Newsbriefs

ZAMBOANGA CITY

Bandits attack Patikul, 3 dead

TWO SUSPECTED Abu Sayyaf bandits and a civilian were killed while seven other persons were wounded in attacks on three villages of Patikul town in Sulu on Christmas day.

Colonel Jose Johriel Cenabre, Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command’s deputy commander for Marine Operations, said at least 40 bandits attacked a Marines detachment in Barangay Kan-ague at around 9 p.m., injuring Sergeant Alejandro Ong.

More than an hour later, the bandits attacked Barangays Minjay and Kabuntakas, killing Simar Sali, 15. Six other civilians were wounded in the attacks.

Cenabre said they also received reports that two Abu Sayyaf members were killed and several others wounded when soldiers fired back at them during the first attack. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao

MAGUINDANAO

Bomb detonated

THE MILITARY on Monday detonated a powerful improvised explosive device at a junk shop in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Major General Rey Ardo, chief of the 6th Infantry Division, said the IED, fashioned from two 81-mm mortar with battery and a timer, was hidden inside a sack filled with charcoal and left at a metal shop along the national highway near the Mindanao Textile Corporation compound.

Alert civilians became suspicious of the sack when it was unloaded from a passenger jeep by unidentified men who hurriedly left at about 6:30 a.m.

The junk shop is about a kilometer away from the 6th Infantry Division headquarters and about 50 meters from a police detachment in Barangay Tamontaka.

Ardo ordered all military units in the city, Maguindanao and North Cotabato to strictly enforce checkpoints to prevent similar attempts in the future. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao

BACOLOD CITY

German found dead

A GERMAN national was found dead on Monday in his residence in Bago City, Negros Occidental, with multiple stab wounds, police said.

Herman Knitz, 72, died of at least eight stab wounds and injuries in the head, believed to have been caused by a hard object, said Bago police chief Superintendent Simeon Gane.

Initial police investigation showed no forced entry into the victim’s house in Palanca Subdivision in Barangay Poblacion, Bago City, and no valuables were missing, except the key to his vault and his wallet.

The body was found in his room by his Filipina wife, Maria Ranela, past 6 a.m. Police were alerted 30 minutes later.

Gane said the victim was alone in the house when he was attacked and killed by his assailant.

Police said there was no indication of a struggle but the victim might have been parrying the attack as indicated by injuries in his arms.

Knitz had been married to Ranela for 11 years and had been staying in Bago City for two months.

Gane said Ranela left him at home midnight on Sunday and returned home Monday. Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

MAASIN CITY

16 rescued from flood

FIFTEEN people and one infant were rescued after they were trapped by the rising Lawigan river in Barangay Carnaga, St. Bernard, Southern Leyte at around 1:00 p.m. Monday.

Marichu Tan, Office of the Civil Defense officer-in-charge, said they were rescued after they failed to cross the Lawigan river, which was at a critical level with its deepest area reaching three meters.

Tan said they have placed residents in flood prone areas in Barangay Mahayahay, also of St. Bernard, on preempted evacuation. This meant that the residents would be ordered to evacuate at any time, she said.

Jane Araneta, information officer of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said St. Bernard has been experiencing heavy rains for three days now.

All other residents in flood and landslides areas have been alerted. Jani Arnaiz, Inquirer Visayas