Dengue cases down

SAN PABLO CITY--Dengue cases in Laguna and San Pablo City decreased during the first five months of this year, according to the Department of Health officials here.

Laguna health director Dr. Alfaneo Lagos told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that from January to May, the number of dengue cases in the province has decreased by more than half compared to last year.

Dr. Job Brion, city health director, reported that the dengue cases in the city decreased by 38 during the first five months of 2008. Last year, 79 dengue cases were recorded in the city for the first five months and only 41 dengue cases during the same period this year. Romulo O. Ponte, Inquirer Southern Luzon

NPA victim’s body found

SORSOGON CITY--The skeletal remains of a man believed to be murdered by communist New People’s Army rebels seven years ago was found at Barangay Milagrosa, Castilla town, Sorsogon at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Lt. Col. Claudio Yucot, Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion commander, said in a phone interview.

Yucot said an NPA rebel, who is now in jail, confessed to the authorities and led government agents to the location of the remains of Julian Arias of Barangay San Vicente, a former member of a paramilitary unit.

He was reportedly taken from his home by NPA rebels in October 2001 and was murdered the following month, police said in a phone interview.

Police said the suspects are Eleuterio Mangampo alias Ka Jun and Ka Dindo, and Jerry Esquivel, both identified NPA members. Roy Gersalia, Inquirer Southern Luzon

88 crime suspects nabbed

CABANATUAN CITY--At least 88 crime suspects were arrested by the Nueva Ecija police during a nine-day operation in the province.

Senior Supt. Napoleon Taas, provincial police director, said the operation, conducted with the help of local government officials and informants, was conducted from June 11 to 20. Taas said the police pursued these suspects following complaints that they had been seen moving around freely in the province.

Taas also said the police have seized 73 unlicensed firearms in different towns and cities in Nueva Ecija since Jan. 11. Anselmo Roque, Inquirer Central Luzon

Fire guts Catholic church

COTABATO CITY --A fire of still unknown origin gutted down a Catholic church in Maguindanao Thursday night, the Archdiocese of Cotabato said Sunday.

“We are uncertain what triggered the fire because there was heavy downpour in Datu Piang (town Thursday),” Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, auxiliary bishop of Cotabato said.
The Sta. Teresita parish church in Datu Piang was more than 50 years old and survived years of war and calamities.

Damage was placed at P1 million, Bagaforo said. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao

1 dead in blast

KALINGA--An explosion near a carnival site at the city proper of Tabuk, Kalinga, killed a man and wounded 15 others on Sunday, as the city was preparing for its first founding anniversary on June 23.

Senior Supt. Maximiano Valiente, Kalinga police director, said the blast occurred between 10:30 and 11 a.m. at a carnival site in Barangay Dagupan Centro, killing resident Redentor Bayangan. Police have yet to determine the type of explosive in the blast, although initial reports said it was caused by a grenade, said Senior Supt. Alfredo Dangani, Tabuk police chief.

The victims were taken to different hospitals in the city and in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan. Vincent Cabreza and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon

2 rape cases alarm cops

DAVAO DEL SUR--Police expressed alarm over the two incidents of rape that occurred in Sta. Maria town in less than a month.

Insp. Alexander Razonable said the latest victim was 14-year old “Joan” who was sexually assaulted by a 32-year-old neighbor on June 13 while on her way to fetch her two sisters watching television from another house.

“The suspect had been arrested and is now in police custody,” Razonable said.

He said on May 26, another minor was molested by an uncle.

Razonable said in both instances, the minors had no companions. Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao