Stray bullet hits child

LAGUNA–A stray bullet fired by a provincial jail guard in Lumban town, hit a child, said Lumban police chief Senior Insp. Richard Corpuz.

Isaac Gabriel Ruda, 7, was playing inside their house in Barangay Bagong Silang, when hit by a bullet that passed through their window around 2 p.m. on Sunday. The bullet from a caliber 22 gun hit the child’s head, “but did not cut through very deep. The child survived,” Corpuz said.

In a phone interview on Monday, Corpuz said neighbors reported seeing Mario Cortez, 56, a provincial jail guard and resident of the village, when he indiscriminately fired his gun. Cortez was off duty on Sunday, but was drunk when the incident took place, he said.

Cortez was charged with reckless imprudence resulting in physical injury. The police also recommended filing administrative charges against Cortez. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon

Held for slay of civilian

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL–A police officer is now in jail, after allegedly shooting and killing a civilian in Himamaylan City, on Christmas Day.

Senior Police Officer 1 Anthony Alipo-on, a member of the Ilog Police Station, surrendered to the police and turned over his 9mm pistol on Dec. 25, after he allegedly shot a certain Leonel Gaudia, 21, who hit him in the head with a beer bottle at Vallega Street in Barangay 2 Poblacion.

Gaudia, who died from multiple bullet wounds, was declared dead on arrival at the Himamaylan District Hospital, police investigations showed.

Lirazan said Alipo-on is facing criminal and administrative charges. Carla Gomez, Inquirer Visayas
3 gov’t troops killed

COMPOSTELA VALLEY–Armed men suspected of being communist rebels killed three government troops during an ambush in Mabini town on Monday, said Lt. Vergel Lacambra, spokesperson of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

Two soldiers and a militiaman were on a motorcycle on their way home for their Christmas break when fired upon by at least eight armed men in Barangay Caniduyan, around 9:45 a.m., Lacambra said.

“The soldiers were unarmed and in plain clothes when shot at point-blank range and that they bore multiple bullet wounds,” Lacambra said. He said the attack was carried out during the military’s suspension of military operations. Frinston Lim and Karlos Manlupig, Inquirer Mindanao

Johnny Remulla; 81

CAVITE–FORMER Cavite Gov. Juanito “Johnny” Remulla, father of Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla, died on Monday. He was 81.

The elder Remulla was appointed twice as acting governor of Cavite in 1964 and in 1965. He was elected governor in January 30, 1980 and served until February 19, 1986.

A member of the provincial government staff, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak to the media, confirmed the passing of the elder Remulla around 9:30 a.m.

The initial schedule of funeral rites are: Funeraria Sapinoso in Imus City, at 4 p.m. on Monday; at the provincial capitol in Trece Martires City, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday; and the Imus Cathedral at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon