Regions Briefs: June 8, 2019

AFP urges public to visit Basilan amid restored normalcy

ISABELA CITY, BASILAN—After 10 years of security risks, foreign and local tourists as well as international nongovernment organizations can now explore Basilan freely again. Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force Basilan, said normalcy has been restored to the island and visitors can now check out its white sand beaches and even hop through its adjoining islands without fear of being snatched or attacked by criminals.—JULIE ALIPALA

Teacher beats 9th grader for lousy cleaning job

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A ninth-grader from Pasonanca National High School was allegedly beaten by a teacher on the first day of school. Joel Alegado, guidance counselor of the high school, said teacher Philip Ditchon is now under invesgation by the education department and the police for repeatedly hitting the 15-year-old boy who volunteered to clean up a classroom with four classmates. School principal Jonathan Silao said Ditchon was allegedly irked at the boys’ sloppy scrubbing of the floor and vented his ire on one of the boys who later reported the physical abuse. Police Maj. Arlan Delumpines, station commander of Police Station 7 that has jurisdiction over the school, said they were investigating the incident as a child abuse case. Ditchon has been prohibited from taking on any teaching responsibilities while he is being investigated. Some of the his supposed offenses include frequent disappearance from the school premises without permission and bringing hard objects, like pipes, which one teacher claimed was intended to discipline his students, Silao added. —JULIE ALIPALA

CDO gov’t warns stores against mercury-laden whiteners

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The city government here is set to inspect stores allegedly selling beauty products with high toxic chemical contents, a local legislator said on Thursday. City Councilor George Goking said he had coordinated with the City Price Coordinating Council to inspect skin-whitening creams being sold in Cogon and Carmen public markets and recommend legal action against establishments carrying the products. —JIGGER J. JERUSALEM