PAOAY, Ilocos Norte — A farmer died after he was gored by his own carabao in Barangay 8, Paoay, Ilocos Norte last Wednesday. The victim was identified as Ronaldo Abuy.  Police said that the victim suffered a gash in the stomach after being gored by his carabao. He died from internal hemorrhage while undergoing medical treatment in the hospital. (Freddie G. Lazaro)

SAFE COVENANT

CITY OF STA. ROSA, Laguna — Local candidates signed a peace covenant for a safe and fair election (SAFE) at the city police station yesterday morning.  Supt. Edwin Wagan, Sta. Rosa City police chief, thanked the local candidates who participated in the peace covenant signing in support of the Philippine National Police’s SAFE project to ensure peace and orderly elections this coming May. Mayor Arlene Arcillas of the Liberal Party and city council candidates signed the covenant to follow election laws and to shun violence during the campaign period. (Ferdinand Castro)

HOT PURSUIT

TUGUEGARAO CITY — The death toll from the clash between the police and the suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in Barangay Lakambini, Tuao, Cagayan province last Tuesday afternoon, rose to three following the recovery of the seriously wounded rebel who later succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. Col. Loreto Magundayao, 5th Army Infantry Division spokesman, identified the rebel as Alex Tiborcio. He was discovered during hot pursuit operations by army troop who were aided by K-9 dogs. “At about 7:30 a.m. last February 27, when our operating troops from the army’s 17th Infantry Battalion found wounded Tiburcio, 39 and resident from Centro I, Lasam, Cagayan. He was immediately given first aid treatment by our troops and further called for ambulance to evacuate him to a nearest hospital. Unfortunately, he expired at 10:00 a.m. while on the way to the hospital,” Magundayao said. (Freddie Lazaro)

QUICK RESPONSE

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — To ensure readiness on security plan and enforcement for the protection of consumers while inside the mall, a Quick Response Drill was conducted the other day at the SM City here. Customer Relation Service manager Ramon Domingo, said the drill aimed to equip the mall’s security forces with the ability to quickly address untoward incidents in the mall. Police Inspector Cynthia Faltado of the Lucena City Police Station oversaw the drill on proper response procedures. In this mode the mall security forces have formal know-how to handle any crimes that may transpire inside the mall which lately as reported in Manila some crimes have been occurred in the mall, said Lilibeth Azores, Public Relations Manager for Luzon 2 and 3. That is why the said drill is very much helpful to the security forces, she added. (Danny J. Estacio)

WANTED MAN

INDANG, Cavite — Police arrested last Wednesday a wanted man in an operation in Barangay Tambo Malaki of this town. Arrested was Ramon I. Matibag, 33, a bus driver, a native of Camarines Norte and a resident of Sitio Portugal, Tambo Malaki. Chief Inspector Jigger S. Noceda, Indang police chief, said that Matibag is listed as the town's No. 5 most wanted person. Matibag is wanted for a rape case in Camarines Norte. Noceda and eight other policemen arrested Matibag after they secured an arrest warrant from Daet, Camarines Norte, Regional Trial Court Branch 40 Judge Arniel A. Dating. (Anthony Giron)