FIRE AT MARIA LUISA
ABOUT P1.2 million in properties were destroyed when a fire razed the house of a businessman in Maria Luisa Estate in barangay Banilad, Cebu City.
The fire broke out at 4:05 a.m. and was contained in five minutes.
The house is owned by Nicholas Ting.
Based on the initial investigation, electrical short circuit may have caused the fire, said Cebu City Fire Marshal Aderson Comar.
Niño Ting, son of Nicholas, said the family had a get-together party last Friday night. He said it was possible that there were appliances that were left unplugged.
The basement of the house was occupied by Mandaue City Councilor Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon and husband Jojo Dizon.
Niño and Jojo are two of seven children of couple Shirley and Nicholas Ting.
Shirley escaped from the burning house through the balcony using a ladder./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA
COURT CONVICTS MAN
THE court convicted a man who tried to kill his opponent during a basketball game in barangay Upper Naalad, Naga City, southern Cebu.
Wilfredo Entice was found guilty of frustrated murder after he shot and wounded Charlie Navales in the back.
Entice, who is out on bail, was meted an imprisonment of eight to 14 years.
He was also ordered to pay Navales P40,000 as moral damages, P30,000 in civil indemnity, P25,000 as temperate damages, and P25,000 as exemplary damages.
In his testimony, Navales said he along with four persons played against the team of Entice in a basketball game on Aug. 24, 2005.
In the middle of the game, a fistfight ensued between the two teams.
Navales said Entice got a firearm and shot him in the back.
The victim was brought to the hospital where he stayed for a week
Navales’ basketball playmate Roel Natad also testified against Entice.
The accused testified in court to refute the allegations.
However, his alibi was stricken out of the records of the case since he failed to attend the subsequent hearings to finish his testimonies.
“Had he been innocent and conscious of the gravity of the charge against him, he would have been conscientious in coming to court and do everything legally within his means to prove his innocence,” said Regional Trial Court Judge Gilbert Moises of Branch 18 in his ruling./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL