NEWSBRIEFS

LUCENA CITY

2 suspected robbers killed

Two suspected robbers riding in tandem in a motorcycle were killed in an alleged shootout with policemen along Maharlika Highway in Sariaya, Quezon, before daybreak on Saturday, police said.

Senior Superintendent Erickson Velasquez, Quezon police chief, said one of the suspects as Hill Dave Brand Villareal, 28, and an unidentified companion, were spotted at around 4 a.m. speeding through a police checkpoint in Barangay (village) Sampaloc 2 aboard a motorcycle without plate number.

The policemen gave chase and overtook the suspects. After identifying themselves as lawmen, the policemen instructed the duo to alight from their vehicle for routine check, report said. The suspects drew their short firearms and fired at the lawmen. The police returned fire killing the suspects on the spot. Further police investigation identified Villareal as member of the dreaded Enrico Latag robbery/holdup gang, said Velasquez.—Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon

BACOLOD CITY

Woman, child drown

A mother and her 2-year-old daughter drowned on Friday afternoon after she jumped into the waters off Talisay City, Negros Occidental, to save her daughter who fell from the vessel.

The fatalities were identified as Michelle Tiamsing, 30, and her daughter Joemcelle, both passengers of MV St. Peter the Apostle, which was bound for Manila.

Lieutenant Commander Dominador Senador, Bacolod Coast Guard head, told the Inquirer that the girl fell from the vessel and into the waters, about 2.7 nautical miles from the shoreline of Talisay, about 5:30 p.m., an hour after the boat sailed from Banago wharf in Bacolod. It was not known why and how the girl fell from the ship.

But Michelle was heard shouting when the girl fell. She then dived into the waters in an attempt to save her daughter.

When the crew learned about what happened, they stopped the vessel, brought down a life raft and sent a team to look for the mother and daughter.

The bodies of Michelle and Joemcelle were found 30 minutes later.—Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas