Dead bodies up in North, Central Luzon drug war

The number of persons killed in relation to the government’s war on drugs continued to pile up in Northern and Central Luzon last week.

In Ilocos Sur, Miguel Dizon, who was on the drug watchlist of Barangay Poblacion Norte in Sta. Maria town, was killed by unidentified motorcycle-riding men Wednesday.

Also Wednesday in Pampanga, Mispaf Sarip, alias Muslim, reportedly engaged police officers in a shootout during a drug sting in Barangay Sto. Domingo  in Angeles City.

La Union

In La Union, armed men stormed the house of Ritchie Mamaril, 37, in Barangay San Simon West in Aringay town and shot her repeatedly on Tuesday night.

Chief Insp. Silverio Ordinado Jr., La Union police spokesman, said the attack occurred at around 10:30 p.m.

Still in La Union, Ereneo Bernardo, chairman of Barangay Calumbaya in Bauang town was arrested in a police operation Wednesday morning.

Bernardo’s arrest was based on a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 67 Judge Ferdinand Fe.

Gary Garcia, 37, of Agoo town, was also killed by six unidentified men who barged into his home in Barangay Macalva Sur on Monday night.

Garcia was on the drug list of the municipal police, according to Chief Insp. Silverio Ordinado, information officer of the La Union police.

The suspect earlier surrendered during the conduct of Oplan Tokhang in their village, but resumed pushing drugs, he said.

A 9mm pistol,  a caliber .38 revolver, an M16 rifle as well as ammunition were seized from the suspect.

Nueva Ecija

Suspected vigilantes shot dead tricycle driver Emil Quiambao, 35, in Barangay Valle Cruz in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

Farmer Lopito Evangelista, 44, a resident of Barangay Cadaclan, Pantabangan town was found hanging from a mango tree. A suicide note was found among his personal belongings.

Police said Quiambao was on the barangay drug watchlist while Evangelista surrendered under Oplan Tokhang recently.

In Pangasinan, Alfredo Castro and Domingo Flores, 45, were gunned down in Binmaley and Sta. Barbara towns, respectively, on Monday afternoon. Police said the fatalities were on the barangay drug watchlist.

Barangay officials nabbed in Isabela

Kyle Bryan Andres, 31, councilman of Barangay Disimpit, was arrested in  a sting in Barangay Uno in Jones, Isabela on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Leon Rafael, Isabela police director, said the suspect yielded a sachet of shabu with an estimated street value of P2,500.
Police also seized Andres’ Nissan Urvan.

In Pampanga, four dead bodies believed to be Chinese and Taiwanese were found in separate areas in Pampanga Wednesday morning.

Jia Cheng Chen, alias Michael Chen, was found in a gray Ford Explorer parked along Mac-Arthur Highway in Barangay Baliti, San Fernando City.

Chen’s feet were tied with packaging tape, according to Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, Police Regional Office-3 director.

Angeles City

In Angeles City, Ricardo Santos, was killed by police officers following a sting on Monday.

City police chief Senior Supt. Sidney Villaflor said Santos pulled out a gun and shot at a team of police officers out to arrest him, triggering a firefight.

Prior to the alleged shootout, the suspect reportedly sold shabu to an undercover agent.

Probers recovered from Santos a .22 caliber revolver, a plastic sachet said to contain shabu and P500 marked money.

Four dead bodies believed to be Chinese and Taiwanese were found in separate areas in Pampanga Tuesday morning.

Jia Cheng Chen, alias Michael Chen, was found in a gray Ford Explorer parked along Mac-Arthur Highway in Barangay Baliti, San Fernando City.

Chen’s feet were tied with packaging tape, according to Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Police Regional Office-3 director.

Meanwhile, three more bodies, said to be  Taiwanese nationals, were found at a sugarcane plantation in Barangay Maliwalo, Bacolor at about 6 a.m.

Police have yet to determine whether the killings were drug-related. 

Bulacan cops shot, injured

In Bulacan, Police Officer 3 Auster Bolina of the Meycauayan police and a man who has yet to be identified were wounded in an alleged shootout in Barangay Malhacan in Meycauyan City before dawn Thursday. 

Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director, said Meycauayan police officers were patrolling the area after receiving reports on the sale of illegal drugs when four men fired at them. 

Bolina was taken to Sta. Maria General Hospital for treatment.  

Senior Police Officer 1 Dominador Mag-uyon of the Bulacan Provincial Public Safety Co. was walking in Barangay Bangcal in Meycauayan City when unidentified motorcycle-riding men shot him at around 2 p.m., said Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat, Bulacan police acting director.

Caramat said Mag-uyon was accused of collecting protection money from drug pushers. 

In San Ildefonso town, a man who has yet to be identified was dumped along the road in Barangay Pasong Bangkal before dawn Tuesdasy. 

The body bore gunshot wounds and a placard identifying him as a drug pusher. His face was covered with packing tape. – With reports from, Raymund Catindig, Francis Elevado, Manny Galvez, Eva Visperas