Elements of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recently rescued two persons after a motor boat suffered an engine derail in the vicinity off Barangay Turda in Coron, Palawan. The Coast Guard Action Center (CGAC) in Manila disclosed that personnel from the Coast Guard Detachment-Turda informed them that an unidentified motor boat was spotted in distress while some of their members were conducting seaborne patrol operations along the said area. Responding PCG personnel rescued Diosdado Gabuco and Richard Pulilan after it appeared that their boat’s engine trouble was severe enough to leave them trapped at sea. (John Carlo M. Cahinhinan)

DRUG BUST NETS 4 IN LA UNION

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 1 agents arrested four suspected drug pushers in separate buy-bust operations in this province recently, police reported yesterday. PDEA Agent Sharon Bautista identified the suspects as Manuel John Gaerlan, Thelma Soleco and Lile Caldio, all arrested in Barangay Paringao in Bauang; and one Marlon Lozada, 43, who was collared in Barangay San Antonio, Agoo town. Bautista said the operating team had confiscated a plastic sachet containing a crystalline substance suspected to be metamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” weighing about 0.5 gram from the three suspects in Bauang. Meanwhile, Lozada allegedly yielded suspected shabu weighing 0.9 gram. All four have been charged with violation of RA 9165 or Illegal Possession of Prohibited Drugs. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

COP’S RETIREMENT PLAN ABORTED

CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan – A policeman’s dream to put up a business in two years’ time when he retires had been put out when a speeding passenger jeepney struck him the other night on the national road in Barangay Muzon, San Jose Del Monte City, this province. Senior Supt. Fernando S. Villanueva, Bulacan Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, said Senior Police Officer 1 Phillip Mercado, 54, assigned as a jail guard and a resident of said city, did not survive the accident. Jeepney driver Teofilo Ramirez, 40, of Barangay Dela Costa II, same city, has been detained at the Highway Patrol Office of San Jose Del Monte City. Mercado’s friends lamented that he would never realize his often mentioned plan to put up a business with his retirement money. (Freddie C. Velez)

RIZAL HUNTS DOWN BRITON’S ASSAILANT

ANGONO, Rizal — Police are hunting a man who is tagged as the lone suspect in the fatal stabbing of a 28-year-old Briton and the wounding of his girlfriend in an incident which probers believe could be a crime of passion in this town the other day. In his report to Rizal Police Provincial Office (PPO) chief, Senior Supt. Manuel Prieto, Supt. Ruel Vacaro, chief of police here identified the suspect as Anselmo Lacostales, legal age, a resident of Taytay. Police identified the fatality as Johnlorne Macdonald, a British national, who had just arrived in the country a few days prior to his death. Injured was Lacostales’ live-in partner, Nanqueen Romero, 31, of San Vicente, this municipality. She was reported to have been sustained multiple stab wounds and is still under observation in a hospital here. Prior to the stabbing spree, the Briton and Romero were having a drinking spree inside the woman’s house when the suspect arrived and stabbed the two repeatedly with a knife. (Nel B. Andrade)