NEWSBRIEFS

BASILAN

6 Army soldiers hurt in explosion

At least six Army Scout Rangers pursuing a group of bandits were wounded in a bomb explosion in Sumisip town on Monday.

The soldiers were tracking bandits believed to be led by Furuji Indama and Hassan Asnawi, said Major Harold Cabunoc, Army spokesperson. The bandits “were eluding government forces around Mount Abong-Abong in Sumisip,”

Hit by “shrapnel and debris” from a bomb that was detonated in Barangay (village) , security, Baiwas were Corporal Jonathan Candias and Privates First Class Mark Cac, Domingo Lungao, Jesus Dacutanan, Garry Soriano and Wenefredo Cornelio.

Earlier, Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said only two soldiers of the 4th Special Forces Battalion were wounded and that their unit was on foot patrol in Baiwas when “hit by an improvised explosive device.”

Colonel Ramon Yogyog, commander of Task Force Basilan, said he had sent more soldiers to pursue the bandits. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao

COTABATO CITY

Grenade blast rocks subdivision

Unidentified men on a motorbike threw a fragmentation grenade at a house in a subdivision early yesterday, leaving one person slightly hurt, police said.

Supt. Roberto Badian, city police chief, said the explosion occurred at 4:35 a.m. at the house of a certain Aurora Macarimbang on Aguila Street at Federville Subdivision in Barangay Rosary Heights 11 here. A house help suffered cuts from broken glass.

A family member, Ali Macarimbang, said he have no idea why they were attacked, claiming they have no known enemy. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao

ROXAS CITY

Pirated DVDs seized in raid

Members of the Manila-based Optical Media Bureau (OMB) seized about 150 sacks of illegal copies of DVDs and VCDs in a raid on a mall and a public market on Arnaldo Boulevard on Friday.

The 10-member team, led by Manuel Mangubat, OMB chief for investigation and operation division, and policemen swooped down on Gaisano Mall and the city’s premier market, Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center.

Thirteen of the 15 market stalls were forcibly opened after their owners refused to be inspected by the raiding team. Felipe Celino, Inquirer Visayas

BATANGAS CITY

Barangay council member shot dead

A village councilman and president of a drivers’ group was shot dead by an unknown assailant posing as a passenger while he was driving his jeepney route on Wednesday.

Enrique Baes, 41, a councilman of Barangay Soro-Soro Tingga and head of the Soro-Soro Tingga Jeepney Operators, was plying his route at 12:10 p.m. in the city when he was shot at close range, said SPO2 Reynante de Chavez, case investigator.

The gunman hit Baes in the head and a passenger, identified as Ramil Dimaano, in the right arm, said De Chavez. Baes was declared dead on arrival at Batangas Regional Hospital. Dimaano was brought to Jesus Nazareth Hospital. Jerome Balinton, Inquirer Southern Luzon

LUCENA CITY

Mountain bikes for ‘tanod’ patrols

Village watchmen in 33 barangays in the city have received 100 brand-new mountain bikes to help policemen maintain peace and order.

Councilor Ramil Talaga said the bikes he donated would address the lack of transportation of the barangay security force during their routine patrols especially at night.

The bikes, costing P300,000, were custom built to withstand the rigors of the daily grind, Talaga said. Small barangays received three bikes each, while the bigger ones were allotted four each. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon