Drug crackdown - 30 slain; hundreds surrender in Northern’ Central Luzon

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – The government’s intensified, all-out war on illegal drugs is showing no signs of slowing down with surrender and arrest of hundreds and killing of 30 persons in Northern and Central Luzon last week.

     Eight more suspected drug pushers were killed in separate incidents on July 9 and 11.

Top Cordillera suspect slain

In Baguio City, the top drug personality in the Cordillera was killed while his three alleged cohorts were arrested by police operatives and anti-narcotics and intelligence agents in his hideout at Manuel Roxas St. Lower Brookside, here night of July 9.

Senior Supt. George D. Daskeo, city police director identified the fatality as Testy Sotero, of Ucab, Itogon, Benguet. Daskeo named the cohorts as Reservoir Pablo Quelala, 35, apartment owner and of Lower Brooksid; Leopoldo Prigilla Helaryo, Jr., 35, and Jonard Wansi Manuel, 26.

Confiscated from Sotero and his cohorts were a loaded Cal. 22 revolver, shabu and drug paraphernalia,

The city’s top cop here said no elected public official in the city is a “protector” of lucrative drug trade in the city, except for a barangay kagawad and two barangay tanods who voluntarily submitted themselves for having allegedly used prohibited drugs.

Daskeo, said despite non-involvement of elected city officials in the drug trade, law enforcers are validating reports on the drug trade in the city to ascertain protectors.

Meanwhile, Virgilio Madrid, 43; Prince Michael Lagmay, 22, and Guillermo Piliton, 47, were gunned down by unidentified men in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police acting director, said.

Madrid was reportedly driving his motorcycle on his way home to Barangay Catalanacan when he was shot.

Lagmay was ranked eighth on the drug watchlist in the city.

Two of the victims have yet to be identified. Their bodies, which were found along the road in Barangay Sumacab in Cabanatuan City, bore gunshot wounds in the head.

Pangasinan’s suspects slain

Jeffrey Fernandez, one of Pangasinan’s top drug suspects, was killed after shooting it out with police officers, according to Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, Pangasinan police director.

     Lee said police raided Fernandez’s house at around 3:10 p.m. on Sunday based on a warrant signed by Judge Melvin Jovito Samadan of the Pangasinan Regional Trial Court Branch 70.

     Police arrested Fernandez’s companions identified as  Shane Alcantara and Joan Geonzon.

Vigilantes strike again

Meanwhile, a lady drug pusher survived a deadly attack by two unidentified gunmen in Nueva Ecija afternoon of July 10.

      Police said Liza Hementera Flores, 37, of Barangay Diversion, San Leonardo town, was lucky to have survived the gun attack or could have been the 20th person to be eliminated by supposed vigilantes in the province.

     To date, 19 people known to be involved in illegal drugs in the province have turned up dead, allegedly slain by vigilantes, according to local police reports.

Cagayan top suspect slain

In Enrile, Cagayan, Roberto Dayag, 33, who was ranked fifth on the list of drug personalities in the town, was gunned down in Barangay San Jose on July 10.

     Police Officer 2 Moris Palattao said two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot Dayag as he was riding his bicycle along Cumigad street at around 6:30 p.m.

     Dayag was brought to the St. Paul Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

     In Mangaldan, Pangasinan, Supt. Benjamin Ariola, town police chief, arrested his brother, Mamerto Ariola, 38, a resident of Barangay Malabago, to prove that no one would be spared in the campaign against illegal drugs.

     “I am humiliated (by his acts)… I have given him all the advice,” Ariola said.  

      He said he applied for warrants from the Burgos regional trial court to arrest the suspects, including his brother. 

Ariola said their family agreed to detain his brother for six months and allow him to join local government programs for drug users.

Benguet surrenderees

In Camp Dangwa,La Trinidad, regional police director Chief Supt. Elmo Sarona identified surrenderees In Buguias, Benguet: Roderick Daoilang Galao-ey, 37; Arnel Wilang Abalos, 25; Efren Gatab Liwayan, 37; Arnel Elias Gatawa, 35; June Nagayos Rosendo, 28;  Jeoffe Mon Sacla Diando, 28; Charito Marcelino Domingono, 37;Rosebel Galano, 28; Amor Eusibeo Tiglao, 24; Sheenamae Lesiques Sampayan, 23; Mary Grace Galang Marcial aka”Grace”, 23;

Mathes Singwa Pa-ayas, 61; Samuel Guzman Punasen, 54 and Brando Galap Padaco, 31.

         Still in Buguias, more surrendered  on July 12. They were named as:    Reightser Angsoban Felipe, Benjamin P. Tayog Jr.,Lesly Rey Guevarra Ganase, Moises Abluen Guzman Jr., Joram Dayao Bagnaden, Wilmor Guillao Camti, Jesus Paje Ferrer, Joven Pulo Langbis, Polo Butag Basite, Tauelber Bugtong Sitoy, Delmor Luis Kidoyan, Munar Compalas Semeon, Heron Baliusan Guay, Clark Jemory Ganado Urban, Aldrin Canute Dulas, Jayson Albades Abde, Danner Sangao Bayan,  Ryan Carino Bigoet,  Arnel Bugnay Budas,

        Brander Igualdo Waclin, Romel Bandao Gayaso, Benje Domingo Waclin,  Charlie Pacio Magciano, Janray Dumalos Bayacsan, Abren Waclin Bisaya, Jestoni Waclin Liwan, Darwin Albades Abde Jr., Frank M. Nay-osan, Jimran Bugtong Igualdo,. Bencio Igualdo Waclin, Manwel Taynan Atas  and Rico Butag Basite.

