NEWSBRIEFS

MASBATE

2 teachers slain

Two public school teachers of remote villages in Masbate were killed inside their classrooms in separate incidents last week, police said on Friday.

Loida Pagatpat, 51, of Barangay (village) Antipolo in Palanas town was killed inside her classroom at Antipolo Elementary School at 10:10 a.m. on Friday by two armed men, who fled on a motorcycle.

Pagatpat was holding a class when the gunmen barged in and ordered the students to get out of the classroom. They shot her after the children had left.

Allan Mahilum, 32, was stabbed dead on Wednesday inside his classroom in Barangay Magsalangi in Milagros town.

Police said Mahilum was stabbed by Gerry Dehiza, 32, while the pupils were home on a lunch break and Mahilum was inside his classroom at Magsalangi Elementary School.

Mahilum was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to multiple stab wounds.—Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon

BACOLOD CITY

DBP employee killed

A banker was killed while his 16-year-old nephew was wounded after they were shot by a policeman on Saturday.

Joenel Ealdama, 49, employee of the Development Bank of the Philippines, was hit in the left side of his body with the bullet hitting his heart.

Karl Ealdama, of Barangay (village) Camingawan, was shot in the left hand but the bullet hit his stomach, said City Police Director Senior Superintendent Ricardo de la Paz.

Police Officer 3 Mario Talleon was detained at the Bacolod Police Precinct 4. He denied shooting the victims.—Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

NORTH COTABATO

2 slain in ambush

Two persons were killed when ambushed in Kacaban town on Saturday.

Andrew Caumbao and Teng Montawal, residents of Maguindanao, were heading home around 10:20 p.m. aboard a motorbike from Kidapawan when gunmen fired at them along the national highway.

Provincial Police Chief Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas said the victims were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital due to fatal wounds.—Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao