NEWSBRIEFS: Across the Nation

COMPOSTELA VALLEY

Road crash kills 3

Three people were killed while seven others were injured when a van slammed on a parked truck at the Davao-Butuan highway in Barangay Poblacion in Montevista town 12 a.m. on Tuesday.

Supt. Jose Carumba, Southern Mindanao police spokesperson, said a Toyota Hi-Ace van with license plate No. LXA-352 and driven by Elmer Toyco, 30, had 10 passengers from Butuan City when it rammed an Isuzu truck parked on the highway’s shoulder.

Three of the van’s passengers—Mary Ann, 22, and Mailyn Quejada, 25, both of Tandag, Surigao del Sur; and Benjie Tecson, 30, also of Tandag—died on the way to a hospital. Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao

COTABATO CITY

Man dead in fire

A 71-year-old bedridden man was killed when a fire of still unknown origin razed his house in Midsayap, North Cotabato, on Tuesday, the Bureau of Fire Protection reported yesterday.

Senior Insp. Noah Pacalta, the town’s fire chief, identified the fatality as Wilfredo Quejada.

Charlie Señase, Inquirer Mindanao

LAGUNA

Med rep dead

A medical representative is believed to have been raped before she was killed in San Pablo City, police on Wednesday said.

Supt. Ferdinand de Castro, city police chief, said Ariane Villamater, 25, was last seen on Monday evening leaving her apartment in Green Valley Subdivision in Barangay San Francisco to buy cell phone load.

Her naked body was found 7 a.m. on Tuesday in a vacant lot inside the subdivision. She had bruises on the chest and head. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon

NUEVA ECIJA

Woman drowns

A pregnant woman drowned after the motorcycle she was riding fell into a pool on a damaged floodway in Barangay San Josef in Sta. Rosa town on Sunday.

Chief Insp. Marcelino Veneracion, town police chief, said Cathy Agudo, 25, was five months pregnant. Her husband, Alex, 31, and son, Xuan, 2, were taken to a hospital in Cabanatuan City.

The couple and their son were aboard a motorcycle and crossed the floodway that was damaged by Typhoon “Quiel” in October. Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon

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