Brgy. chair running for town council seat shot dead in Masbate

Armed men shot dead a barangay chairman running as councilor under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in Aroroy, Masbate, Sunday night, police said.

Edwin Dalinog Amaro, chairman of Brgy. Luy-a, was shot to death by still unidentified assailants in the same village around 6:30 p.m., Bicol regional police spokesman Supt. Renato Bataller said.

Amaro was aspiring for a post in the Sangguniang Bayan under the banner of the NPC, Bataller said in a text message.

Investigators were sent to the scene shortly after the incident while members of the Aroroy Police conducted pursuit operations against the assailants, he said. (John Roson)

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2 rebels killed in Catanduanes clash

Two suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members were killed in a clash with government troops in Virac, Catanduanes, Saturday morning, the military said.

Aside from the still unidentified rebels’ bodies, troops recovered two M16 rifles, an M653 baby armalite rifle, and an M15 rifle at the clash site, Army 9th Infantry Division spokesman Maj. Angelo Guzman said, citing field reports.

The clash occurred around 9:50 a.m. while members of the 83rd Infantry Battalion were conducting combat operations in Brgy. Calatagan, he said.

Lt. Col. Rodolfo Batang, commander of the 83rd IB based in San Andres, said no one among the 10-man team that encountered about 15 rebels was hurt.

Pursuit operations against the other rebels were still ongoing Saturday afternoon, he said. (John Roson)

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2 kagawads killed in Catanduanes bike crash

Two barangay kagawads (village councilmen) died after the motorcycle they were riding fell into a canal in San Andres, Catanduanes, early Wednesday, police said.

Killed were Norvin Baynosa, 35, and Eddie Samonte, 56, both kagawads of Brgy. Mayngaway, Bicol regional police spokesman Supt. Renato Bataller said.

The incident occurred in Brgy. Divino Rostro around 3:35 a.m., he said.

The village officials were immediately brought to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center, but Baynosa died around 3:45 a.m. and Samonte expired around 10 a.m., Bataller said.

Local police are still investigating the cause of the incident, he said. (John Roson)

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Woman, son hacked dead inside Masbate jail

A woman and her 15-year-old son were hacked to death by an inmate inside the Masbate Provincial Jail compound in Milagros town Sunday afternoon, police said Monday.

Tessie Basical, 50, and her son Jayson Lucado died after being hacked by inmate Rey Esparraguera, 33, around 3 p.m., Supt. Renato Bataller, Bicol regional police spokesman, said.

Esparraguera also hacked fellow inmate Rommel Buhia, who suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Dr. De Castro Hospital, Bataller said.

Members of the Milagros Police rushed to the scene in Brgy. Matiporon and recovered the 22-inch bolo used by the suspect, he said.

Esparraguera is now under the custody of the Masbate Provincial Jail. Investigators have yet to determine what prompted to him to attack, Bataller said. (John Roson)

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Body recovered from collapsed mine pit in Camarines Norte

Authorities have recovered the remains of one of the three persons buried inside a collapsed gold mining pit in Paracale, Camarines Norte.

The remains of 22-year-old Julian Cabarubia, earlier identified as Jay-Ar, were found past 4 p.m. Thursday, after it floated in the entrance of an adjacent pit, Bicol regional police spokesman Supt. Renato Bataller said.

“Lumutang daw po ito… dun na po ito lumabas dun sa isang katabing butas na pag-aari ng a certain Martires,” Bataller said in a phone interview.

Cabarubia and fellow gold panners Carlo Salen, 37, and Luis Sayson, 33, were buried inside a pit being financed by Agosto Jordan in Sitio Bulaay, Purok Maligaya, Brgy. Palanas.

The pit collapsed after water that accumulated in an adjacent pit rushed in, police said.

“Ang termino nila dito ay ‘nabulwat,’ kapag sinabing nabulwat, nabutas siya, aksidenteng nabangga mo ‘yung hukay ng iba, kaya ayun, bumulwak ‘yung tubig at natabunan nga at nalunod itong ating mga biktima,” Bataller said.

Several pits have been found in the area and some of them have been neglected, causing water to accumulate inside, he said.

Gold panners in Brgy. Palanas cover up their “guerrilla operation” by hiding the pits under makeshift huts, according to Bataller.

Authorities are still trying to recover the remains of Salen and Sayson as of Friday morning.

“‘Yung dalawa ay nakakapa na ng divers natin, at kasalukuyan pa ngayong target ng retrieval operation. ‘Yung personnel ng OCD regional office 5 ay nandoon na rin sa area para tumulong sa retrieval at may panukala nga sila na i-pump ‘yung tubig sa loob ng hukay para mas mapadali yung pagkuha sa debris at nang mailabas na rin ‘yung dalawang bangkay dun sa ilalim,” Bataller said.

Only three people were reported to police as having been buried in the pit, though there is talk that more are inside, he said. (John Roson)

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1 dead, 11 hurt as tricycle falls into ravine in Albay

A 17-year-old high school student was killed while 11 other persons, mostly students, were injured when the tricycle they were riding fall into a ravine in Tabaco City, Albay, Thursday afternoon, police said.

Marilou Broniosa, a 4th year student at the Bantayan National High School, expired while being brought to the Ziga Memorial District Hospital, Bicol regional police spokesman Supt. Renato Bataller said.

