NEWSBRIEFS

OZAMIZ CITY

ARMM multiple voter registrants

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has found 61,416 multiple registrants during the 10-day general registration in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in July.

The discovery came as voter applications in the region were subjected to a “cleansing process” using the automated fingerprint identification system .

Comelec Resolution No. 9520, promulgated on Sept. 13, noted the anomaly in the registration turnout and ruled that the names of the questionable voter applications be deleted. During the 10-day general registration in the ARMM, the poll body received 1,567,409 voter applications.

The Comelec resolution did not provide sanctions for those engaged in multiple registration in the ARMM.

During the 2010 general elections, the region had some 1.8-million voters. The number plunged to 1.5 million after the July registration. Ryan D. Rosauro, Inquirer Mindanao

MASBATE

Cops seize 35 guns of LGUs

Thirty-five firearms with expired licenses were confiscated from various local government units in the province, according to Senior Supt. Heriberto Olitoquit, police provincial director.

Olitoquit said four guns were seized from the provincial government, seven from Masbate City, 16 from Dimasalang town, and eight from Pio V. Corpuz town.

Superintendent Liane Mandane, chief of the firearms, explosives, security agencies and guard supervision section of the Bicol police, led the operatives in the seizure mission.

On Tuesday, Olitoquit warned holders of expired firearm licenses to renew their gun-carrying permits or they would be charged with illegal possession of firearms.

Police records showed 2,178 expired firearm licenses in Masbate as of July. Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon

BATANGAS CITY

Seafarer shot dead

A seafarer was shot dead at the parking area of a gasoline station in Barangay Gulod Labac on Wednesday, police said.

Jayson Catapang, 27, was seated inside his Ford Everest van when two unidentified men riding on a motorcycle shot him at 8:40 a.m., said Supt. Nicolas Torre III, city police chief.

Catapang died before he reached Jesus of Nazareth Hospital. Police have yet to determine the motive for the killing. Marrah Erika Lesaba, Inquirer Southern Luzon

EVENT

Bundoc-Ocampo; 59

Maria “Nene” Bundoc-Ocampo, publisher of the Bulacan weekly Punla, died of complications from a stroke on Monday at the Quezon City General Hospital. She was 59.

Bundoc-Ocampo was among the first batch of reporters of Mabuhay, one of the oldest Bulacan weeklies. She was desk editor at the Philippine News Agency from 1978 to 1985, and desk editor and section editor at Ang Pilipino Ngayon from 1986 to 1992.

She also founded the Pagkakaisa ng mga Mamamahayag sa Bulakan (Pahayagan), a group of Bulacan media workers. Bundoc-Ocampo is survived by her husband Roberto and their four children.  Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon