Regions Briefs: November 23, 2018

3 suspected assassins dead in Batangas shootout

SAN PEDRO CITY—Three suspected members of a gun-for-hire group were killed in a shootout with policemen in Taysan town, Batangas province, on Thursday, police said. Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran, spokesperson for the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regional police, said the slain suspects—Solomon Panal, Virgilio Hernandez and Efren Cruzada—were involved in a series of killings and robberies in Metro Manila and the provinces of Batangas, Pampanga and Bulacan. Gaoiran said the suspects were tailing a businessman in Taysan before the clash at past 9 a.m. She said the suspects ignored a police checkpoint and started firing, prompting policemen to retaliate. —MARICAR CINCO

Raps vs Aklan gov, wife over questions on SALN junked

ILOILO CITY—The Sandiganbayan dismissed criminal charges against Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores and his wife, citing the unreasonable delay in the gathering of evidence and filing of a complaint by the Ombudsman. Miraflores and his wife, former Ibajay Mayor Lourdes Miraflores, were charged with violating Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) for allegedly failing to declare certain assets in their statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) from Dec. 31, 2006 to Dec. 31, 2009. In a resolution on Nov. 14, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division dismissed the complaint because it said the delay violated the couple’s constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases. It said the preliminary investigation started on April 8, 2015 but the information was filed in court only on June 29 this year. Governor Miraflores said there was no deliberate intent to conceal properties or assets in their SALNs. —NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.

Army soldier guns down Bulacan teacher, then kills self

BOCAUE, BULACAN—An Army soldier on Wednesday shot dead an elementary schoolteacher and wounded one of her pupils inside a classroom here before turning the gun on himself, police said. Ruperto Datwin, 40, who was armed with a pistol, broke into a classroom at Tambunong Elementary School, approached Melody Esber, 33, and then shot her in the chest. A stray bullet hit the left shoulder of a 9-year-old pupil. Police said the attack might be due to an affair between Datwin and Esber. Police recovered a folder from the crime scene that contained written accounts about their supposed relationship. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE

Ilocos shops sued for selling low-quality construction items

DAGUPAN CITY—Seventeen establishments in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union are facing charges for selling substandard construction materials, an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office said on Thursday. The firms were caught selling underweight steel bars and unlabeled flat glass and angle bars during an inspection from Nov. 13 to 16, said Joyce Sabado, DTI regional information officer. Sabado said the business establishments were also facing administrative cases for violation of the Consumer Act of the Philippines and the product standards law. —GABRIEL CARDINOZA

Lumauig, Ifugao’s first governor, dies at 85

BAGUIO CITY—Former Ifugao Gov. Gualberto Lumauig died on Sunday after a lingering illness. He was 85. A journalism graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of University of Santo Tomas, Lumauig started his political career when he joined the staff of then Executive Secretary Rafael Salas. At 33, Lumauig was appointed by strongman Ferdinand Marcos as governor after Ifugao province was created in 1966. He served briefly as information minister under Marcos and was elected Ifugao representative in 1988. His body will be taken to the Ifugao provincial capitol in Lagawe town on Friday. Burial will be at Loyola Memorial Park on Nov. 27. —KARLSTON LAPNITEN