NEWSBRIEFS

ILOILO

Cops ban guns in ‘Dinagyang’

Police will impose a ban on firearms and toy guns as part of the security measures during Iloilo’s Dinagyang festival next week.

Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., Western Visayas police director, said the Philippine National Police has approved the suspension of permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFORs) from Jan. 15 to 23.

Only on-duty security guards and law enforcers who are wearing uniforms will be allowed to carry firearms. The processing of applications for new or the renewal of PTCFOR in Iloilo City will also be suspended. Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas

GENERAL SANTOS CITY

Experts ‘disrupt’ homemade bomb

Police on Sunday “disrupted” an improvised bomb found by a security guard and a bystander along Naranjita Street.

Director Felicisimo Khu, head of the regional directorate for integrated police operations, commended Dave Pagalan, security guard of a beauty products outlet, and Panung Asuncion, who reported the presence of a dubious plastic bag containing the bomb that was “victim-activated,” or exploding once moved or tinkered with.

He said the bomb was fashioned from an 81-mm mortar projectile and a 9-volt battery. Aquiles Z. Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao

LAGUNA

Diocese sends P1.6M to victims

The Diocese of San Pablo is sending more than P1.6 million in financial assistance to the victims devastated by Tropical Storm “Sendong” in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

The assistance, which was collected from churchgoers in all parishes of the diocese during the Christmas Masses, has reached P1,665,408, said Fr. Rene B. Eriga, director of the San Pablo Diocesan Social Action Center.

Bishop Leo M. Drona has earlier instructed all his parish priests, through the office of the Diocesan Social Action Director, to have second collections during the midnight Mass on Dec. 24 and all Masses on Christmas Day for the victims of Sendong. Romulo Ponte, Inquirer Southern Luzon

QUEZON

Teen killed in blast

A teenage boy was killed and two others were hurt when an device exploded in Plaridel town on Wednesday, police said Thursday.

Nico Alvarez, 15, of Barangay Paaralan, suffered body injuries and was declared dead on arrival at Gumaca District Hospital, said PO2 Leo Samson Quintana, Plaridel police investigator.

Alvarez found the still undetermined explosive in the mountainous area of Plaridel at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday and out of curiosity, started to smash it at a concrete wall of an abandoned structure in the village, according to Quintana.

Another teenager, Arjay Cabaña, 15, approached Alvarez, but the continuous bashing detonated the explosive. Cabaña suffered serious injuries in the body, said Quintana.  Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ

2 students die in road accident

Two students of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) died, while three others were hurt on Sunday when their tricycle was hit by another tricycle and a truck in Barangay Bantog here.

Servillano Gonzales Jr., CLSU security officer, said Stefanie Santos, 16, of Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya, and Lileth Linsangan, 16, of Guimba, Nueva Ecija, died when their tricycle was bumped from the rear by a “kolong-kolong” (tricycle used as delivery vehicle) and veered toward the opposite lane and hit by a truck at 6:30 p.m.  Anselmo Roque, Inquirer Central Luzon