Hospital surgeon slain

DAGUPAN CITY --The chief surgeon of the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando City, La Union, was shot dead Monday by a lone gunman while he was on his way home to Luna town, police said.

Dr. Ruel Navalta, 44, was driving his car and stopped at Ortega and Ancheta Streets in San Fernando at about 5 p.m. when the gunman approached his car and shot him. The gunman fled on a motorcycle. Navalta was taken to the Lorma Hospital but died while undergoing treatment, reports said.

La Union police director Senior Supt. Noli Taliño said Navalta’s relatives had told investigators that the doctor had no perceived enemies and had not received threats before the attack. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon

NFA to double supply

BACOLOD CITY --The National Food Authority would double its rice supply in Negros Occidental next week to bring prices down, NFA provincial head Pablito Gemarino said Thursday.

He said at least 120,000 bags of rice from Vietnam would arrive by the middle of this month.

Nonilo Nacion, president of the Grains Retailers Confederation-Negros Occidental chapter, said a sack of regular milled rice that cost P1,200 at the start of the month now costs P1,390 to P1,400.

This could drive up the retail price to P28 per kg, Nacion said. Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

Strong winds hit villages

DAVAO DEL SUR --The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in Southern Mindanao said the strong winds that destroyed several structures – including houses and school buildings – in at least two villages here were triggered by the tail end of a cold front that brought bad weather to Mindanao on Sunday.

Jerry Pedrico, Pagasa chief in the region, visited the villages of Poblacion and New Ilocos here on Tuesday.

Mayor Jess Lumanog said the winds damaged about P1 million in crops and pieces of property. Orlando B. Dinoy and Eldie Aguirre, Inquirer Mindanao