4 drug suspects killed in Iloilo, Guimaras after poor rating on cops

Crime scene investigation: Drug suspect killed in anti-drug operations (RADYO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

ILOILO CITY — After Western Visayas police was given a negative assessment by Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, four suspected drug pushers were killed in separate operations in Iloilo and Guimaras provinces in less than 24 hours.

The fatalities were identified as  Michael Angelo Abebiner and Paul Centeno in Ajuy town, and Michael Huesca in Passi City, Iloilo province, and Renante Tanaleon, in Buenavista town, Guimaras province.

They were killed in four separate operations between 6 p.m. on Wednesday and 5 p.m. on Thursday.

The anti-drug operations came after the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) vowed to step up its campaign against illegal drugs following the negative assessment of the region’s performance by Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

“We draw inspiration from the uncommon resolve and passion of the Chief PNP in this fight to win the war on illegal drugs by year’s end. Towards attaining that end, we appeal for the widest support from various stakeholders in our community,” said Supt. Gilbert Gorero, PRO-6 chief of the public information office.

Dela Rosa was scheduled to visit Camp Delgado, PRO-6 headquarters based here, on Aug. 26.

Dela Rosa on Wednesday identified Western Visayas, Bicol and the National Capital Region as “barely passing” in the PNP’s “Oplan Double Barrel” campaign.

Police chiefs in these regions may be relieved from their positions if their performance will not improve, according to Dela Rosa.

First to fall was  Abebiner who was shot dead in a shootout with the police in Concepcion town, Iloilo, past 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Chief Insp. Jonathan Pinuela, Concepcion police chief, said Abebiner tried to flee from the operatives but when he was cornered at the cemetery in Bakhawan Sur, Abebiner tried to shoot at the operatives who fired back and killed him.

Tanaleon was killed at 5:45 a.m. on Thursday  in Buenavista town, Guimaras province.

Crime scene investigation: Drug suspect killed in buy-bust. (CDN FILE PHOTO/ CONTRIBUTED PHOTO FROM PNP)

Insp. Raymund Cruz, police chief of Buenavista, said Tanaleon was among those who surrendered during Oplan Tokhang, a campaign that involved the policemen to knock on the houses of known drug personalities to ask them to surrender and change their ways.

Instead of stopping, Cruz said Tanaleon allegedly transferred his operation from San Lorenzo to  Buenavista. He was shot after he attempted to shoot the operatives.

Past noon on Thursday, Huesca was killed after he also fought with operatives during a buy-bust operation.  Chief Insp. Elmer Magbanua, Passi police chief, said they also arrested three women and a male companion during the operation.

The fourth fatality was Centeno who was shot by police operatives about 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, in Ajuy, Iloilo, during a buy-bust operation.

Chief Insp. Charlie  Sustento, Ajuy police chief, said Centeno shot at the policemen after learning that it was a sting operation.

PO1 John Rey Vicente was hit while Centeno ran inside his house.

Vicente, who was wearing bullet-proof vest, suffered bruises in the chest where the bullet hit.  SFM