1,189 pass PMA entrance exams

BAGUIO CITY–The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) said 1,189 examinees passed the academy’s entrance examination held on Aug. 3. The 827 male and 362 female applicants for the PMA Class of 2019 would be eligible for a series of physical and medical examinations following a comprehensive medical examination at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in Quezon City, the PMA public information office said recently.

It said 12,014 applicants took the exams this year. The PMA said John Paul Baetiong of Caloocan City topped the list of successful examinees, followed by Alenn Gabriel Macapagal (Cainta, Rizal), Joylene Bacani (Baguio City), Jeo Cacal (Puerto Pricensa City), Julis Caesar Librada (Baguio City),  Michael James Daligdig (Calamba, Misamis Occidental), Lyster Rey Cabardo (Iligan City), Aleana Cecilia Bantolo (Caloocan City), Justine Cyle Mapalo (Quezon City) and Kernell Ortega (Socorro, Oriental Mindoro).

The complete list of successful examinees is available at the PMA website (www.pma.ph). Inquirer Northern Luzon

6 killed in collision

TUGUEGARAO CITY–Six people died while three others were hurt when a car collided with a tricycle along the national highway in Barangay Larion Bajo here on Friday night, police said.

Three of the victims—tricycle driver James Calimag, 25, Apple Pagalilauan, 19, and Reyniemar Maribbay, 19—died instantly. Police said Jenmar Soriano, 26, Diamond Nicole Talang, 22, and Lorena Baquiran died in a hospital here.

The victims were on board Calimag’s tricycle when a car, driven by Resty Pillos, 34, hit them at 8:30 p.m. Pillos, police said, overtook a motorcycle but he miscalculated and hit the tricycle. Pillos and two other tricycle passengers were hurt. Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon

Man slain, wife shot  while betting on lotto

PAMPANGA–A man was killed while his wife was seriously wounded on Wednesday afternoon when a man opened fire at them as they placed a lottery bet inside a grocery store north of the City of San Fernando.

Policemen gave chase and arrested the suspected gunman, Benjamin Fontanilla of Barangay (village) Calulut, for shooting Emmanuel Avedillo and his wife Erlinda, according to Senior Supt. Marlon Madrid, Pampanga police director.

Avedillo died before reaching a hospital here while his wife was in critical condition at  Sacred Heart Hospital in Angeles City. Their son Warren, who was with them when the shooting occurred, was not hurt. The Avedillos are from Barangay Sabanilla in Mexico town. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon

32 NFA stores closed

KORONADAL CITY–The National Food Authority (NFA) South Cotabato  office has suspended the accreditation of its 32 rice outlets for not heeding the agency’s policies on selling cheap rice.

The violators were caught rebagging NFA rice and not displaying the  price tag of the cheap rice being sold in their stalls, Guialudin Usman, NFA South Cotabato manager, told reporters. “We’ve been appealing to them not to violate the rules of the agency but there were still hard-headed individuals who defied the order,” Usman said.

Usman explained that since these were first-time violators, their permits were suspended for two weeks. Ordinary NFA rice in South Cotabato is sold at P27 per kilogram while well-milled rice is sold at P32 per kilogram. Williamor A. Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao