News Briefs: Nov. 14, 2018

Road crashes replace terror as concern

Road accidents have replaced terrorism as Western Mindanao’s biggest concern.

This came up at a meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council recently.

Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar, council chair, said the rising number of road accidents in the region should now be a major concern of officials.

Chief Supt. Emmanuel Licup, Western Mindanao police director, said from January to September, 3,852 road accidents had been reported in the region, almost a third of 10,343 crime cases in the same period. —Julie Alipala

Dureza hopeful on resumption of peace talks

Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza expressed hope that a meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and National Democratic Front of the Philippines negotiators could lead to the resumption of peace talks with communist rebels.

In an interview aired over the ABS-CBN News Channel on Monday, Dureza said the President remained committed to pursuing a peaceful end to the rebellion.

The President, according to Dureza, is aware that “we also have to address the root cause” of the rebellion. —Jeannette I. Andrade

Motorcycle driver dead in collision with van

A motorcycle driver was killed, while two passengers of a van were injured in a collision in Sulop town, Davao del Sur, on Sunday.

Wilfredo Andal Marimon, 62, was trying to overtake another vehicle when his motorcycle collided with a HiAce van loaded with 14 passengers.

PO3 Joeji Lanticse Cababat, Sulop traffic investigator, said the impact sent Marimon slamming into the windshield of the van before hitting the ground. —Eldie Aguirre