News Briefs

Easter Sunday falls on April 1, but it’s no joke

Easter Sunday this year falls on April 1, but it’s no April Fool’s joke. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said he believed it was the first time that Easter Sunday fell on April 1, but “it doesn’t matter.” Pabillo said instead of playing pranks to commemorate April Fools, the faithful should greet each other “Happy Easter.” “Easter is a basis of our faith,” he said. —JULIE M. AURELIO

Voters told to check if IDs available

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded voters who registered before 2012 to first call their local election offices to check if their voters’ identification cards were available for claiming. James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson, said while the poll body had stopped issuing voters’ IDs, thousands of ID cards remained unclaimed. Voters may contact the Comelec’s Education and Information Department through its Twitter account, @Comelec, or by calling (02)5259296. —JULIE M. AURELIO

3 dead in drug operations on Good Friday

Three men were killed in a drug bust operation in the village of Sta. Arcadia in Cabanatuan City on Good Friday (March 30). The slain drug suspects were identified as Enrico Lamar, Ricky Duran and Bernard Meneses. Lamar and Duran were on Cabanatuan’s drug watch list while Meneses was on the list of Peñaranda town, Nueva Ecija. Police said the three were killed in gunfights with undercover agents. —ARMAND GALANG

BIFF ‘bomber’ shot dead at checkpoint

Police shot dead an alleged member of the renegade Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) while on his way to a bombing mission in North Cotabato province on Good Friday. Supt. Bernard Tayong, of the North Cotabato police, identified the slain suspect as Bads Basilan. Basilan was passing by a police checkpoint when he pulled out a gun and shot at policemen. He was killed when police fired back, said Tayong. —EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ

2 fall in Caloocan drug buy-bust

Two drugs suspects, including the sister of a village chair, were arrested in Caloocan City during a buy-bust operation on Good Friday. Thelma Macabalo, 60, and Erwin Lacaba would be charged with drug trafficking. Macabalo said her brother, Barangay 37 Chair Reynaldo Macabalo, knew she was an addict. Lacaba, utility worker at the village hall, admitted using but not selling drugs. —KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING

All Mayon evacuees sent home as alert level lowered

At least 5,000 evacuees were sent home on Maundy Thursday after volcanologists lowered the alert level for Mayon Volcano to 2. The evacuees had resided inside a 6-kilometer permanent danger zone. By Good Friday, all shelters had been emptied of evacuees. The residents were to spend Easter Sunday at home. —REY ANTHONY OSTRIA AND MICHAEL JAUCIAN