Cops nab most wanted man
LEGAZPI CITY – Policemen arrested the other day the most wanted person in this city even as the city government intensified its campaign against crime and terrorism in preparation for the tourism season. Operatives of the Legazpi City Police Office and their counterparts in Biñan, Laguna arrested Ernesto L. Reynoso, 51, alias "Boboy," of barangay Bañdero, Legazpi City in his hideout in barangay Canalaly, Biñan, Laguna. A warrant of arrest for murder and frustrated murder was issued against Reynoso by Judge Rafael Santelices of the Regional Trial Court’s Branch 6 here with no bail recommended. Reynoso’s capture carries a R100,000 bounty. Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said that his campaign to attract more visitors to his city’s tourism attractions includes a vigorous drive against crime and terrorism. Rosal ordered tight security in malls and other public places, including churches and parks, during the recent celebration of Holy Week and the onset of the summer festivities which will culminate in the celebration of the Ibalong Festival, one of the Bicol Region’s major fiestas, in October. (Ed de Leon)
Visayas
Singing practice turns deadly
TABUELAN, Cebu — What started as a fun-filled activity turned deadly when an 18-year-old woman and her one-year-old child were killed when they were allegedly electrocuted by a microphone she used while singing. Catherine Toring, 18, died on the spot together with the one-year-old baby she was carrying. The microphone reportedly short-circuited while she was singing in the house of her father-in-law in barangay Mabunao. Police said Toring’s husband, Jojo, who was in Cebu City during the incident, reportedly hid the microphone after he found out that it was defective. But Toring, the other day, saw the microphone and decided to use it to "practice her singing talents." The microphone, police said, short-circuited and killed the girl and her baby. Technicians and electricians, doubted the claim that the microphone killed them. Edward Gako, an electrician, said the current that goes into microphones is not strong enough to kill a person. The police said they did not investigate the cause of death of the victims, but assured that an in-depth investigation will be taken after the claims of expert electricians. (Mars Mosqueda Jr.)
Mindanao
Hope aired at Davao confab
DAVAO CITY — The two-day 4th Mindanao Conference on Transparency and Accountability closed last Friday here with participants from seven Mindanao cities expressing high hopes that, with the project’s two-year extension, the CTAG (Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Governance) program will produce more positive results and will redound to public benefit. In the trisectoral conference held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here, local government units, the business sector and civil society expressed hopes that the success of the program will also reduce public perception, based on international surveys, that the Philippines is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. The government participants included Mayor Pedro Acharon (General Santos City), Mayor Alfonso Casurra (Surigao City), Mayor Laurence Cruz (Iligan City, Mayor Rogelio Antalan (IGACOS-Island Garden City of Samal) and Mayor Dominador Jalosjos (Dapitan City). The business sector was represented by presidents of local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, among them Bienvenido Alano (Surigao City). (Gil Abarico)
