Eleven more suspected drug peddlers were killed either in encounters with lawmen or through summary executions in separate places in Metro Manila, starting Saturday up to Sunday dawn.
Chief Inspector Rolando Baula of Pasay City Police Investigation and Detective Management Branch said Celso Guites alias “Picos”, 42, a member of a drug syndicate, died after he and his two cohorts engaged members of Airport Police Community Precinct in a gunfight at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
Police said the cops led by SPO2 Gerardo Parchaso conducted “Oplan Tokhang” at the rented unit of Guites at No. 202 Road 6, Pildera 2, Barangay 193.
Instead of yielding to police operatives, Guites, who was armed with a .45-caliber pistol, and his two male companions fired shots at lawmen, triggering a shootout.
Police are now hunting down the other members of the syndicate reportedly led by a certain Edgardo Enriquez.
Earlier on that day, suspected drug pusher Romeo Mariano, 40, alias “Omeng” was also killed when he allegedly opted to shoot it out with policemen when cornered during the anti-drugs operation dubbed “Oplan Galugad” in Caloocan City.
Police sources said Omeng was one of the suspected drug pusher included in their watch list.
Based on police report, the cops tried accost Mariano during the anti-drugs operation on Magdalena Street in Sta. Queteria, Baesa, at about 5:30 a.m., but the latter fired shots at the lawmen as he ran away.
The cops fired back, killing the suspect on site.
Police recovered a .22-caliber revolver, a sachet of shabu and one brick of marijuana dried leaves from the body of the slain suspect.
In Caloocan too, police reported that a vigilante group called “Deadly Death Squad” killed two suspected drug peddlers identified as Larry Pizzaro, 49, of Barangay 175; and Dondon Padilla of Barangay 163, Camarin, at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, respectively.
PO3 Ryan Rodriguez of Caloocan City Police North Extension Office (NEO) said Pizarro was gunned down on Bonifacio Street while Padilla was shot dead inside his house.
Police learned that the duo were executed by four armed men on board two motorcycles.
It was learned from police sources that Pizarro earlier surrendered to authorities but failed to return to sign his manifestation for his surrender.
Also on Saturday morning, 25-year-old Leonardo Beltran, alleged shabu supplier in two villages in Las Piñas City, was found dead with tell-tale signs of summarily execution.
Senior Supt. Jemar Modequillo, Las Pinas police chief, said Beltran, who sustained a slit wound on the neck, was found sprawled in the middle of the street in Barangay Talon Uno. A placard with markings “HOLDAPER, AKYAT BAHAY AKO, WAG TULARAN” was found on top of his body.
Police recovered from the victim’s body five heat-sealed sachets of shabu.
Aside from his involvement in illegal drugs trade, Beltran was also known as a member of “Akyat Bahay Gang” and responsible for the series of robbery-holdup cases in the city, according to the city police chief.
Over in Makati City, two suspected drug pushers identified as Warly Tante, 29, and Raphy Macaraig, 30, were gunned down by unidentified armed men in separate locations at dawn yesterday.
In Manila, suspected drug peddlers Rommel Navarro, of Alamario St. Tondo; and Sonny Lagrario, 40, of Block 9 Extension, Baseco Compound, Port Area, were also killed when they tried to resist arrest during buy-bust operations on Saturday.
Another victim, Marvin del Bario, 20, vendor, of Barangay 825, Zone 89, Paco District, was shot dead inside his house by unidentified man who left a note tagging him a drug pusher and a robber, at about 12:30 a.m., yesterday.
It was learned Marvin surrendered to the police last July 8 at the Manila Police District Station 10.
Around 1:40 a.m. also yesterday, a man’s body with face wrapped with packaging tape and his hands tied with cable wire was found on Lerma Street in Sampaloc. On top of the body was a cardboard bearing “Talamak akong akyat-Bahay at pusher. Magbago na kayo.”
Police are investigating the incidents. (reports from Martin A. Sadongdong, Ed Mahilum, Jean Fernando, Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren, Betheena Kae Unite, Analou De Vera)