ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two public elementary school teachers and a five-year-old girl drowned last Tuesday afternoon after two alleged shabu pushers commandeered the pump boat they were riding and ordered them to jump into the sea off Arena Blanco, this city.

The fatalities were identified by the police here as Anisia Gapul, 25, single; Gracita Rosales, 45, married; both elementary public school teachers of the Pangapuyan Elementary School, and Tadiya Kamsain, 5, all residents of Arena Blanco.

Police reports said that elements of the Tetuan police station conducted a buy-bust operation against Alnajid and Arasad Ambutong in Arena Blanco at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The reports said the two suspected drug pushers, sensing it was a buy-bust operation, immediately grabbed their firearms and opened fire at the approaching policemen, triggering a shootout. The alleged drug pushers ran towards the beach and boarded a motorized banca to elude arrest.

The lawmen boarded a pump boat, chased them, and exchanged gunfire at sea. While at high sea, the suspected drug pushers’ banca crossed paths with the pump boat piloted by Jainal Mudaim which the two teachers and girl were riding.

The pushers poked their guns at the victims and ordered them to jump into the sea, resulting to their death. They ordered Mudaim to steer the banca who was also forced to jump into the sea while the policemen were fast approaching. (Nonoy E. Lacson and Tony Pe. Rimando)

The Catholic Church commemorates the feast day of St. Camillus de Lellis today with masses and novenas in his honor.

Congregations devoted to charitable hospital work and care of the sick will light candles before his image and offer special prayers to venerate the patron of hospitals and the sick.

The Church urges the faithful to focus and reflect on the words of St. Camillus: "Think well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man go to heaven."

The founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sick, it was made into an order by Pope Gregory XIV in 1591. St. Camillus and his members, known as "Camillians," honored the sick as "living images of Christ" and considered serving the sick as serving God.

Born in Chietti, Italy in 1550, St. Camillus was a dedicated priest who served as general superintendent of the St. Giacomo Hospital in Rome, Italy. He cared for the sick with such charity both in hospitals and homes. (Christina I. Hermoso)

MAUBAN, Quezon — Nine outstanding citizens of this town were conferred the 2006 Gawad Dangal ni Gat Uban, the highest award given by the municipal government to a Maubanon on its founding anniversary dubbed as "Maubanog Festival."

Mayor Fernando Llamas, Vice Mayor Leonchito Gapasangra, and lawyer Dempsey Camaligan, the chairman of the awards and selection committee, conferred the citations to former Rep. Manuel S. Enverga, public service; Dr. Rosenio B. Medenilla Sr., medicine; Amparo Palacio, education; Mariano Ang, commerce; Prof. Raul C. Ingles, literature; Sr. Taciana B. Gandia, religious work; Buenaventura M. Villamayor, sports; lawyer Conrado Unlayao, public service; and former Ambassador Jose C. Ingles, government service.

Llamas said the Gat Uban award symbolizes the heroism of its municipal hero from which the town got its name.

"We stand proud before the world because Mauban is the cradle and home of a few best minds in the country. Our town is famous for its wine and our people for their love, care, and laughter. The Maubanon also celebrated the Maubanog Festival abroad and we promise to make it even better in the coming years." (Daniel N. Mangaba)

HERMOSA, Bataan — Danilo "Bok" Santos, barangay captain of Barangay A. Rivera whose son, Mark Daniel, is one of the four charged with alleged rape of minor, appealed yesterday to members of the media to be fair, report only the truth, and not subject his family to "trial by publicity."

Santos’ appeal came in the wake of reports in various national media that his son, and three other accused — a 15-year-old girl, John Eric de Jesus, and Christopher Rivera — appeared to have been "convicted" by newsmen whom he accused of being biased.

"Umaapela ako sa mga taga-media na huwag naman sana nilang agad husgahan etong mga inirereklamo dahil hindi naman ganun ang nangyari, kundi matagal nang may relasyon ang aking anak at si Baby (not her real name). Panay nga ang punta sa aming bahay ng babae, kaya walang rape na nangyari kundi kagustuhan nilang pareho," Santos said.

Baby, in her one-page complaint filed with the prosecutor’s office in Balanga City, claimed that on the night of May 21, the four allegedly conspired to get her drunk, after which she was raped.

Mark Daniel denied this, saying the girl was his lover, and they had voluntary sexual relations even before the May 21 incident. (Mar T. Supnad)