SULU
Abus seize 2 vendors
Armed men believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf group snatched two vendors of used clothing (ukay-ukay) in Sitio Baunoh, Barangay Latih, in Patikul town shortly before 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Ambon Blas, 60, and Perlita Bagay, 25, were on their way home when they were abducted, according to Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, spokesperson of the military’s Western Mindanao Command.
They “were riding in tandem (on a motorcycle) when abducted by the group of Basaron Aruk near Latih Elementary School,” Cabangbang said. Aruk is a member of the Abu Sayyaf operating in Patikul. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao
BAGUIO CITY
Suspect in slay of Ethiopian held
Police on Tuesday arrested a suspect in the June 13 robbery and killing of an Ethiopian student in Dominican Hill.
Police said Gerlon Bambilla, 35, a native of Bangued, Abra, was arrested based on computer imaging technology that processed a witness’ description of suspected killers of Senai Mehary Kiros, 22.
Kiros was shot and killed by three men when he tried to fight them off. The killers took the mobile phones of Kiros and his companion, Nigerian student Korode Aderinsola Ogundele, 26. Inquirer Northern Luzon
BATAAN
2 Aeta men found dead
Two aeta men were found dead in a mountain village in Dinalupihan town on Friday.
Senior Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, Bataan police director, said a group of men clearing a grassy patch in Barangay Roosevelt for tree planting found the bodies.
Leaders of Aeta communities in Dinalupihan did not recognize the victims, who died from bullet wounds. He said the police had coordinated with Olongapo City police so they can reach Aeta leaders in Zambales for possible identification of the victims.
Superintendent Robin King Sarmiento, Dinalupihan police chief, described one of the victims as between 20 and 25 years old and had two bullet wounds in the head and neck. The second victim was about 40 years old and had a bullet wound in the left cheek.
Their bodies were taken to Del Carmen Funeral Homes. Greg Refraccion, Inquirer Central Luzon
QUEZON
3 dead in 2 road accidents
Three persons were killed and another one injured in separate road accidents in Quezon province in the last three days, police said.
On Saturday, a motorcycle back rider was killed when the vehicle rammed into the concrete fence of a cockpit arena in Infanta town, according to a police report.
Jommel Clemencio, 17, was rushed to the town hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The driver of the motorcycle, Rod Pastor, 21, remained in critical condition at the town hospital.
Report said Pastor lost control of the motorcycle after it suffered a front tire blowout.
“Both victims were not wearing crash helmets,” Nava said.
On Thursday in Calauag town, a driver and the helper of a cargo truck were killed after their vehicle slammed into a coconut tree in Barangay Sta. Milagrosa.
The Isuzu trailer truck was descending a slippery curved portion of the road when driver Michael Acuyong lost control of the wheel and hit a road signage and the coconut tree.
Helper Joel Acuyong died on the spot. The driver was rushed to Magsaysay Memorial District Hospital in nearby Lopez town but was declared dead on arrival. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon
CEBU
2 fires hit Cebu houses
Two fires broke out in separate areas in a span of over an hour on Monday morning, but no casualties were reported.
At 9:38 a.m., the first fire hit the one-story house of Bienvenido Urbiztondo, a retiree from Surigao, on Omega Street in Barangay (village) Apas. It was put out at 9:56 a.m. with the help of neighbors and fire volunteers, according to Fire Officer 2 Rudither Comeros, fire investigator.
Firemen found an exhaust fan which had remained plugged for over a week in Urbiztondo’s room, Comeros said.
Another fire occurred at 10:50 a.m. in the two-story house of Vilma Marquez in Nivel Hills, Barangay Busay. Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas