Newsbriefs

Vigilante killings?

TAGUM CITY—Motorcycle-riding men shot and killed two carpenters while building a house in Betty Homes Subdivision in Barangay Apokon on Wednesday, police said.

At least six similar attacks have been reported in Davao del Norte since June, including a failed attempt to execute three gang members in the Garden City of Samal.

Supt. Juel Neil Salcedo, Tagum police chief, identified the latest victims as Franklin Edquila, 42, and Juancho Monteverdo, 47, both of RJP Village in Barangay Apokon. They suffered multiple bullet wounds in the body and died instantly, he said.

Suspicion is widespread in many parts of southern Mindanao, including Davao del Norte, that a vigilante group is going after suspected criminals. Local government and police officials have consistently denied this, saying the killings could be the result of rivalry among criminal gangs. Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao

CEBU

3 hurt in road accident

A British national and his Filipina girlfriend, who were planning to get married, and another person were injured in a traffic accident on Wednesday at the South Coastal Road in Talisay City in southern Cebu.

Michael Terrence Plaice, 68, broke his left arm, while Maria Lourdes Amatril, 38, suffered minor bruises in the body. Truck boy Tata Inocencio was injured in the right leg.

Police said Plaice and Amatril came from Minglanilla town to inquire about wedding procedures and were headed to Mandaue City to look for car rental companies but the Kia Sportage they were riding was hit by a 10-wheel truck loaded with limestone. Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas

LEYTE

Fisherman rescued

One of the two fishermen reported missing in Tolosa town in Leyte was found in Eastern Samar on Tuesday morning.

Residents saw Ronnie Canales lying but conscious on the shore of Barangay Poblacion in Lawaan town, Eastern Samar. He was brought to the hospital for treatment of a minor wound.

Rescuers were still looking for Canalas’ companion, Lito Ferreras, according to Angelo Polistico, Office of Civil Defense regional assistant operations chief.

Canalas and Ferreras, both of Barangay Doña Brigida in Tolosa, went out to sail early Monday, but heavy rain and strong winds spawned by Typhoon “Pedring” battered their motorized banca, Polistico said. Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas