Bulacan drug war: 4 slain, 63 arrested

MALOLOS – Four more persons were killed in antidrug operations in Bulacan in the past two days.

Erwin Manlapig and an alias Diego shot it out with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Bambang, Bocaue and Pinabakahan, Malolos, respectively, on Wednesday night, Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police director, said yesterday.

A man known only by his alias of Baboy allegedly drew his gun when he sensed he had sold shabu to undercover agents in Barangay Pulong Gubat, Balagtas yesterday.

Franklin Santos, alias Unyor, allegedly engaged police officers in a shootout in Hagonoy.

The fatalities reportedly yielded more than 30 sachets of shabu, marked money and four caliber .38 revolvers.

Reynan delos Santos was wounded in a reported shootout with police officers in Marilao town.

Caramat said 63 drug suspects were arrested in 45 simultaneous drug stings, service of warrants of arrest and raids in the province in the past 30 hours.

Five other suspects were earlier reported killed in alleged gunfights with antidrug operatives in Bulacan on Wednesday.

Caramat said 272 sachets of shabu, eight sachets of dried marijuana leaves and 12 guns of various calibers were recovered from the suspects.

He said the Bulacan police has intensified its campaign against drug suspects under Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded.

5 farmers killed

Meanwhile, five farmers in Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental were slain in shootings on Wednesday.

Farmers Jessebel Abayle, 34; Carmelina Amantillo, 57; Consolacion Cadevida and Felimon Molero, both 66, were in a sugarcane plantation in Barangay Napacao, Siaton, Negros Oriental at around 8 a.m. when the gunmen arrived and shot them at close range. One of the suspects also reportedly lobbed a grenade.

Farm security guards Roswil Antanoy, Edilberto Pancho, Reynante Rubia, Nelcher Abordo and Jason Ramos were arrested in a follow-up operation.

Probers are eyeing a land dispute as the motive for the killings.

Ronald Manlanat, 30, was also in a sugarcane farm in Barangay General Luna, Sagay, Negros Occidental when he was shot.

In Masbate, Pedro Arizala, chairman of Barangay Poblacion in Cataingan town, was standing in front of a hospital when he was shot.

Jerson Parungao reportedly resisted arrest and shot it out with police operatives serving a warrant in Barangay Cabatang, Tiaong, Quezon also on Wednesday.