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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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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Public attorney shot in Batangas

Armed men shot and seriously injured a lawyer of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) at the compound of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan (Hall of Justice) in Batangas City early Wednesday, police said.

Atty. Arsenio Hernandez Jr. was brought to the St. Patrick Hospital due to bullet wounds to the different parts of the body, Batangas Provincial Police information officer Insp. Aleli Buaquen said.

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. at the parking area of the Hall of Justice, located in Brgy. Pallocan West.

Unidentified men shot Hernandez and quickly fled on a motorcycle, Buaquen said, citing initial field reports. (John Roson)

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2 DPWH engineers, 1 employee killed in Quezon road crash

Two engineers and an employee of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were killed while two others were injured when the sports utility vehicle (SUV) they were riding figured in an accident in Infanta, Quezon, on Tuesday afternoon.

Killed were engineers Jose Alden Baldovino, of legal age, and Raul Concepcion, 50, as well as Michael Romantico, all assigned at the DPWH 4A’s branch for the 1st District of Quezon, PO2 Benito Nevera, investigator at the Infanta Police, said.

Injured were Jayson Pormalejo, also a DPWH employee, and the SUV’s driver Jose Gonsalez Jr. Both were brought to the C.M. Recto Hospital.

The incident occurred around 4:40 p.m. while the DPWH employees were passing through Sitio Pinlak, Brgy. Magsaysay, on board the government-issued Isuzu Land Cruiser (SAD-803).

The DPWH employees had just conducted a land survey at Sitio Kamagong and were heading towards Infanta town proper, Nevera said in his report.

Gonsalez lost control of the steering wheel while manuevering through a sharp curve, causing the vehicle to swing and tumble down, the police officer said. (John Roson)

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2 police chiefs killed, 1 hurt in Laguna road accident

Two police chiefs in Laguna were killed while another policeman was injured when a passenger jeepney rammed the patrol car they were riding in Calauan town early Tuesday.

Killed were Senior Insp. Alex Marasigan, chief of police in Victoria, and Chief Insp. Santiago Cuntapay, chief of police in Calauan, Laguna Provincial Police director Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz said.

PO3 Rodel Cardel, who serves as driver of the Rizal Police patrol car (SGJ-337), suffered minor injuries.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m. while Marasigan, Cuntapay, and Cardel were sitting inside the patrol car, which was parked in front of a police detachment along the highway in Brgy. Bangyas.

A passenger jeepney (DXD-978) driven by Leonilo Resurreccion rammed the patrol car’s rear left portion, killing Marasigan on the spot, Cruz said.

Cuntapay was brought to nearest the hospital but expired while undergoing treatment.

Marasigan, Cuntapay, and other police chiefs were supposed to attend an activity for the crime prevention week along with Cruz, in Calamba City.

“Sama-sama silang mga hepe sa mobile para di maraming sasakyan. Doon (Bangyas detachment) ang hintayan nila on the way going to Calamba,” Cruz said.

None of those in the jeepney were reported injured. Resurreccion, who “may have fallen asleep” while driving, is now in police custody while undergoing investigation, Cruz said.

Cruz postponed the activity in Calamba and called on all policemen in the province to pray for the victims. (John Roson)

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Banana farmer, wife killed in ambush-robbery in Quezon

A banana farmer and his wife were killed in an ambush by several armed men while on the way to deliver their goods, in Tayabas City, Quezon, on Friday, police said.

Antonio Dayanan, 58, and his wife, Teresita, 50, succumbed to bullet wounds to the different parts of the body, SPO1 Felicito Labitigan, investigator at the Tayabas City Police, said.

The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. while Dayanan was driving his jeep (VCD-525), which was loaded with bananas, along the barangay road of Brgy. Isabang.

Several armed men waylaid the jeep, repeatedly shot Dayanan and his wife who was sitting next to him, and took a still undetermined amount of cash from the couple, Labitigan said in his report.

Police found at the scene three empty shells and four live ammunition of caliber-.45 pistols. (John Roson)

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Businessman stabbed dead in Batangas

A businessman in Lipa City, Batangas, was stabbed dead by a construction worker who allegedly caught him having an affair with the latter’s wife, police reported.

Hog raiser Benito Pajarito, 43, was found dead and naked at the basement of his home in Purok 6, Brgy. Mabini, around 8 a.m., according to a report from the Batangas Provincial Police.

Before the discovery, Pajarito’s wife and a neighbor sought the local police’s assistance because they smelled an unusual odor coming from the basement.

Investigation then led authorities to suspect Edwin Torres, a native of Catanduanes and stay-in construction worker at the Pajaritos’ home, of killing the businessman.

The suspect’s wife, a caretaker at the Pajaritos’ piggery, told investigators that her husband caught her and the businessman having intercourse in the basement.

Torres stabbed Pajarito with a bladed weapon and immediately left, according to the woman.

Authorities are still tracking down the suspect, who has not returned to his home in Brgy. Anilao after the incident. (John Roson)

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Elderly man goes courting, gets stabbed

A 60-year-old man was injured after being stabbed by a brother of the woman he was courting in Polillo, Quezon, police reported.

Victim Zosimo Zaide, 60, sought police assistance Thursday afternoon after he received treatment and survived the attack, according to a report from the Quezon Provincial Police.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. Wednesday, when Zaide visited the home of Jinky Dacuya on Buslit st., Brgy. Poblacion.

Zaide told investigators that he went there purposely to court Dacuya, but was told by the latter’s brother Jason to leave.

The elderly man refused to leave and engaged Jason in an argument, until the latter brought out a kitchen knife and stabbed Zaide on the right side of his chest, according to the report.

Authorities are still looking for the suspect who, like Zaide, quickly left the scene after the incident. (John Roson)

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San Juan SWAT chief drowns in Batangas

The acting chief of the San Juan City police’s equivalent of the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team drowned in a diving accident in Mabini, Batangas, Sunday morning, police said.

Chief Insp. Elpidio Duenas, Batangas Provincial Police spokesman, identified the fatality as Senior Insp. Renato Samson, 36.

Samson is the current commander of the San Juan City Police Station 7 and officer-in-charge of the Special Reaction Unit (SRU), according to the city police’s official website.

Insp. Florintino Buenafe, deputy chief of the Mabini Police, said the incident occurred around 9 a.m. while Samson and seven other policemen were scuba diving in waters off Brgy. Ligaya.

“According sa kanyang (Samson) mga kasama na pulis din, sumabit ang kanyang diving gear sa tali ng kanilang bouya. Nagte-training daw sila on search and rescue. About 20 meters deep sila noon,” Buenafe said.

Samson’s companions eventually managed to pull him out of the water and brought him to the Mabini General Hospital, but he was declared dead upon arrival by the attending physician Dr. Jigger Gilera, Duenas said. (John Roson)

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