9 killed as bus slams, drags tricycle in Quezon

Photo courtesy of Quezon Police Provincial Office

Nine people, including four minors, died after a passenger bus collided with and dragged the tricycle they were riding, along the Maharlika Highway in Calauag, Quezon, early Sunday, police said.

Passengers Natividad Breva, 51; Federico Ebiernas, 44; Letecia Ebiernas, 43; Jackielyn Casabon, 29; Krizel Pera, 14; Glicel Casabon, 9; Daniela Olanda, 9; and Kathleen Casabon, 7, died on the spot while their driver Redentor Olanda, 37, was declared dead at the St. Peter Hospital, Quezon provincial police spokesman Chief Insp. Ediclle Canals said.

The incident occurred around 7:25 a.m., while Olanda was driving the tricycle along the highway’s portion in Brgy. Biyan.

The tricycle was heading towards Calauag town proper when it was hit by the Arandia Bus Line unit (EVN-970) being driven by Albert Oli from Manila to Bicol, Canals said.

The bus dragged the tricycle some 56 meters from the point of impact, he said.

Investigation showed that Oli overtook another bus by using the opposite lane, causing his bus to collide head on with Olanda’s tricycle.

Oli’s bus suffered heavy damage due to the strong impact, while the tricycle was totally wrecked, Canals said.

The fatalities’ bodies have been brought to a local funeral parlor while Oli is now detained at the Calauag Police Station.

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property are now being prepared against the bus driver, Canals said. (John Roson)

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Gunmen abduct radio reporter-commentator in Quezon

Armed men abducted a radio reporter and commentator inside a restaurant in Candelaria, Quezon, early Sunday, police said.

Melinda Jennifer Glifonea, of 103.1 FM Edge Radio, was abducted shortly before 4 a.m., while she was eating at the Lugawan ng Masa restaurant along Argao st., Brgy. Poblacion, Chief Insp. Edcille Canals, Quezon provincial police spokesman, said.

Two men wearing bull caps and had their faces covered with handkerchiefs arrived at the restaurant on a silver Toyota Innova, drew short firearms, and declared a heist, Canals said.

The gunmen ordered everyone inside the restaurant to lie on the floor, forcibly took Glifonea to their vehicle, then fled towards the direction of Brgy. Pahinga Norte and the Candelaria Bypass road, he said.

The incident was captured on the establishment’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

The abductors’ vehicle had its registration plate covered, but its conduction sticker 7858 was seen, Canals said.

Members of the Candelaria Police are still tracking down the abductors and the victim as of this writing. (John Roson)

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Suspected rebels ambush PCOS escorts: 2 soldiers killed, 6 hurt

Two soldiers were killed while six others were injured as suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members ambushed government troops escorting precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in Tabuk City, Kalinga, Thursday morning, police and military officials said.

Senior Supt. Froilan Perez, Kalinga provincial police director, identified the slain soldiers as Cpl. Wilfredo Bacacao and Cpl. Allen Pattaguan, both of the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion.

Injured were Pfc. Delfin Goyagoy, Ssgt. Rico Delacuesta, Sgt. Wayne Aguinaldo, Tsgt. Herminigildo Vergara, Tsgt. Constante Alupani, and Ssgt. Michael Adducul, also members of the 17th IB.

The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m., while Commission on Elections (Comelec) representatives carrying PCOS machines were convoying along the Kalinga-Bontoc road in Sitio Patiking, Brgy. Bagumbayan, escorted by policemen and Army troopers.

Perez said the group was heading towards Balbalan town when an undetermined number of armed men fired upon the soldiers, who were at the convoy’s tail.

“Pinalampas muna ‘yung mga taga-Comelec, BEIs (board of election inspectors), saka ‘yung PNP escort, pero pagdating dun sa Army inupakan na sila,” Perez said in a phone interview.

Col. Loreto Magundayao, spokesman of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said the soldiers and policemen were able to return fire, but it was not known if the rebels also suffered casualties.

“Ang mahalaga naman dun, ‘yung mga taga-Comelec safe sila at saka ‘yung PCOS machine nai-safe nila kaagad at hindi naman nasira or nakuha,” Magundayao said.

Perez said the local police’s “quick reaction force” is now conducting checkpoints to intercept rebels who may be wounded.

“‘Yun na lang ang magagawa namin sa ngayon kasi karamihan ng tropa namin sa PNP naka-deploy na sa mga polling centers kasi bukas na ‘yung final testing ng PCOS machines. Sa Army, may hot pursuit operations sila ngayon,” Perez said. (John Roson)

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2 consultants of Quezon governor killed in ambush

Two consultants of re-electionist Quezon Gov. David Suarez were found dead after being “ambushed” by armed men in Tiaong on Monday night, police said.

Supt. Laudemer Llaneta, Tiaong Police chief, identified the fatalities as Genesis Castillo and Sharon Matibag, both “rural development consultants” at the provincial governor’s office.

Castillo and Matibag were found dead at a grassy lot in Sitio Dela Fuente, Brgy. Lagalag, around 10:30 p.m.

“Inambush sila, sakay sila ng motorsiklo. Nung unang makita ng mga residente, inakalang regular na traffic accident lang kaya itinayo pa ‘yung motorsiklo nila,” Llaneta said in a phone interview.

Responding policemen found eight spent shells of an M14 Carbine rifle and two slugs of a still undetermined type of firearm at the scene.

Residents, however, told police that they did not see what actually happened as the area was dark, Llaneta said.

“Sa di kalayuan may isang bahay kung saan may nakadinig daw ng mga putok ng baril pero akala rebentador lang kaya hindi pinansin,” the police official added.

Llaneta said investigators are still studying some “documents” recovered from Castillo and Matibag, in hopes to determine the motive for the killing.

Governor Suarez is seeking re-election under the National Unity Party, according to the Commission on Elections’ list of candidates. (John Roson)

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5 killed, at least 7 hurt in Mayon Volcano explosion

Five people, including four foreigners, were killed while at least seven were injured when Mayon Volcano in Albay spewed ash and rocks Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Rafaelito Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense-5 director, said four foreigners and a local tour guide died in the “phreatic explosion,” which occurred near the summit around 8 a.m.

The fatalities include tour guide Jerome Berin of Malilipot and three German nationals whose names have yet to be ascertained, Supt. Renato Bataller, Bicol regional police spokesman, said in a text message.

Injured are tour guide Keneth Gesalva and his Australian ward Straw Vega, as well as tour guide Jorge Cordovilla and his Thai wards Udome Kiat, Utan Ruchi, Boonchi, and Benjama, Bataller said.

Alejandro said two Air Force helicopters were sent to the volcano and were still conducting search and rescue operations as of Tuesday afternoon, to locate the hikers.

Alejandro said his office has yet to receive information if the explosion affected people living near the volcano, which is geographically shared by Legazpi City, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Tabaco City, Malilipot, and Santo Domingo.

“So far wala, ang report pa lang dito is ‘yung mga nag-tour doon, ‘yung umakyat,” Alejandro said.

Bataller said it is the first time since 1993 that Mayon Volcano acted up “without a warning.”

“Para itong ‘yung noong 1993 na nag-erupt nang walang kawarning-warning. Dati-rati kasi nagpaparamdam ito, may mga pagyanig kang mararamdaman. Noong 1993, bigla siyang nagbuga at mahigit 70 katao ang namatay,” he said. (John Roson)

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Mayoralty candidate gunned down in Tarlac

A mayoralty candidate died after being shot by armed men during his campaign sortie at a remote area in San Jose, Tarlac, on Monday afternoon, police said.

Rudy Abella, a barangay chairman running for mayor under the Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats party, was holding a “caucus” with residents of Sitio Sta. Cruz, Brgy. Iba, around 5:10 p.m., when he was shot, Senior Supt. Alfred Corpus, Tarlac provincial police director, said in a phone interview.

Two men shot Abella while at least three others served as lookouts, Corpus said, citing witnesses’ accounts.

Corpus said his men are looking at politics as only one of the possible motives for the killing, and have not yet discounted other angles which may be “very near.”

“It is unlikely that this is politically motivated,” the police official said, while declining to say what the other angles were. (John Roson)

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Catanduanes mayor escapes ambush

Armed men ambushed the vehicle of re-electionist Mayor Abelardo Abundo of Viga, Catanduanes, on Monday, but no one was injured, police said.

The incident occurred while Abundo and some companions were on their way to conduct a “house-to-house campaign” in Brgy. Buenavista, Supt. Renato Bataller, Bicol regional police spokesman, said.

Abundo’s black van was passing through Brgy. Soboc when it was shot at, Bataller said, citing an initial field report.

A bullet hit the vehicle’s windshield and ricocheted to the dashboard, he said.

The slug was recovered and has been identified as that of a caliber-.45 pistol, Bataller said.

Other details were not immediately available as Abundo was still having the incident recorded at the Viga Police Station Monday evening, he said.

Abundo is seeking re-election under the Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats, according to the Commission on Elections’ list of candidates. (John Roson)

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6 die as van falls into ravine in Benguet

Six people were killed when the van they were riding fell into a deep ravine in Atok, Benguet, early Sunday, a police official said.

The Hyundai Grace van (WSY-874) was carrying 13 people when it fell into a 200-meter deep ravine, Supt. Edwin Butacan, head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group’s unit in the Cordillera region, said.

The incident occurred at Kilometer 43 Balangbang around 2 a.m., while the van was travelling from Tadian, Mt. Province, to Baguio City, Butacan said.

Seven people were injured in the incident and have been brought to different hospitals, according to a radio report. (John Roson)

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1 killed, 3 hurt as rebels attack road project in Aurora

A civilian was killed while a policeman and two civilians were wounded when suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members attacked a government road project in Ma. Aurora, Aurora, Friday morning, the military said.

1Lt. Tala Servidad, spokeswoman of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, said an undetermined number of armed men first burned a backhoe and dump truck owned by Palacios Constructions in Sitio Dimani, Brgy. Villa, around 9 a.m.

Police and members of the Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion responded to the incident but were fired upon, she said, citing initial field reports.

The NPA is reportedly extorting money from Palacios Constructions, which is presently constructing the road that will connect Metro Manila to Aurora, Servidad said.

Damages to the backhoe and dump truck are estimated at P9 million.

Brig. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., commander of the 7th ID, condemned the attack and ordered pursuit operations against the armed men.

“We condemn this terroristic attack against the construction company. This tragic incident came when peace and development in Central Luzon is on the fast lane,” he said. (John Roson)

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CamSur provincial police chief, 5 town chiefs sacked over illegal gambling

The National Police removed from their posts the provincial police director of Camarines Sur and five municipal police chiefs for alleged failure to curb illegal gambling in the province.

Relieved were Camarines Sur Provincial Police director Senior Supt. Ramon Ranara, Buhi Police chief Chief Insp. Alejandro Monge, Cana-man Police chief Senior Insp. Rodolfo Oliver, Pili Police chief Chief Insp. Venerando Ramirez, Pascao Police chief Senior Insp. Joel Sabuco, and Sipocot Police chief Chief Insp. Noel Aquino.

Supt. Renato Bataller, Bicol police spokesman, said the relief order arrived from Camp Crame on Monday and took effect immediately.

“Si RD (regional police director Chief Supt. Jose Arne delos Santos) ang kausap ng isang high official sa Crame, dahil hindi daw matigil ‘yung illegal gambling sa Cam Sur,” Bataller said.

He said Ranara has been transferred to the regional police admininistrative holding unit in Legazpi City while being probed for liabilities under the doctrine of command responsiblity.

“Ang policy kasi, sa one-strike policy, kung may tatlong chiefs of police na tatamaan, at mare-relieve sila, dahil nga sa gambling, ang provincial director, automatic sabay na sa order. Sa kaso na ito, lima ang nawala kaya, hagip na hagip ‘yung PD,” Bataller said.

Monge and the other sacked police chiefs, meanwhile, are expected to be tranferred to the provincial holding unit where they are also set to face investigation.

Asked on the situation of gambling in Camarines Sur, Bataller said he only knows of the jai-alai operation of Meridien Vista.

“Ang gambling doon Meridien Vista, pero hindi naniniwala ‘yung higher office na walang illegal gambling na ihinahalo dito sa jai-alai operation ng Meridien Vista. Ang paniniwala nila, may jueteng na isinasabay,” he said.

It was not the first time for the PNP to remove officers in Camarines Sur due to illegal gambling.

Last March, the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo ordered the PNP to relieve chiefs of police in Calabanga, Pili, and Bato for failing to stop jueteng in their areas. (John Roson)

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