2 village chiefs slain in Cotabato, Masbate

Two barangay chairpersons and an escort were killed while two other persons were injured in separate ambuscades in North Cotabato and Masbate on Thursday, police said.

Senior Inspector Sindato Karim, police chief of Pikit, North Cotabato, identified the fatalities in the second incident as Dhats Simon, chairman of Brgy. Bulol, and his aide Akmad Bantas.

Simon and Bantas were riding a motorcycle along the provincial road in Brgy. Gli-gli around 3 p.m., when two men on two incoming motorcycles opened fire at them, Karim said in a text message.

Both gunmen are believed to have used M16 rifles as 25 empty shells for that firearm were found at the crime scene, Karim said.

Simon and Bantas were taken to the Cruzado Medical Clinic and Hospital because of bullet wounds to the different parts of the body, but were declared dead by doctors, he said.

Investigators are still trying to determine the identities of the assailants, who quickly fled after the attack.

The shooting is believed to have stemmed from “personal grudge,” Karim said.

Hours earlier, around 9:40 a.m., a barangay chairwoman was killed and her husband was injured in another ambush in Placer, Masbate.

Killed was Rodilyn Camay, incumbent chairwoman of Brgy. Matagangtang, Placer, Masbate provincial police spokesman Superintendent Eugenio Manondo said.

Camay’s husband Romil, a former chairman of their barangay, was hurt in the attack along with one Giovani Liquigan, helper of a beer delivery truck that the couple passed by.

Rodilyn and Romil were travelling along a road in Brgy. Aguada on a motorcycle, when unidentified men “waylaid” and shot them with caliber-.45 pistols, Manondo said in an emailed report.

Liquigan, who was unloading beer from a truck parked beside the road, was hit by a stray bullet, he said.

Rodilyn and Romil were brought to the Cataingan District Hospital but doctors declared the former dead.

Romil and Liquigan were later transferred to the Masbate Doctors Hospital in Masbate City for further treatment.

Senior Superintendent Prexy Tanggawohn, officer-in-charge of the Masbate provincial police, ordered local lawmen to look into all possible motives for the attack to help speed up the identification of the assailants. (John Roson)

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Teen dies after getting pulled in by ice crusher in Camarines Sur

A teenager died after getting pulled in by an ice crusher at a fish port in Camaligan, Camarines Sur, Thursday night, police said Friday.

Killed was 17-year-old Angelo Tacorda, a resident of Brgy. Bagacay, Tinambac, Camarines Sur provincial police director Senior Superintendent Walfredo Pornillos said.

The incident occurred at the fish port in Brgy. Dugcal around 7:45 p.m., while Tacorda was picking crushed ice from the machine, Pornillos said in a text message.

Senior Inspector Aldin Oroqueta, Camaligan Police chief, said Tacorda was with some fellow workers at that time.

“Tapos na sila sa trabaho noon, pero may tira sa loob ng machine kaya inabot niya (Tacorda)… Eh ‘yung kasama niya sa taas, di siya napansin, nai-switch on ‘yung ice crusher,” Oroqueta said by phone.

Tacorda’s whole body was pulled in, and the machine bore holes on it, he said.

The families of Tacorda and his fellow worker, who is just about his age, have already met and agreed to settle the incident, Oroqueta said.

“Hindi na daw magsasampa ng kaso ang pamilya ng biktima dahil aksidente ang nangyari, tutulong na lang daw sa gastusin sa pagpapalibing ‘yung isang pamilya,” he said. (John Roson)

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Army trooper nabbed for hostage-taking in Sorsogon

An Army soldier was arrested after holding hostage and stabbing a woman and her young son in Pilar, Sorsogon, on Thursday, police said.

Arrested was Pfc. Joel Magdalena, an active member of the 92nd Division Reconnaissance Company based in Aroroy, Masbate, Sorsogon provincial police spokesman Superintendent Nonito Marquez said.

The incident occurred in Brgy. Marifosque around 6:30 a.m.

Magdalena, a resident of Pili, Camarines Sur, was first seen creating a scene by brandishing a piece of wood and hitting people around him with it, Marquez said in an emailed report.

Magdalena also tried to hit PO2 Ronnel Perfecto, who happened to pass by on his motorcycle, but the policeman evaded the blow and tried to pacify the soldier, he said.

The soldier, however, ran and entered a home, where he took two knives and held hostage house owner Grace Manzanero and her young son, Marquez said.

This prompted Perfecto, barangay tanod Arnel Quintana, and one Jean Deponturom to enter the house to stop Magdalena from causing harm.

Magdalena, however, stabbed Manzanero and her son to the different parts of the body, Marquez said.

Perfecto, Quintana, and Deponturom later wrested from Magdalena the 13-inch and 11-inch knives he used. The soldier suffered injuries when he resisted arrest. 

Manzanero, her son, and Magdalena were brought to the Donsol District Hospital for treatment.

The soldier was later taken to the Pilar Police Station for investigation and filing of charges, Marquez said. (John Roson)

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Improvised bombs found in Albay

Government troops seized improvised bombs and a gun at a suspected harboring site of New People’s Army (NPA) members in Legazpi City, Albay, early Wednesday.