Two other people are still confined at the same hospital, one at the Sabredo General Hospital, while eight others, including the tricycle driver, have been transferred to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Legazpi City due to severe injuries.

The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. in the mountainous area of Brgy. Oras, about 9 to 10 kilometers from Tabaco City proper.

The tricycle had just fetched the students from the Bantayan National High School and was bringing them home to Brgy. Sua-Igot, when one of its tires suddenly exploded.

“Pumutok ‘yung gulong niya at medyo pababa pa ‘yung lugar, kaya hindi na na-control ng driver ‘yung manibela at bumulusok po ito dun sa bangin na may lalim na tatlong tao, siguro mga 15 feet, at bumagsak dun sa mga batuhan,” Bataller said in a phone interview. (John Roson)

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Manhunt on for Cebu kagawad in Masbate brgy. chair slay

Police have launched manhunt operations for a barangay kagawad of Cebu City who has been identified as the one who shot dead a barangay chairman and his driver in Cawayan, Masbate, on Monday.

Chief Insp. Edgar Delfin, Masbate Provincial Police spokesman, said suspect Dario Pepito has been identified as a resident and incumbent kagawad of Brgy. Labangon, Cebu City.

Delfin also retracted his earlier statement that “personal grudge” was being eyed as the possible motive for the killing of Brgy. Mahayahay chairman Romeo Toñacao and his driver Edison Tarucan.

Citing updated investigation reports, Delfin said Toñacao and Tarucan were drinking with Pepito at a videoke joint in Brgy. Divisoria around 12 a.m., when they were shot by the latter.

“A heated altercation due to drunkenness ensued while the victims and the suspect were having a drinking session,” the provincial police spokesman said.

Murder charges are now being prepared against Pepito, Delfin said. (John Roson)

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Guard shot dead inside Masbate mine site

A security guard was found dead after being shot by still unidentified assailants inside the compound of a mining company in Aroroy, Masbate, on Sunday, police said.

Chief Insp. Edgar Delfin, Masbate Provincial Police spokesman, identified the victim as Rolando Riva, a guard at the Filminera Resources Corp. compound in Brgy. Puro.

Riva a resident of Baleno and employed by the NC Lanting security agency, suffered bullet wounds to the different parts of the body, Delfin said.

Investigation showed that Riva was on duty when he was shot to death.

Local police found at the scene three spent shells of a caliber-.9mm pistol and cigarette butts believed to be that of the assailants.

The pieces of evidence have been brought to the Masbate Provincial Crime Laboratory for ballistics examination and other tests, Delfin said.

Filminera, backed by Australian Central Gold Asia Mining Ltd., operates a large-scale gold mine dubbed as the Masbate gold project in Brgy. Puro.

Anti-mining groups, as well as left-leaning organizations, have opposed the project for being “unsafe” to the environment.

The rebel New People’s Army (NPA) has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Filminera.

Among the attacks said to be carried out by the NPA was the bombing that left a crater at the company’s compound on June 30. (John Roson)

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Brgy. chairman, driver gunned down in Masbate

see update here

A barangay chairman and his driver died after being shot by a gunman in Cawayan, Masbate, early Monday, police said.

Supt. Renato Bataller, Bicol regional police spokesman, identified the victims as Roman Tonacao, the incumbent chairman of Brgy. Mahayahay, and his driver Edison Tarucan, 36.

Tarucan died on the spot. Tonacao was brought to the Cawayan District Hospital but expired along the way, Bataller said in a text message.

The shooting occurred around 12 a.m. along Gomez st. in Brgy. Divisoria.

Initial investigation showed that Tonacao and his driver were shot by a certain Dario Pepito, a resident of Cebu City, who immediately fled after the incident.

Local police found at the scene two deformed slugs and six empty shells of a caliber-.45 pistol, as well as two gun holsters, Chief Insp. Edgar Delfin, Masbate Provincial Police spokesman, said.

“Probers are eyeing personal grudge as the possible motive for the shooting,” Delfin said in a statement.

Earlier, Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas named Masbate as one of the 15 provinces that have a “high risk” of experiencing election-related violence. (John Roson)

see update here

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1 killed, 7 hurt in Sorsogon bus crash

One person was killed while seven others were injured when the passenger bus they were riding crashed in Pilar, Sorsogon, on Monday, police said.

Fernando Mabignay, 42, a resident of Catbalogan, Samar, died on the spot, Sorsogon Provincial Police spokesman Chief Insp. Nonito Marquez said.

Injured were Jessel Pepito, 16, Mary Rose Pedrosa, 17, Jumar Bayote, 18, Richard Balosa, 33, all residents of Leyte; Jerry Albarico, 33, Oliver Cablino, 21, both of Ormoc City; and Celso Mabignay, 47, of Catbalogan.

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. while Alvin Valencia was driving the PP passenger bus (TVR-614) along the Maharlika Highway in Brgy. Del Rosario.

Valencia was driving the bus from Metro Manila to Ormoc City, when the right wheel ran off the road, Marquez said, citing investigation by the Pilar Police.

While maneuvering the bus back, Valencia lost control of the steering wheel causing the vehicle to slide and turn left side down at the road shoulder, he said.

The fatality’s remains were brought to a funeral parlor in Castilla for autopsy, while the injured were taken to the Vicente Memorial Hospital in the same town.

Valencia surrendered to police in Matnog and was brought to Pilar the same day, Marquez said. (John Roson)

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