News briefs: 3 dead in chopper crash

3 dead in chopper crash

A Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopter crashed during a disaster response training in Tanay town in Rizal province on Thursday, killing three on board and wounding another.

Lt. Xy-zon Meneses, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division in Tanay, said the  UH-1D chopper was carrying four PAF men when it crashed on a vacant lot in Barangay Sampaloc, some 200 meters from the Army camp, at 3 p.m.

The chopper burst into flames when it hit the ground, he said.

The fatalities have not been identified. —MARICAR CINCO AND PHILIP TUBEZA

Ex-mayor faces perjury

The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to press perjury charges against former Dinagat, Dinagat Islands Mayor Gwendolyn Ecleo, for her alleged failure to declare her purchase of five motorcycles.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ombudsman media bureau said Ecleo faced three counts of perjury.

It said the Ombudsman found “several misrepresentations” in Ecleo’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth  (SALN) for the years 2006, 2007 and 2010.

Land Transportation Office records showed that Ecleo purchased and registered five motorcycles in 2006, but none  had been  declared in her SALNs. —VINCE F. NONATO

Inordinate delay cited

Former Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro had asked the Sandiganbayan to toss out his graft case on the grounds of inordinate delay following a request by prosecutors for reinvestigation which could possibly prolong proceedings.

In a nine-page supplemental motion to quash, San Pedro and five coaccused told the court’s Second Division that the motion for reinvestigation violated their right to speedy trial and speedy disposition of their cases. The accused said the Office of the Ombudsman had already taken three years—2012 to 2015—to hold a preliminary investigation before it filed the charges at the antigraft court. —VINCE F. NONATO

Acting DFA chief in Washington

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said Acting Secretary Enrique Manalo was in Washington to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-US foreign ministers special meeting.

“As the chair of Asean in its 50th year, the Philippines presents Asean as a model of regionalism and a global player that values open and constructive engagement with a multitude of partners, including the US,” the Office of Diplomacy (OPD) said in a statement.

While in the US capital, Manalo would also hold meetings on strengthening Philippine-US relations, the OPD added. —JEROME ANING