NPA owns ex-mayor?s slay?

EASTERN SAMAR

COMMUNIST rebels have claimed responsibility for the killing of a former mayor of Giporlos town in Eastern Samar, 100 kilometers from Tacloban City, for ?sins committed against the people.?

Mateo Biong, who was gunned down on July 13 in Barangay Cutikot in Giporlos, was involved in illegal logging, fishing, drugs, sand and gravel extraction, and corruption, specifically the unfinished P36-million water system project of his town, the New People?s Army (NPA) said in a press statement.

Tenante Magtanggol, spokesperson of the NPA?s Florencio Elairon Command, said Biong?s son, Giporlos Mayor Mark Biong, had earlier said the death of his father could be ?politically motivated.?

The regional offices of the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) are conducting separate investigations. The CHR has described the murder as an ?extrajudicial killing.? Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas

?and sugar farmer?s

ESCALANTE CITY

COMMUNIST rebels have justified the July 23 killing of a sugar farmer because he ?resisted arrest? and tried to fire back when he was being taken to face a ?revolutionary people?s court? for a murder case in 2007.

Sergio Villadar, 52, of Barangay Libertad, was wanted for the killing of Ely Cumawas in 2007 and several mauling cases in his village, according to a statement of the New People?s Army, through its Roselyn (Ka Jean) Pelle Command.

Ka Cecil Estrella, who signed the statement, said a .45 cal. pistol was taken from Villadar. The victim had been arrested by Army soldiers in May 2007 for violation of the gun ban during the campaign period. Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

Puffer fish meal kills 2

PANGASINAN

TWO persons died while two others were confined in a hospital after eating puffer fish (butete) on Monday in Binmaley town, police said.

Albert Quitaleg and Gerry Sabeniano ate the fish while drinking gin at Sabeniano?s house in Barangay Baybay Lopez. Quitaleg, who was from Urbiztondo town, was Sabeniano?s visitor.

At about 8 p.m., Quitaleg and Sabeniano felt dizzy and started vomiting. They were taken to separate hospitals in Lingayen and Binmaley where they eventually died. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon

Gunmen storm house, kill 3

ISABELA CITY

THREE people were killed when members of a family suspected of involvement in drug trafficking stormed the house of a rival family and later engaged authorities in a shoot-out on Monday, police said.

Supt. Abubakar Radjaie Tulawie, Basilan police director, said three armed members of the Saggap family?Sakib, Mustafa and Rashid?and another companion barged into the house of retired police officer Hussin Jumahalid in Barangay Kampurnah at around 12:30 p.m., lobbed a grenade and shot Jumahalid and his son, Alfrieke.

Policemen later caught up with the suspects at the port area and engaged them in a shoot-out. Sakib was killed, while the others fled, Tulawie said. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao