NEWSBRIEFS

Jeep falls into ravine

A jeepney lost its brakes while negotiating a zigzag road in Pagbilao town and fell into a 20-foot ravine on Saturday night, police said. Thirteen persons were slightly injured.

The driver, Christopher de Jose, lost control of the steering wheel after the jeepney’s brakes failed along the old zigzag road in Barangay (village) Silangan Malicboy at around 8:30 p.m., according to Police Officer 3 Allan Falqueza, municipal police investigator. The vehicle crashed 20 feet down the cliff and rested upside down, he said.

Lawmen and volunteer rescuers took the passengers to Jane County Hospital for treatment. Delfin T. Mallari, Inquirer Southern Luzon

ROXAS CITY

4 fishermen found

Four city fishermen in a motorboat who went missing since last week were rescued by fellow fishermen in Batan town in Aklan early on Saturday.

A strong wave rammed the boat while the four were fishing off Batan on March 5, according to its captain and owner, Raul Carmen. He and his companions held on to pieces of lumber and fish containers for two nights and three days before they were rescued by fishermen from Tabacan village in Batan.

They drank rain water, Carmen said.

Aside from Carmen, the fishermen were identified by their village chair, Richard Arrojado of Libas, Roxas City, as Richard Mimay, Sanny Babela and Raquel Carmen. They arrived in the city on Saturday noon and were brought immediately to Capiz Emmanuel Hospital for medical checkup and treatment. Felipe V. Celino, Inquirer Visayas

CEBU CITY

Woman, 90, hurt in fire

A 90-year-old woman suffered serious burns when a fire broke out before 3 a.m. on Sunday in a low-cost government housing site in Barangay Sambag 2, police said.

Basilisa Miral was unconscious when firemen found her on the second floor of her house, according to Senior Fire Officer 1 Lowel Opolentisima. Around 75 percent of her face and body were burned, he added.

Miral’s relatives said they forgot to bring her out of the house because they panicked, Opolentisima said. The woman, who could hardly walk, was brought to Cebu City Medical Center.

The fire destroyed 32 houses and left 54 families or 270 people homeless, according to the barangay chair, Carl Stephen Belarmino. The victims are staying at the Maharlika gymnasium. Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas

CATANDUANES

2 rebels die in clash

Army soldiers clashed briefly with a communist guerrilla unit in a remote village in San Andres town on Friday afternoon, resulting in two unidentified rebel fatalities, the military said.

Major Angelo Guzman, Army regional spokesperson, said a platoon of Scout Rangers were on security operations in Barangay Mananmbrag at around 5 p.m. when they encountered a New People’s Army unit belonging to the Nerissa San Juan Command.

An M-14 rifle was recovered from the battle scene, Guzman said, citing a report from Lt. Col. Bernardo Fortez, commanding officer of the 83rd Infantry Battalion. Mar Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon