MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE 2 – 12:53 p.m.) At least 25 persons were killed, most of them supposedly when they shot it out with police, overnight Wednesday to Thursday in Manila.
The new total, provided by police, updates the earlier figure of 20 recorded from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m Thursday by News5.
Manila Police District director Joel Coronel told reporters 14 of the fatalities were killed in drug stings and 11 others were robbers who were also involved in narcotics.
The deaths followed what has been called the single bloodiest day in the government’s war on drugs –32 persons killed, all supposedly in shootouts, during a “one time, big time” police sweep in Bulacan province.
Speaking at the anniversary of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, President Rodrigo Duterte praised the Bulacan death toll and said: “Makapatay lang tayo ng (If we can kill) 32 every day, then maybe we can reduce what ails this country.”
In the Port Area, parking attendant Rodrigo Angeles died from a gunshot to the head at the corner of Delgado Street and 13th Avenue around 11 p.m. as he waited for a customer who had contracted him for some electrical work.
His partner, Annie Angeles, acknowledged that he was an occasional drug user and that this might have led to his death, as she maintained he had no enemies.
In Sampaloc, a holdup suspect was killed when he supposedly shot at a police patrol that had approached him and his companion on Antipolo Street.
Senior Inspector Philip Ines of the Sampaloc police station said they had received a tip about a “riding-in-tandem” roaming the area and sent a patrol to check the reports. “Nai-spot-tan sila, pinaputukan sila (The patrol was spotted and fired on),” he said.
But residents who claimed to have witnessed the incident gave a totally different account, claiming the slain suspect had begged for his life.
“‘Sir, sandali lang po, sandali lang’ … parang nagmamakaawa … binaril ng malapitan (‘Sir, just a moment, just a moment’ … as if he was pleading … he was shot at close range),” one witness said.
Two sachets of suspected crystal meth, or “shabu,” and a .38 caliber pistol were recovered from the still unidentified fatality, who is believed to be a member of the Bahala Na Gang judging from the tattoos on his back.
Police are still looking for his companion, who fled on the motorcycle.
Two other men died, again allegedly trying to shoot it out with police, during a “one time, big time” operation in Malate. Six sachets of shabu and two revolvers were seized from the suspects, Chief Inspector Paul Sabulao, commander of the Arellano police station said.
The News5 tally of violent deaths:
- Sta Cruz- 5
- Malate- 3
- Ermita- 1
- Sampaloc- 2
- Mesa- 1
- Gat Andres-1
- Ana Hospital-3
- Ospital ng Maynila-4
Seven of the fatalities died on the spot. The rest were rushed to hospitals but eventually died.
WATCH THE NEWS5 REPORT: