6 drug suspects slain in Cotabato, La Union
Six suspected drug pushers were killed in separate incidents in Cotabato and La Union on Sunday.
Sadat Gampong, a barangay councilman, drew his gun when police operatives raided his house in Cotabato, Chief Inspector Aldrin Gonzalez, Soccsksargen police information officer, said.
Gampong was on the list of “high-value” targets of the police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Datukong Mamadra, Zaldy Saptula, Jumlah Andong and a man who has yet to be identified fired at police operatives who raided their respective hideouts also in Cotabato.
Gonzalez said the search warrants were issued by North Cotabato Regional Trial Court Branch 16 Judge Alandrex Betoya.
In La Union, Mark Bon Sumuingit was shot by an unidentified man following an altercation in Barangay Dallangayan Este, San Fernando.
Chief Inspector Silverio Ordinado Jr., La Union police information officer, said the killing could be due to a rivalry between two drug suspects.
Ordinado said Sumuguit surrendered under Oplan Tokhang in 2016.
5 shot dead
Meanwhile, two persons who have yet to be identified refused to pull over at a checkpoint and engaged police officers in a running gunbattle in Barangay Quibaol, Labrador, Pangasinan yesterday, Superintendent Fidel Junio, town police chief, said.
One of the suspects died at the scene. His companion died while being treated at the Lingayen Community Hospital.
Police are investigating if the fatalities were behind a series of robberies in the town last week.
Paul Galvario, alias Balang, was driving his motorcycle when gunmen in a white Mitsubishi Adventure shot him several times in Barangay Binday, San Fabian also in Pangasinan.
In Ilocos Sur, furniture maker Narciso Tacsiat, 49, was walking on his way home after visiting the wake of his neighbor in Barangay Lao-ingen, Sto. Domingo when he was shot at around 5 a.m. yesterday.
Rodrigo Tejada, 63, was driving his L-300 van along Don Mariano Marcos Avenue extension in Rodriguez, Rizal when motorcycle-riding assailants blocked his path. The suspects gave chase and shot him several times.