NEWSBRIEFS
CEBU CITY
‘Balikbayan’ dies in fire
An 89-year-old “balikbayan” was charred to death during a fire that razed 30 houses in Upper Purok 3, Barangay Kamputhaw, late on Sunday, fire officials said.
Raymond Belda was alone in his house when the fire started at 10:09 p.m. He could hardly walk because of his age and his neighbors and relatives found it too late to rescue him, said SFO2 Daniel Relatado Jr.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The neighbors did not hear anything until they noticed the fire spreading from the second floor of Belda’s house,” Relatado said. Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas
QUEZON
Bus catches fire; 1 hurt
A Manila-bound bus caught fire along the diversion road in Atimonan town early on Sunday, police said. All passengers were reported safe.
One of the passengers, Shereleen Cabintoy Sepada, 27, suffered injuries when she jumped out the window of the burning unit of Our Lady of Salvation Bus and was brought to Doña Marta Memorial District Hospital in Atimonan town, said a report from the provincial police.
Police are still investigating the cause of the fire. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon
Boat sinks; girl missing
A 3-year-old girl was declared missing in the waters off Infanta town after a motorized fishing boat capsized due to overloading and huge waves on Tuesday, police said.
The rented boat left Dinahican village with 17 passengers and sailed for Polillo Island at 11 a.m., Chief Insp. Elmar Sillador, provincial police information officer, said, citing a report from the Infanta police.
Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon
SULU
5 killed at checkpoint
At least five men believed to be Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in Patikul town, the military said.
Marine soldiers who flagged down a Toyota Tamaraw FX van at a checkpoint in Barangay Bangkal were fired upon by its passengers, said Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command. The soldiers retaliated but the van sped away, she said.
Muyuela said the Marines recovered the vehicle and found a body. The military was later informed that four other passengers had died from bullet wounds. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao
