NEWSBRIEFS

NORTH COTABATO

Hunt for killers

Police in North Cotabato have launched a province-wide hunt for two men who shot and seriously wounded an engineer working for a government irrigation project in the province on Friday.

Supt. Danilo Peralta, North Cotabato provincial police director, directed police in Pikit town to intensify the hunt for the two motorcycle-riding men who shot Akmad Adam Pangilamen, 50, of Masulot Construction.

Pangilamen of Limbo in Sultan Kudarat town, Maguindanao province, was riding in tandem with Mustapha Galay, 31, of Barangay (village)  Tapodoc in Aleosan town, North Cotabato, from Pikit to Midsayap town when shot at by the suspects. Both suffered bullet wounds in the legs and neck, according to Senior Insp. Mautin Pangandiman, Pikit police chief.

The shooting happened in Barangay Langayen, Pikit, at 8:50 a.m. on Friday. Both are now recuperating at a hospital in nearby Midsayap, police said. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY

Rain ends dry spell

Strong rain ended months of a dry spell that has been affecting the city, but it also alarmed officials who immediately urged residents to help monitor rivers for possible signs of major flooding.

The rain that started on Friday dawn inundated some areas of the city but there has been no reports of untoward incidents.

However, Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar urged residents to be watchful, as the floods could become serious if the rain persists.

To some residents, the rain can help alleviate the water crisis that has been affecting the city for weeks now.

The local water utility has to ration supply, as the level of water in the dam that provides drinking water to the city has drastically receded since mid-February. Liza Jocson, Inquirer Mindanao