Village chief, 2 others slain in drug operations in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – A barangay (village) chairman and two others were killed in separate anti-illegal drug operations by Special Action Forces (SAF) troopers from Canlubang police in San Antonio town in Quezon province early Sunday, police said Sunday.

Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra, Quezon police chief, said Pedro Atienza, village chief of Barangay Balat Atis; Donald Dimaano Uri; and Nandy Rocafort Hiwatig were all high value targets on the police drug watch list. The simultaneous operations happened between 3:00 and 4:30 a.m. during the serving of 13 search warrants in different areas in San Antonio.

Police  said Atienza was killed in an armed encounter with the lawmen in his residence around 3:00 a.m.

Hiwatig was slain when he engaged the policemen in a shootout during the serving of a search warrant in his house in Barangay Loob around 4:05 p.m. The suspect also had a pending warrant of arrest for robbery.

At around 4:30 p.m., Uri was killed when he fired at lawmen who were about to serve a search warrant in his residence in Barangay Pulo.

Yarra said police operatives also arrested Manolito Pentinio and Edilberto Hiwatig, who were both tagged as high value targets. Also arrested were Ryan Vidal, Elpidio Hernandez, Allan Bukiran and Hanz Guce, all suspected drug personalities.

Three other targets of the police operations remained at large, Yarra said in a text message.

Mayor Eric Wagan, San Antonio mayor, said he learned of the shooting  from the local police.

“I have yet to receive a full report. But I am deeply saddened with what is happening in our town,” Wagan told the Inquirer in a phone interview from Guam, where he is accompanying his son in an invitational basketball tournament. But he stressed that he respected the police operation.

He described the slain village chieftain as sickly.

“He can’t walk alone without any help,” Wagan said.

Wagan said he was told that the police were serving more than 10 search warrants on several targets in the town.

“Some are drug related, some are loose firearms,” Wagan said. JE/rga