NEWSBRIEFS

ABRA

Bodies of ex-rebel, kin unearthed

Residents of Licuan-Baay town in Abra province on Friday unearthed three graves, one of which may belong to a former New People’s Army (NPA) rebel who was reported missing early this week.

Abra Human Rights Alliance on Saturday said villagers of Sitio Sukaw in Barangay (village) Domenglay stumbled on the shallow graves and found the bodies of Fermin Ligiw, his brother Eddie and their father Licuben.

Fermin, 30, was a member of an activist group,  Sikadan-Anakbayan. The Ligiws were also members of  Lenneng, Kileng, Tingguian Farmers’ Association.

A report from Camp Melchor de la Cruz in Isabela province said Army personnel helped in the search for the three men reported missing on March 2. Lt. Col. Danilo Domingo, commander of the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion, said Fermin  was a former NPA rebel who surrendered to the military in March 2011. Reports from Kimberlie Quitasol and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon

PAMPANGA

Relatives of  OFW in Macau seek justice 

The body of Imelda Ignacio-Austria, the overseas Filipino worker who was killed in a Feb. 15 car accident in Macau, has been returned home to Porac town. But instead of grief, Austria’s husband, Villamor, and her sister,  Teresita Baje, appealed for justice for her death.

A private car fatally hit Austria, 48, as she crossed a street after participating in the Iglesia ni Cristo worldwide walk in Macau. It was not known if the driver was arrested or jailed. A report in a Macau newspaper quoted police as saying that Austria may have been jaywalking.

Austria’s relatives were told that the investigation in Macau would take six months. They were also told that any court ruling to address her death might come in two to three years. Austria was the sole breadwinner in her family. Her husband has yet to resume construction work. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon

ORIENTAL MINDORO

Architect shot dead

An architect was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen across a village hall in Barangay (village) Balite in Calapan City on Friday morning, said PO3 Nilmar Ocampo, desk officer at the city police office.

Edwin Rodriguez was aboard his motorcycle when he was shot on the left side of his waist at 10:30 a.m. Initial investigation showed the gunmen had been tailing Rodriguez, 52, from the nearby village of Wawa before he was shot in Balite,  Ocampo said in a phone interview  on Saturday.

Ocampo said Rodriguez was pronounced dead on arrival in the hospital.  Madonna T. Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon