Newsbriefs
NORTHERN SAMAR
NPA owns Samar raid
The New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas has admitted that it was responsible for the raid in Lapinig town on January 20, resulting in the death of a security escort of the mayor and the wounding of two others.
The NPA’s Efren Martires Command (EMC) said in a statement on Jan. 27 that the raid was carried out by the Rodante Urtal Command, which operates on Samar Island.
Karlos Manuel, spokesperson of the EMC, said the policemen and armed followers of Mayor Romualdo Menzon were “legitimate targets.”
Menzon earlier said he was not the target of the raid, which resulted in the death of Jullata and the wounding of Romeo Senobio Sr. and son Romeo Jr. Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
Soldier on shooting spree kills 4 nephews
A former Army soldier went on a shooting spree on Friday night, killing four of his nephews and injuring another at a wake of a family member in Pontevedra town.
Town police chief Senior Inspector Vanessa Sonoy said Nestor Estrellanes, 52, fired a .45 cal. pistol at the victims without provocation. The man was reportedly drunk at that time.
Rex Jun Palacios, 41, died on the spot with a bullet wound in the head. Rudy Genton, 56, and his brother Dominador, 55, and Reynaldo Amable, 58, were declared dead on arrival at Valladolid District Hospital. Carla Gomez, Inquirer Visayas
CAVITE
Barangay leader shot dead in ambush
A village leader and his companion were killed in an ambush in Imus town on Sunday.
Noli Camaisa, 48, chair of Barangay (village) Anabu 2-E, died upon arrival at the De La Salle University Medical Center in Dasmariñas City, while his companion Wilson Picarra died on the spot, according to municipal police chief Superintendent Herson Mojica.
Unidentified men aboard a vehicle sprayed bullets on the car driven by Camaisa along the Aguinaldo Highway in Anabu 2-F in Imus at around 4 p.m. Sunday.
The victims’ other companion, Edilberto Zabala, who was alone at the car’s backseat was unscathed, said Mojica. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon
ZAMBALES
Equipment turned over to hospital
The Zambales government turned over P50-million worth of medical equipment to President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital (PRMMH) in Iba town last week.
Govember Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said a CT scan machine, an ultrasound imager and an X-ray system were delivered to the PRMMH two months after four ambulances were given to hospitals in the province.
The equipment were acquired at no cost to the government after Ebdane signed in September a memorandum of agreement for equipment installation, operation and maintenance with High Integrated Medical Engineering Exponent Corp. Inc. (Himex), a distributor that has tied up with manufacturers in Japan.
Rema Padilla-Ohno, Himex senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the company would provide the machines and maintain them in exchange for a 50-percent share in the service fees for their use. Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon
