Man killed in QC buy bust
A suspected drug personality was killed right inside a hotel room after allegedly fighting back with police in a buy bust operation in Quezon City Wednesday late afternoon.
Police identified the fatality as Carlito dela Peña, also known as Utoy, 47, resident of the city. He was previously arrested and had faced drug charges in 2016.
Investigation reaching the Quezon City Police District showed that the drug sting was conducted at the second floor of a budget hotel on Bulacan St. in Barangay Bungad around 5:30 p.m.
During the transaction with a poseur buyer from Cubao Police Station-7, police said, dela Peña pulled out his handgun and tried to shot fire at the former when he sensed he was dealing with authorities.
"A backup operative was quick to respond and neutralized dela Peña," killing him instantly, police added.
Recovered from the crime scene were P49,000 worth of suspected shabu and an Armscor caliber .38 revolver with five live ammunition and three fired cartridge case of caliber .40 handgun. (Joseph Almer Pedrajas)
10 men arrested after holding picket in Caloocan
Police arrested and detained 10 men after holding a picket in Caloocan City on Wednesday.
Four of those arrested were said to be regular employees of a notebook manufacturer in Barangay Bagbaguin. They were identified as Arrius Bocal, 45; Hernanie Aberina, 47; Gilbert Benlot, 50; and Roy Bacalso, 51.
While the remaining six, identified as Rafael La Viña, 25, Alvin Jimenez, 53, Richard Christopher Kahulugan, 21, Dominic Dilao, 27, Lorenzo De Vera, 24 and Chadli Sadorra, 26, are members of labor rights group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino.
The 10 were arrested over grave coercion, grave threat, physical injury, direct assault and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority.
According to a police report, the 10 men blocked the gate and prevented the workers of the notebook manufacturing company from entering their workplace while holding a picket around 8:30 a.m.
The police report added that the suspects then “became unruly and aggressive,” resulting in a commotion that caused injuries to some of the employees. This prompted the notebook company to seek assistance from police.
Armed with various firearms, members of Caloocan Police Community Precinct-6 immediately responded to the scene.
Police said that upon arriving at the area, the suspects then “aggressively assaulted Maj. Harold Melgar by grabing his uniform” while Sadorra allegedly “uttered threatening words” and cursed at the latter, leading to their arrest.
However, Ia Maranon, the suspects’ spokesperson, denied all these, saying “it could be backed by several videos uploaded on Facebook.”
“Paperwork is complete. The certification from NCMB are with the legal counsel,” she added.
La Viña claimed that, during the picket, “strikebreakers the picketline” and was “illegal dispersed.”
“Several workers and organizers were hurt in confrontation instigated by guards and police,” he added.
Some of the members of the company’s union had been on strike for over a week until their arrest to call for their union’s autonomy and to stop the alleged union busting of the management. (Joseph Almer Pedrajas)