NEWSBRIEFS
COTABATO CITY
Lightnings kill 2
Two farmers were killed when lightning struck in separate locations in Central Mindanao over the weekend, police said
Farmer Dennis Pancha, 29, of Midsayap, North Cotabato, was hunting birds in an open rice field with another farmer, when he was hit by lightning at around 8 p.m. on Saturday. His companion, Dante Viloan, rushed him to the hospital but Pancha died without receiving any medical treatment.
The night before, farmer Walter Friales, of Norallah, South Cotabato, was also struck by lightning. Friales, who was riding his carabao while pulling a cart, was rushing home as heavy rains started. He and the animal were killed. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao
BATANGAS
2 drown in resort
Two guests of a beach resort in Nasugbu town drowned on Sunday afternoon, but rescuers had so far found only one body, police said.
Police Officer 3 Meynard Antaz, case investigator, said Erickson Espino, 24, and Jay-ar Villanueva, 23, both call center agents, were swimming with two other companions at Alix Beach Resort at around 12:30 p.m. when huge waves swallowed them. Their companions, Rene Boy Lao and Christherson Celeridad, were washed ashore and survived.
Antaz said rescuers from the Coast Guard in Nasugbu found Espino’s body floating near the resort past 1 p.m. He was brought to Nasugbu Doctor’s General Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Pinky Alix, resort manager, told police that she had advised the group against going for a swim because of the big waves. Jerome Balinton, Inquirer Southern Luzon
MASBATE
Port exec killed
Two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot and killed the assistant port manager of Cataingan town in Masbate early Monday.
Antonio Loon, 55, who was also a former chair of Barangay Liong, was driving a motorcycle in Sitio Alimango, Barangay Concepcion, when he was attacked, said Insp. Romeo Ranara, the town’s deputy police chief.
Loon died on the spot from five bullet wounds in the face and body, Ranara said. Recovered from the crime scene were seven empty shells and two slugs of a .45 cal. pistol and one loaded magazine. Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon
BACOLOD CITY
Negros trade fair
The 26th Negros Trade Fair of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) held at Rockwell Tent in Makati City drew many shoppers when it opened on Wednesday.
The fair showcased various products, such as jewelry, art work, furniture and furnishings, fashion accessories, garments, gifts and house items, food and health and wellness needs. Fifty six of the 106 ANP producer-members participated.
The exhibit theme this year, i.Negros, gave tribute to the Negrense artistry and ingenuity behind products being sold at the fair, ANP president Josephine Locsin said.
The ANP has created jobs for 12,000 Negrenses through entrepreneurship training and marketing exposures. Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas
