News Briefs: March 20, 2019
Australia probing Pinoy’s death – Dole
The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said on Tuesday that the remains of a Filipino who died in Australia last week could not be repatriated yet as police there were still investigating his death.
In a report on Tuesday, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Canberra sought to assure Jerwin Roj Royupa’s family that his remains would be sent home after the investigation.
Royupa was killed on Thursday last week after he supposedly jumped off a speeding car.
A Facebook post by a sibling claimed that Royupa had not received his salary for a month. —Jovic Yee
Narcolist sets Quezon rivalry aflame
The heated political rivalry between the Alcala and Suarez clans in Quezon province was set aflame by the inclusion of a member of the Alcala clan, Lucena Mayor Roderick Alcala, on President Rodrigo Duterte’s narcolist.
Quezon Gov. David Suarez said the presence of the mayor’s name on the list brought a negative image to the province.
But Mayor Alcala said the mention of his name on the list was the work of his rivals, obviously referring to the Suarez clan.
Alcala’s accusation drew rebuke from the governor who said the Suarez clan did not wield any influence on Malacañang that led to Alcala being listed by the President as a drug protector. —Delfin T. Mallari Jr.
2 kidnap suspects dead in Lanao Norte clash
Two suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate were killed in a clash with agents of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group in the town of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte province.
Joey Robert Ajero, officer in charge of the NBI Iligan City district office, identified the two suspects as Zainal Wahab Onding, 31, and Naipodin Hosain, 23.
The operation to get the two suspects came after their victim, a driver, sought authorities’ help after he was kidnapped on March 10.
Ajero said the suspects initially demanded P50,000 but would keep the victim’s vehicle, a Toyota Vios, unless the victim paid P70,000. —Divina M. Suson
5 dead in Negros drug raids
Five drug suspects were killed in the province of Negros Occidental during antidrug operations in the last two months.
One of the suspects was identified as Alson Aguirre, an elusive drug gang leader slain at a buy-bust operation in Manapla.
Senior Supt. Romeo Baleros, Negros Occidental police officer in charge, said police recovered an M-16 rifle, two .45-caliber pistols, a .38-caliber revolver, a grease gun and a grenade at Aguirre’s house.
Baleros said Aguirre’s group was armed and dangerous.
In earlier operations, police killed four drug suspects in the cities of San Carlos and Kabankalan, and the town of Hinigaran. —Carla P. Gomez