Members of the 2nd Infantry Battalion found four improvised explosive devices and a caliber-.9mm pistol at a copra kiln in Brgy. Cagbacong around 8:25 a.m., said Capt. Mardjorie Paimela Panesa, public affairs officer of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division.

Also found at the site were 15 meters of electrical wire, a hammock, and subversive documents, Panesa said.

Troops were sent to the area after residents reported the presence of NPA members, but the suspected rebels were already gone when soldiers arrived, she said.

Meanwhile, an NPA member surrendered to security forces in Camalig town, also in Albay, Wednesday morning.

Gilbert Paloma, who uses the aliases Vic and Ric, surrendered to members of the 2nd IB around 8 a.m., Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command spokesman Major Angelo Guzman said. (John Roson)

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Cop killed, another hurt in rebel ambush in Masbate

A policeman died while another was injured as suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members fired upon lawmen escorting a tree planting activity in Claveria, Masbate, early Friday, police said.

PO1 Randolph Alegre, of the 5th Regional Public Safety Battalion, died on the spot, Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol regional police information officer, said.

PO1 McDonald Casi, of the Claveria Police, was injured and brought to a local hospital.

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m., while members of the 5th RPSB and Claveria Police were escorting participants of a tree planting activity in Sitio Madanlog, Brgy. Buyo.

The local government of Claveria launched the activity in celebration of the civil service month, Calubaquib said.

The policemen were approaching an area when about seven fully-armed men fired upon them, she said. (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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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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Councilor shot dead in Masbate

An incumbent councilor was killed while another man was injured after they were shot by unidentified gunmen in Balud, Masbate, on Sunday, police said.

Senior Supt. Heriberto Olitoquit, Masbate provincial police director, identified the fatality as Councilor Ladislao Macuha, 66, resident of Brgy. Guinbanwahan.

One Florido Villalobos was hit by a stray bullet and was taken to the Balud Municipal Hospital before he was transferred to a medical facility in Masbate City, Olitoquit said.

The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. in Sitio Tambobo, Brgy. San Andres.

“There is a strong possibility that this might be a politically-motivated incident, but the PNP is not discounting other motives,” said Insp. Alex Moral, Masbate PNP police-community relations officer.

A check on the Commission on Elections’ website revealed that Macuha was not running for any post this year, despite getting the highest number of votes among those who were elected as councilor in 2010.

But incumbent Brgy. Guinbanwahan chairman Geilord Macuha, a relative of Ladislao’s, is running as councilor this year under the United Nationalist Alliance.

Sunday’s incident came just a day after another councilor, who was running as vice mayor, was shot dead in Mobo on Saturday.

Isagani Lupango, who occupied a seat in the Mobo town council as president of the local association of barangay captains, was said to be the “most influential” candidate for vice mayor in their town. (John Roson)

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US Navy ‘target’ drone found off Masbate

The US Navy ‘target drone’ found off Masbate (photo from Masbate PNP)

A “target drone” of the U.S. Navy was found in waters off Ticao Island in Masbate on Sunday, police said.

Fishermen Jolly Llacer and Ricky Cantoria found the drone near Sitio Tacdugan of San Jacinto town and reported it to police past 9 a.m., Senior Supt. Heriberto Olitoquit, Masbate Provincial Police director, said.

“Unang inakala ng mga mangingisda, bomba, pero vinerify ng EOD, di naman bomba… US property na drone,” Olitoquit said in a phone interview.

A local measuring the drone (photo from Masbate PNP)

The US-made unmanned aerial vehicle, which had the markings BQM-74E Chukar III, is 12’11” or 3.94 meters long, has a wingspan of about 1.76 meters, Olitoquit said in text message.

The drone was first brought to the San Jacinto Police Station before it was turned over to the Philippine Navy.

The BQM-74E Chukar III is the latest of a series of aerial target drones produced by American aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman.

The remote-controlled drone, launched from warships, can fly as fast as Mach 0.86 and altitudes from 10,000 meters to 12,000 meters.

It was not immediately known where the drone found off Masbate came from, but several US ships that have made port calls in nearby areas are known to use such UAVs for targets. (John Roson)

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Ex-cop running for councilor gunned down in Masbate

Armed men shot dead a retired police officer running for a seat in the town council of Balud, Masbate, on Friday afternoon, police said.

Three armed men shot retired Chief Insp. Vicente Aragona near his home in Brgy. Tonga around 1:30 p.m., Bicol regional police spokesman Supt. Renato Bataller said.

Aragona, a candidate for councilor in the municipality, succumbed to bullet wounds on the different parts of the body, Bataller said.

Local police are still trying to determine the assailants’ identities and motive, he said.

The incident occurred barely a week after an incumbent barangay chairman of Aroroy running for town councilor was also shot dead.

Edwin Amaro, chairman of Brgy. Luy-a, was aspiring for a post in the Sangguniang Bayan when he was gunned down on Dec. 9, Bataller said.

Last month, the Department of Interior and Local Government placed Masbate and 14 other provinces under a watchlist for possible surge in violence during the run-up to next year’s elections. (John Roson)

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