tangos, Malabon in a sting along Roldan street Thursday.

Two sachets of shabu were confiscated from them.

Also in Malabon, Bernie Lignes, 33, was arrested in a sting along Salmon street in Barangay Longos. Two sachets of shabu were seized from him.

In Valenzuela, Harry Trembevilla, 44, was caught in a sting along Ilang-Ilang street in Karuhatan. Two sachets of shabu and marked money were seized from him.