NEWS BRIEFS: 4 found dead

BATANGAS CITY—Four unidentified men were found dead by a village watchman along a road in Barangay Calicanto here on Sunday night, police said on Monday. Supt. Barnard Danie Dasugo, Batangas City police chief, said a village watchman found the bullet-riddled bodies at past 9 p.m. Sunday.

Dasugo said police had not recovered any identification documents from the victims. —MARRAH ERIKA RABE

80 houses razed

ZAMBOANGA CITY—More than 100 families were left homeless when 80 houses were razed in a fire that hit Barangay Upper Calarian here on Sunday night. Fire Inspector Clint Cha, district fire marshal, said the fire, which broke out at 9:50 p.m., was put out three hours later. Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar said the area, covering some four hectares of land, is home to urban poor settlers. —JULIE ALIPALA

Rape suspect killed

TAGUM CITY—Suspected communist rebels on Sunday shot and killed one of the suspects in the rape-slay of a woman in Mati City, Davao Oriental province two years ago.

Senior Supt. Harry Espela, provincial police director, said Fabian Gemarino Jr., 58, was gunned down by suspected New People’s Army rebels in the sub-village of Sudlon in Barangay Central at about 10 p.m. Espela said the victim had been missing for almost a month until his bullet-riddled body was found Sunday. —FRINSTON LIM