2 soldiers killed in Negros Occidental clash

Two soldiers got killed while another was injured when government troops clashed with New People’s Army (NPA) members in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday morning.

Members of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion encountered an undetermined number of rebels in Brgy. Andres Bonifacio around 9:40 a.m., Lt. Col. Chris Tampos, Armed Forces Central Command spokesman, said.

Firefight went on until 10 a.m. and two military helicopters were sent from Mactan Island, Cebu, around 11 a.m. to bring in more troops and provide air support to the engaged soldiers, Tampos said.

Captain Leo Cunanan, Army 303rd Brigade spokesman, identified the fatalities as Pfc. Benavidez, Pfc. Toledo, and the injured, Sgt. Isidro.

Troops are still pursuing the rebels as of this posting. (John Roson)

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Suspect in radio anchor shooting surrenders

A suspect in the shooting of a Cagayan de Oro radio anchor surrendered to authorities in Misamis Oriental on Monday after two months of hiding, police said.

Baldomero Pajo, one of the suspects in shooting Bombo Radyo Cagayan de Oro anchor James Michael Licuanan, surrendered to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office around 4 p.m., provincial police director Senior Supt. Graciano Mijares said.

The 29-year-old Pajo, a resident of Brgy. Natubo, Jasaan, negotiated his surrender with the Army’s 403rd Brigade. He has been turned over to the Cagayan de Oro City Police, Mijares said in a text message.

Licuanan, anchor of the program “Zonalibre,” was injured after being shot in Brgy. Cogon on Nov. 10 while on the way home from work. (John Roson)

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Rebel, boy killed; 11 hurt in Bukidnon blast

A New People’s Army (NPA) member and a young boy got killed while 11 civilians, including several children, were wounded when a grenade exploded in Kibawe, Bukidnon, military and police officials said.

The explosion occurred around 11:30 a.m. Monday while NPA members were holding community classes at Sitio Silahis, Brgy. Sampaguita, Col. Leopoldo Galon, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, said.

“A grenade accidentally fell from one of their (NPA) members and exploded,” Galon said in a text message to reporters Monday night.

An NPA member died on the spot while 10-year-old Rolly Sabellena was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, Supt. Canilo Fuentes, deputy director of the Bukidnon provincial police, said.

“Malayo at liblib na ‘yung lugar na pinangyarihan, nalaman na lang ng local police natin doon nung may mga dinala sa ospital na biktima ng explosion,” Fuentes said in a phone interview.

Galon identified the injured as Barceliza Sabellano, 42, Sanny Boy Matunhay, 12, Robert Dumaguit, 11, Bernie Teric, 12, Jakerey Antivo, 12, all of Brgy. Sampaguita; Julieben Matunhay, 20, Samson Matunhay, 16; Emmanuel Matunhay, 9, Rogelio Buhawe Jr., 9, Aldie Capunay, 18, all of Brgy. Pinamula; and Daniel Meras, 19, of Brgy. Cagawas.

All the injured are still recuperating at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag, while the Kibawe Police and Army 8th Infantry Battalion are investigating the incident for filing criminal charges and human rights cases, Galon said. (John Roson)

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4 killed, 3 hurt in Surigao truck crash

Four people, including two high school students, got killed while three others were injured when the dump truck they were riding went wayward and crashed into a house in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, police reported.

Superintendent Martin Gamba, Caraga regional police spokesman, identified the fatalities as Cornelia Mocay, Sherly Acevedo, and Jerome Domingues and Roberto Gabe Jr., both 3rd Year students of the Jacinto Elpa High School.

The four, all hitchhikers of the ten-wheeler dump truck, died on the spot, Gamba said.

Truck driver Virgelio Corlit and two other hitchhikers identified as Joseph Ramirez and Julius Vellescas, both 15 years old, survived but suffered injuries on the different parts of the body.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. Monday, while Corlit was driving the truck (GNG-378) along the Provincial Road in Cabiles Subd., Brgy. Telaje.

The truck, loaded with sand, was headed towards the city proper when its brake allegedly malfunctioned, causing it to sideswipe a tricycle and smash into a house, Gamba said.

Corlit, Ramirez, and Vellescas were brought to the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center for treatment. (John Roson)

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Rebel killed, 11 hurt in Bukidnon grenade blast

see update

A New People’s Army (NPA) member got killed while 11 civilians, including several children, were wounded when a grenade exploded in Kibawe, Bukidnon, a military spokesman said.

The explosion occurred around 11:30 a.m. Monday while NPA members were holding community classes at Sitio Silahis, Brgy. Sampaguita, Col. Leopoldo Galon, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, said.

“A grenade accidentally fell from one of their (NPA) members and exploded,” Galon said in a text message to reporters Monday night.

The lone fatality is an NPA member while all the wounded are residents, he said.

Galon identified the injured as Barceliza Sabellano, 42, Sanny Boy Matunhay, 12, Robert Dumaguit, 11, Bernie Teric, 12, Jakerey Antivo, 12, all of Brgy. Sampaguita; Julieben Matunhay, 20, Samson Matunhay, 16; Emmanuel Matunhay, 9, Rogelio Buhawe Jr., 9, Aldie Capunay, 18, all of Brgy. Pinamula; and Daniel Meras, 19, of Brgy. Cagawas.

All those who were injured have been taken to the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag, while the Kibawe Police and Army 8th Infantry Battalion are investigating the incident for filing criminal charges and human rights cases, Galon said. (John Roson)

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Russian Navy ships visit Manila

The Russian anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy)

Three ships of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet are set to arrive in Manila Tuesday for a two-day visit, a Philippine Navy official said.

The anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev, sea tanker Boris Butoma, and rescue tug Fotiy Krylov will be welcomed by the navy ship Emilio Jacinto in waters near Corregidor Island in the morning, Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay said in a phone interview.

BRP Emilio Jacinto (photo courtesy of Philippine Navy)

The Russian ships will dock at the Manila harbor, then their officers will pay courtesy calls to the Philippine navy chief, the mayor of Manila, and the Manila police chief, Tonsay said.

The Russian sailors are scheduled to hold sports matches and tour historical sites in Manila before leaving on Feb. 3, he said. (John Roson)

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Hundreds, including tourists, left stranded by Aklan landslide

Landslide in Brgy. Libertad, Nabas town. (Photo courtesy of Aklan PNP)

Hundreds of people, including foreign and local tourists, were stranded when a landslide hit a portion of the highway in Nabas, Aklan, leading to Boracay Island, Monday afternoon, police said.

Mud and rocks fell around 1 p.m. along National Highway in Brgy. Libertad, Supt. Ranulfo Demiar, operations chief of the Western Visayas regional police, said.

“Ten to 15 meters of the highway was covered by the mudflow. No vehicles can pass, both coming in and out of Caticlan, Malay,” Demiar said in a text message.

Stranded people, including foreign tourists, climb over the debris to catch up with their schedule. (Photo courtesy of Aklan PNP)

“Kung bibilangin natin, more than 100 vehicles, including tourist buses and passenger vans, ang nade-delay, naka-line up lahat. Maraming tourists going to and from Boracay ang affected,” Senior Insp. Reynante Matillano, Nabas Police chief, said by phone.

Heavy equipment from the provincial government were sent to clear the debris.

As of 5 p.m., one lane of the highway has been cleared so vehicles are now taking turns in passing through, Matillano said. (John Roson)

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Philippines eyes planes, radar from Italy

The Philippines is considering buying military equipment, including planes and radars, from Italy, the Department of National Defense said Monday.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is in Italy set to sign an “implementing arrangement” on the procurement, the department said in a statement.

“Some of the military hardware that are being considered for procurement under the arrangement include medium lift aircraft, coast watch system radar, multi-role combat aircraft, and long range patrol aircraft,” the statement read.

The deal, which Gazmin will sign with Italian Defense Minister Giampaolo Di Paola, will be valid for five years and will be automatically extended for another five unless terminated.

“This arrangement will help expedite the procurement from the Italian defense industry suppliers with the help of our counterparts at the Italian ministry of defense,” Gazmin said in the statement.

Peter Paul Galvez, DND spokesman, told reporters in an interview that Gazmin and his acquisition team will look at various equipment from 20 Italian companies. (John Roson)

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Rebel killed in Sarangani clash

A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) member got killed as government troops clashed with the rebel group in Malungon, Sarangani, Monday morning.

Colonel Leopoldo Galon, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, said members of the 73rd Infantry Battalion encountered about 20 rebels at Sitio Kaniyogan, Brgy. Tamban, around 10:30 a.m.

Aside from the slain rebel’s body, troops also recovered an M16 rifle with an attached M203 grenade launcher at the scene, Galon said. (John Roson)

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2 US Navy warships visit Ph

Two US Navy warships will visit Manila and Cebu this weekend, as U.S. and Philippine officials vowed to strengthen cooperation in maritime security.

The guided missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer will arrive in Manila Bay while the USS Chafee will be at the port of Cebu for “routine port calls,” the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

The visits came as U.S. and Philippine diplomatic and defense officials ended a two-day meeting in Washington.

“We agreed to deepen and broaden our maritime security cooperation,” the two sides said in another statement released by the embassy Saturday.

Defense officials led by Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs and Strategic Concerns Pio Lorenzo Batino were working out details of an “increased presence” of US troops in the country, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Friday.

Gazmin said he and Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario will follow up on agreements reached in the meeting when they meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in the U.S. in March. (John Roson)

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