Regions Briefs: CIDG arrests 3 in slay of Aeta woman
CIDG arrests 3 in slay of Aeta woman
CAMP TOLENTINO, BATAAN—The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested on Friday three suspects in the killing of an Aeta woman in Hermosa town this week. Rommel Ponio, Melchor Zapanta and Ricky Rendora were detained for the death of Angelique Charlotte Bulatao, 20, who was four months pregnant and whose body was found hanging from a tree in Pastolan Village on Jan. 30, said Chief Insp. Jenny Cruz, information officer of the Bataan provincial police. A fourth suspect, identified only as Edwin, is at large. The men stayed with the Bulataos for several months when they helped build the family’s house, police said. —GREG REFRACCION
Driver dead, 27 hurt in Vizcaya bus crash
SOLANO, NUEVA VIZCAYA—The driver of a GV Florida bus died while 27 of his passengers were hurt on Friday when their vehicle skidded, overturned and fell into a rice field along the national highway in Barangay Baacaran here. The bus was on its way to Maddela town in Quirino province when the accident happened at 4:20 a.m. The bus driver, Michaelangelo Santos, died at PLT Hospital here. Supt. Leumar Abugan, Nueva Vizcaya police director, said investigators were verifying claims that the driver tried to avoid another vehicle that led to the accident. —MELVIN GASCON
8 bet collectors for illegal STL nabbed
LUCENA CITY—Police arrested eight men suspected of collecting bets for an illegal operation of the state-sanctioned Small Town Lottery (STL) in Tayabas City and Candelaria town in Quezon province on Thursday. Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, provincial police director, said policemen arrested the suspects while in the act of collecting bets for “bookies” or an underground operation of STL. Seized from the suspects were an undetermined amount of cash and betting paraphernalia. Representatives of Pirouette Gaming Corp., the licensed STL operator in Quezon, said the suspects were not authorized to collect bets for the firm. —DELFIN T. MALLARI JR.
