NEWSBRIEFS

PANGASINAN

2 killed in shootout

Two persons died and six others were wounded after a shooting incident in a wake in Malasiqui town on Tuesday night.

Police and radio reports said the shooting was prompted by an argument between gamblers over alleged cheating in a card game in Barangay Caoayan-Bugtong in Malasiqui. Reports said the fatalities—Maribel Lambino, 27, and Zaldy Garcia, 39—were dealers in a card game and were on a winning streak.

One of the players, Mamerto Cancino, 49, who was heavily losing at that time, asked that the cards being used in the game be changed. With a new set of cards, Liberty Rosario, 39, took over Lambino as dealer. But after two rounds, Rosario and Garcia stood up saying they no longer have money.

It was here, witnesses said, when Cancino yelled at Rosario and slapped her. This was immediately followed by gunshots. Radio reports said Lambino and Garcia died from bullet wounds in their heads. Police could not say who shot the victims, saying they were still conducting an investigation.

Reports said Rosario, Cancino, Arnante Baldoz, Rolly Maysano, Rowena Quinto and Esperanza Ferrer were wounded and were taken to Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer N. Luzon

BATANGAS

2 die, 26 hurt in accident

A teacher and a boy died in a road accident while on board a Ro-Ro bus traveling along Kilometer 87 of the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, Barangay Aya, San Jose, Batangas, on Wednesday.

Lipa City police chief Supt. Christopher Birung said that at around 8:20 a.m., Rita Suege, 27, and Elijah Emmanuel Suege, two and a half years old, both from Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, died when the driver lost control of the bus and swerved to the right.

Chief Inspector Pedro Macaraig, San Jose town police, said 26 persons were injured in the incident, 16 of whom were brought to Mary Mediatrix Medical Center in Lipa City while 10 others were rushed to San Jose District Hospital in San Jose.

Macaraig said the driver, a certain J. Tolentino from  Bicol, fled after the incident. Tolentino was texting while driving but police said the driver fell asleep.Marrah Erika Lesaba,  Inquirer S. Luzon

Security exec shot dead

An employee of the city government was killed while his coworker was wounded when gunmen shot at them as they were traveling along the national road of Barangay Maraouy in Lipa City, shortly before midnight on Thursday.

Lipa City police chief Superintendent Christopher Birung said  Nazario Matias, 37, and Orlando Quizon, 49, both security officers of the city-run Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa and members of the City Public Order and Safety, were each on board their motorcycles when gunned down at around 11:16 p.m.

“The victims were bound for Lipa City town proper when shot from behind by the unidentified suspects,” said Birung.

Matias, who suffered multiple bullet wounds in his body, died on the spot. Quizon had a lone bullet wound in his right hip. The undetermined number of gunmen sped off on board a motorcycle, said Birung. Marrah Erika Lesaba, Inquirer S. Luzon