CAMP G. NAKAR, Lucena City – Four suspected drug traffickers were killed by unknown gunmen while another survived an assassination attempt inside his home in separate shooting incidents over the weekend in Quezon.
Senior Superintendent Eugenio Paguirigan, provincial police director, identified the fatalities as Arnel O. Gapascan, a 43-year-old farmer of Barangay Antonino, Dolores; Randy Cabales, 34 of Barangay Bocohan, Lucena; Ariel Sotomayor Merle, 42, of Sitio Marikit Barangay Ibabang Palsabangon, Pagbilao; and Frankniel Fajardozal Aguas, 44, of Barangay Sabang Dos, Calauag.
Gapascan listed No. 1 in the town’s Top 10 drug personality, was dragged out of his room by unidentified gunmen and shot twice, according to the victim’s wife.
Cabales, on the other hand, was gunned down while aboard his motorcycle in Sariaya.
Merle was sleeping inside his nipa hut when two motorcycle-riding suspects forcibly opened the door and dragged him outside where he was shot repeatedly.
Aguas was killed by two bonnet-wearing gunmen.
Another drug suspect, known only as Nixon, survived a slay try inside his residence and was in critical condition at the Magsaysay District Hospital.
Witnesses said two gunmen, wearing bonnets, barged into Nixon’s house in Gumaca and shot the victim in the head and chest. They described the assailants as large built and stand 5-6.
Paguirigan said the victims could be targets of armed vigilantes.
In separate police operations, nine drug suspects were arrested. They were Lorenzo L. Lanuza, 52; and Richard B. Ipo, 20, of Brgy. San Luis II, Guinayangan; Grienboy P. Daya, 34, married, of Sitio Malapia, Barangay Samil, Lucban; Efipanio M. Puyos, 37, of Barangay Villa Reyes, San Narciso Rosalia R. Bueza, of Brgy. Poblacion Uno, Real, Quezon; Angelo De Chavez De Luna, 29, of Sitio Centro, Brgy. Bignay 2, Sariaya; Jason Basit Branzuela, 30, of Brgy. San Andres, Candelaria ; Mark Palisa Luistro, 25, single, of Brgy. Bulsa, San Juan, Batangas, and Julian Vincent De Guzman Castro. (DANNY ESTACIO)