       In Tuba, Benguet, four alleged drug users submitted themselves: Randy Oribello, Jones D Paciteng Lamsis, Joram Aliteg Paran and Hubert Lisking Galvey who claimed that his marijuana supplier was a certain Joel Lauyan of Tinok, Ifugao.

       In Baguio, arrested was Rufino Yamoyam Soriano, 35. Confiscated from him were shabu valued at P10,888 and drug paraphernalia.

      On July 12, authorities also destroyed in Tacadang, Kinbungan, Benguet around P100,000 worth of marijuana plants on a plantation.

      In Ifugao, police convinced more than 30 people in this corn-producing municipality to voluntarily surrender for their names to be cleared.

      The youngest to surrender was 12 years old and the oldest was 61. They were allowed to go home after the proper documentation conducted at the Sangguniang Bayan hall witnessed by police and local officials.

       Mayor Glenn Prudenciano acknowledged the drug personalities for their determination and in response to the call of the police to surrender and stop indulging themselves in illegal drugs.

     Prudenciano said the local government will find ways to send these individuals into rehabilitation if necessary as part of his full support on the campaign against illegal drugs.

     Acting Provincial Director Police Senior Superintendent Constancio Chinayog, Jr. expressed his gratitude to the LGU of Alfonso Lista for the full support to their peace and order program.

Abra

In Abra, 47 persons surrendered: Amante Labanen Borreta, 45 of Penarubia. From Sallapadan:  Alphine Begnalen Andallo, 25; Antonino Paligutan Carino, 48; Aries Trongco Balangcad, 27; Vladimer Agbilay Manggad, 29; Florante Altero Tanora, 40; Philip Bugtong Talingdan, 28; Eric Valer Viernes, 22; Bobby Lumadao Viernes, 41; Pepito Carino Donato, 45 and Arsenio Lumong-oy Siagan, 47.

        Surrenderees of Tayum town were:  Michael Arzadon Taeza, 30; Guillermo Arzadon Taeza 27 and Jeffre Talledo Tacanay, 29.

      At press time, 34 others surrendered in Abra.

4,186 surrender; 228 arrested in Ilocos

In Camp Florendo, San Fernando City La Union, police authorities said around 4,186 drug personalities surrendered and 228 persons involved in illegal drugs were arrested in Region 1 from July 1 to 12. 

Chief Supt. Ericson T. Velasquez, regional police director, said 4,186 drug personalities surrendered in police stations while 228 persons were arrested.

        Velasquez disclosed in two weeks, 989 drug personalities surrendered in Pangasinan, 2,030 in La Union, 766 in Ilocos Sur and 401 in Ilocos Norte.

       A total of 134 persons were arrested in Pangasinan, 31 in La Union, 25 in Ilocos Sur and 38 in Ilocos Norte. 

Seven drug personalities were also killed in separate armed encounters in Pangasinan during the implementation of anti-illegal drugs operations. 

La Union haul

About 1,545 individuals involved in illegal drugs voluntarily surrendered to authorities, Senior Supt. Angelito Dumangeng, La Union’s police director, reported last Wednesday.

        Two hundred of those who surrendered, including a former barangay captain of turned themselves in  at Farmers Civic Center in Balaoan, La Union on Tuesday.

         Insp. Antonio Dasalla, Balaoan police chief, said that those who surrendered vowed to discontinue their illegal activities.

         The youngest surrenderee was a 17-year old college student together with his 19-year-old colleague who said that they used marijuana since they were 14 and admitted that many of their schoolmates use it as well.

Pangasinan 

A total of 107 drug personalities surrendered Tuesday in Dagupan City and  Aguilar town.

         Supt. Christopher Abrahano, Dagupan City police chief said 48 self-confessed drug users and pushers from Malued, Lasip Grande and Barangay Lucao voluntarily surrendered

     In Aguilar, Senior Inspector Arturo DC Melchor Jr, said 59 drug personalities from different barangays voluntarily surrendered and were accompanied by barangay officials to the police station.

Pampanga jailhouse bust

Two inmates of the Pampanga Provincial Jail were busted for possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and  drug paraphernalia during an anti-illegal drugs operation last Tuesday.

        Retired Police Supt. Edwin Mangiliman, jail warden,  identified the suspects as Ericson Panoy Tungab, 36, and Michael Torres, 34.

12,000 drug suspects

At least 12,000 drug suspects have surrendered in Central Luzon, said Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Police Regional Office -3 acting director.

       Aquino said the regional police community relations office would conduct counseling for the suspects. 

He appealed to local officials and police directors to put up their respective reformatory centers to accommodate those who surrendered.

400 yield in Tarlac

Out of fear of being killed in legitimate police operations, more than 400 drug personalities have surrendered to local and police officials in Capas, Tarlac last week.

Nueva Vizcaya

Meanwhile in Nueva Vizcaya, at least 19 drug personalities from the different villages of Bagabag town submitted themselves to the Municipal Police Station for documentation.-- With reports from Mar T. Supnad, Erwin G. Beleo, Dexter A. See, Daniel Carino, Marcelo B. Lihgawon, Mydz Supnad ,Liezle Basa Iñigo, Freddie G. Lazaro, Franco G. Regala and Jerry J.Alcayde