NEWSBRIEFS

COMPOSTELA VALLEY

Soldier slain in clash

A SOLDIER was killed and four others  wounded in an encounter in Pantukan town past 4 p.m. on Monday, while another soldier was wounded in a separate firefight with New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas in Nabunturan town, the military said.

The rebels could have also suffered heavy casualties as troops overran an encampment in Sitio Piasusuan, Barangay Napnapan, added the military.

Killed was Pfc. Guyre Puyao when soldiers raided the rebel position.

Pursuit operations continued.

The rebels also torched at least two plywood plants, the Davao regional police said. At least P9 million worth of property was destroyed after 10 armed men torched the Woodcor Veneer plant in Barangay Magdum, Tagum City, in Davao del Norte at around 8:30 p.m., police said, quoting the firm’s caretaker.

Two hours after, armed men set on fire the equipment of a mini sawmill owned by lawyer Henry Sembrano in Barangay Cuambog in Mabini town.

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY

12 women rescued

TWELVE women victims of illegal recruitment were rescued from CS Hotel in Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay on Sunday noon.

Chief Supt. Felicisimo Khu, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation in Western Mindanao, said the women were staying at the municipal social welfare and development office.

Khu, however, could not say where they were bound for and who recruited them.

ZAMBOANGA CITY

Disaster training

PHILIPPINE Marine soldiers have been taking disaster response lessons from the US Marine Corps since last week.

Lt. Col. Donald Fagen of the US Marines said about 50 members of the United States’ 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa arrived from Japan to conduct the training, which, he said, was not part of the Balikatan or the Bayanihan military exercises. “We are going to focus on humanitarian aid, disaster relief,” he said.

“In the past, when we speak about our soldiers, it means war, fighting, now we do have humanitarian assistance and relief programs and as you have noticed in most natural disaster situations like in Manila, it’s the troops, who immediately responded whether at sea or at ground, so we need this training to enhance our capabilities in responding to such changes and demands of times,” Philippine Navy Capt. Sean Anthony Villa, one of the exercise planners, said.

TACLOBAN CITY

New motorcycle fare

MINIMUM fare for motorcycle-for-hire (MHC), the main public transport of the city, was increased by a peso to P7 for the first 2 kilometers, and P1 will be added for every kilometer  thereafter.

The drivers could only collect the new fare if they display the new fare matrix inside their unit, Girlie Jadloc, chief of the licensing office of the city government, said on Friday.

BACOLOD CITY

‘Fake’ sugar probed

THE SUGAR Regulatory Administration (SRA) is investigating sugar with fake markings on its sacks being sold in Davao.

Butch Alisla, chief of staff of SRA chief Gina Martin, said the agency had received intelligence reports of the suspected smuggled sugar with Central Azucarera de Don Jaime markings.

Former Negros Occidental board member Enrique Lacson, a sugar planter, said he was informed that the commodity was being sold openly in Davao. He noted that there was no sugar mill by that name or a place named Nuevo in Negros Occidental.