3 drug suspects slain

Three drug suspects were among six persons gunned down in Luzon and Antique in the past two days.

Rowell Sumugat, 33, allegedly drew his gun and shot it out with anti-drug operatives in Barangay Bia-an, Hamtic, Antique.

Sumugat was tagged as a supplier of illegal drugs in bars in San Jose, Sibalom and Hamtic towns, Senior Inspector Marc Dado of the provincial drug enforcement unit said.

Sumugat is the fourth drug suspect killed in stings in Antique in the past several weeks.

Drug surrenderee Amir Ampoah was shot by unidentified motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Magallang, Libon, Albay.

In Bulacan, a man who has yet to be identified reportedly shot police operatives who responded to reports of a motorcycle theft in Barangay Caysio in Sta. Maria town.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., Bulacan police director, said the motorcycle, a caliber .45 pistol, 10 sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the fatality.

In another incident, Alicia San Diego was shot in front of her house in Barangay Binawangan, Capalonga, Camarines Norte.

Eduardo Cambronero and his wife were walking on their way home in Barangay Dalas, Labo also in Camarines Norte when he was shot.

Retired police officer and cycling champion Pepito Calip was shot in front of his house in Barangay Linmansangan, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Calip, who won the Marlboro Tour in 1985, died while being treated at the Urdaneta City Sacred Hospital.

2 hurt in shooting

In Abra, Roderick Tadeo, 35, and Ruby Mae Viado, 33, were shot along Lazala street in Barangay Zone 4, Bangued. They were taken to the Abra Provincial Hospital for treatment.

Tadeo was recently freed on bail for a drug-related offense while Viado is a drug surrenderee.

Three college students were arrested in stings in Ilagan and Cauayan, Isabela and another person in Hermosa, Bataan.

P2.4-M marijuana plants destroyed

In Benguet, authorities destroyed over 7,000 fully grown marijuana plants and 2.4 kilos of dried stalks with an estimated street value of P2.4 million in Kibungan on Monday and Tuesday.

Nobody was arrested when anti-drug agents raided five plantations in Sitio Bana, Barangay Tacadang, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera director Edgar Apalla said.

Remote barangays in Kibungan and neighboring towns in La Union and Ilocos Sur are said to be hotbeds of marijuana plantations.