Suspected drug gang member killed, 7 nabbed by Makati cops

An alleged member of a drug-trafficking group — whose leader was on President Duterte’s “narcolist” — was killed by the Makati City police in an operation that ended in neighboring Pasig City on Tuesday.

Seven other suspected members of the Manite gang, which authorities also linked to gunrunning, were arrested.

Prior to the operation, a team from the Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) of the Makati police received a tip about a meeting taking place Tuesday afternoon between two groups, one of which was led by a woman known as “Ganda,” on  Bunyi Street, Buting, in Pasig.

Insp. Jeson Vigilla, the SDEU chief, said that when they arrived at the area, they spotted the gang members in a white Toyota Vios (CSC311).

As the police moved in, one of the passengers fired at them, setting off a running gun battle that ended with the Vios being cornered on A. Tanangco Street.

One of the suspects, a certain “Topher” from Comembo, Makati, was killed.

An SDEU member, PO1 Tinpee Merdegia, was wounded.

The three other passengers of the Vios surrendered, among them “Ganda,” a call center agent whose real name was Theresa Elva de Paz. The others were identified as John Rapsing, a former Army soldier; and Daniel Novie Bernardo.

Father and son

Four other gang members were arrested on Bunyi Street—Mark Tampos, Joharah Sally Imogbel, Jennelyn Borromeo and Jhon Michael Caliboso.

The police said they found five plastic packets of “shabu” (crystal meth), a digital weighing scale and a .45-caliber Kimber Ultra Carry pistol inside their suspects’ vehicle.

Norman Ace Manite, the alleged leader of the group, remains at large.

His father, Romilo, whom police had also accused of serving the group, was arrested on Aug. 29.