Fisher dies in high seas
DASOL, Pangasinan (PNA) — One of the two fishermen from Zambales, who went fishing last July 25 but was marooned at the high seas for two days, was found dead aboard their banca that drifted to the shore here. Policemen identified the victim as Onad Estella, 33, of Masinloc, Zambales, who apparently died of extreme cold. His companion, Edgar Montalla, 49, also of Masinloc, Zambales, survived the ordeal that started when heavy rains poured. This caused the boat’s engine to malfunction. The victims’ relatives have asked the police to flash an alarm after the fishermen failed to return home before nightfall of the same day. Dasol policemen said they turned over the two to their their relatives.
VISAYAS
SC releases life termer
CEBU CITY (PNA) — The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the immediate release of a Cebuano from the national penitentiary after finding him not guilty of the killing of a Cebuana in 1996. The High Court reversed a Regional Trial Court’s (RTC) decision that found Elizar Tomaquin guilty and sent him to jail for life for the murder of Jaquelin Tatoy in barangay Lorega-San Miguel, Cebu City on Dec. 15, 1996. The RTC had convicted Tomaquin of murder on Oct. 24, 1997. The SC’s Second Division also discussed the role of barangay captain Fortunato Parawan, an attorney, in serving as Tomaquin’s counsel during the taking of an extra-judicial confession by the police. While Tomaquin had admitted the crime during the taking of the confession, the High Court rejected this as the prosecution’s evidence, citing conflict of interest on Parawan’s part. In the 34-page decision, it appeared that Tomaquin, then 19, of Moalboal town, was drinking along with his friends at siteo Itom Yuta, Lorega, Cebu City until 1 a.m. of Dec. 15, 1996. Tomaquin left ahead of the group. An hour-and-half passed, his drinking buddies heard shouts for help. When they checked, they found a pair of black shoes and a bloodied tres cantos, (a knife with three sides) on the stairs and in the kitchen. Rico Magdasal, one of Tomaquin’s drinking companions, identified the shoes and the knife as belonging to Tomaquin.
MINDANAO
Defeated bet shot dead
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — One of three unidentified gunmen shot dead the other day a defeated mayoralty candidate in Tampakan, South Cotabato at a motorshop in that town. Chief Supt. Antonio Billones, Central Mindanao police chief, said Gregorio Banal, businessman, who ran for mayor of Tampakan but lost in May 10 polls, died of bullet wounds. Doctors in a hospital in Koronadal City, capital city of South Cotabato, where he was brought declared Banal dead on arrival, Billones said. Billones directed Senior Supt. Romeo Rufino, South Cotabato police director, to launch a hunt against the killers of Banal. The regional intelligence group led by Supt. Robert Kuinisala is also looking for the killers. The victim riding in his jeep dropped by at an auto shop at about 10 a.m. last Wednesday for a checkup of his vehicle. After he parked his vehicle, one of three men riding a black motorcycle alighted, walked towards Banal and fired at him at close range. The killer rushed back to ride the waiting motorcycle that sped towards to Crossing Rubber in Tupi, South Cotabato. Banal ran under the banner of the administration party, Lakas-NUCD, in the last local elections but he lost to reelectionist Mayor Claudios Barroso. (Bong Reblando)
