MANILA, Philippines — A suspected pusher was shot dead after he allegedly fought back during a sting in Tondo, Manila Friday night after the government relaunched Oplan Tokhang last Monday.

Kenneth dela Cruz, a 31-year-old scavenger and a member of the Batang City Jail Gang, was shot twice in the chest by police in Barangay 105, according to the Manila Police District Station 1 commander Superintendent Jay Dimaandal.

The suspect, who had been detained twice on drug charges and released six months ago, fled after noticing members of the station drug enforcement team during the sting, Dimaandal said.

The suspect hid and allegedly fired at the police, who retaliated and hit Dela Cruz twice in the chest, Dimaandal added.

Police recovered from the suspect six sachets of suspected shabu worth P3,000, a 9mm pistol, an improvised firearm and bullets.

23 others nabbed

Meanwhile, 23 persons were arrested for illegal drugs in Metro Manila since Friday.

Daniel Bastian, 37, accused of being a large-scale pusher and his seven companions were arrested in a sting in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City Friday afternoon.

Gilbert Mariano, accused of being a drug runner and the subject of the sting, escaped, said Valenzuela police chief Superintendent Ronaldo Mendoza.

Lawmen, armed with a search warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 89 Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villabert, arrested Leonardo Llanares, 59; JV dela Cruz, 31; Markjoy Baguio, 25; Marwin Fernandez, 36; James Noiza, 23; and Mark Anthony Roberto, 33, in Mariano’s house.

Bastian was arrested in his house by another group of operatives.

Mendoza said around 15 grams of shabu with a street value of P75,000 was confiscated during the raid.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the suspects had been under surveillance for almost a month and operatives applied for a warrant after they managed to record Mariano with illegal drugs in his house.

In Parañaque, Mark Lester Cortez, 20, was arrested in a sting at the Puyat Compound in Barangay Tambo Friday night for allegedly selling three sachets of shabu.

Sixteen more sachets of shabu and a sachet of marijuana were seized from Cortez, police said.

In Navotas, nine persons were arrested and P225,000 worth of shabu seized during an anti-crime operation and a raid on a drug den in Barangay Northbay Boulevard North Friday night.

Bernardo Aquino was reportedly caught selling a sachet of shabu for P2,000 to Benjamin Alinain. Aquino was arrested while Alinain escaped, police said.

Manuel Rajib was caught allegedly carrying a sachet of shabu.

Eden Joy Balotabot, Divina Dolores, Charline Masungari, Nolie Aguire, Ariel Boston, Gemma Baguin and Dexter Abapo were allegedly caught in a drug session in a shanty.

In Quezon City, five suspected dealers were arrested in separate operations.

Rolly Raneses, 38, was caught in a sting in Barangay Bagong-Pagasa at around 2 a.m. yesterday. Two sachets of shabu and marked money were seized from him.

Drug surrenderee Roderick Sagun, 41, and Princess Mae Flores, 29, while having a drug session at a house in Barangay San Martin de Porres at around 11 p.m. Friday.

Renato Cabunag, 37, was arrested in a drug bust in Barangay Escopa 3 at around 11 p.m. He is in the police drug watchlist. Two sachets of shabu were confiscated from him.

Ricky Rapanan, 39, was arrested for walking in public half-naked in Barangay Commonwealth at around 12:30 p.m. but 10 sachets of shabu were found in his possession.

In Marikina City, Richard Agumba was arrested in a sting in Barangay Nangka Friday night. Nine sachets of shabu and P100 in marked money were seized from him. – With Rey Galupo, Robertzon Ramirez, Emmanuel Tupas