Arroyo asks
Albayanons to push
Mayon’s inclusion in new 7 wonders
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday called on the people of Albay to
campaign for the inclusion of Mayon Volcano, globally renowned for its perfect
cone, among the new seven wonders of nature.
Arroyo, in a speech at the town fiesta of Oas in Albay, said
people should also vote for Mayon Volcano in the website of the new seven
wonders of nature (www.new7wonders.com). She said before Donsol town in
Sorsogon became famous for being the sanctuary of the whalesharks, Mayon Volcano
was already a famous tourist site.
She also appealed to Filipinos to vote for Tubbataha Reef and
the Underground River in Palawan and the Chocolate Hills of Bohol.
As of Tuesday night, Tubbataha Reef has fallen in the live
ranking from number seven to number eight, to be replaced by Cocos island in
Costa Rica. But the good news is that Chocolate Hills now ranks number nine and
the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Park is now at number 21, after languishing at
number 81. – Regina Bengco
Armored van overturns; driver
hurt
AN armored van crashed and overturned along the Diosdado
Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City yesterday morning, injuring four people and
causing traffic to be tied up for more than an hour, police said.
Van driver Enrique Danggate, 31, of Cainta, was brought in
serious condition to the San Juan de Dios Hospital.
Senior Supt. Marietto Valerio, Pasay police chief, said the
van, owned by China Bank, was speeding along the northbound lane at around 10:30
a.m. when a motorcycle it was following suddenly braked. Danggate swerved to
avoid hitting the motorcyclist but the van fell on its side and turned turtle.
He himself was thrown off his seat and landed some 20 meters away. His
companions – Armando Tacio, 30; Gian Carlo Pelebrico, 22, and Andres Binasoy, 22
– were initially trapped inside the vehicle but later brought to San Juan de
Dios.
Three other armored vans carrying security personnel rushed
to the scene to secure Danggate’s van which was reportedly carrying a lot of
money. But Valerio said the van was only carrying bags of 25-centavo coins
amounting to P20,000, some of which spilled out onto the road. – Ashzel
Hachero
SAF member nabbed for bar
shooting
A JUNIOR officer of the PNP Special Action Force was arrested
after he critically shot a customer of an Olongapo bistro for still unknown
reasons early Tuesday.
PNP chief Avelino Razon identified the suspect as Insp.
Jovito Pardeno, 27, detailed with the 2nd Battalion of the PNP SAF based in
Morong, Bataan.
Pardeno reportedly shot in the head Ernie Ińigo Lee, 23, of
110 Gordon avenue, Olongapo City, while the latter was inside the comfort room
of Brews Bar at 31 Magsaysay Drive.
Pardeno, a member of the PNP Academy Class 2006, was arrested
by responding policemen while trying to escape after the shooting. A .25 caliber
pistol was found in his possession. –Raymond Africa
2 Marines arrested for
alleged kidnap
TWO Marines were arrested by Batangas police last Monday over
the alleged kidnapping of a trader in Lipa City last April 1.
Chief Supt. Ricardo Padilla, Southern Tagalog police
director, identified the suspects as S/Sgt. Tomas Garcia, 38; and S/Sgt Quirino
Castillo, 38, both members of the Marine Security Unit of the Philippine
Marines, and residents of Barangay Altura, Tanauan City.
The suspects were arrested when they passed a checkpoint at
Levitown in Barangay Marauoy in Lipa City on board a Toyota Corolla car
(UMJ-332).
Their alleged vicim, Joselito Go, 50, of Barangay Mataas na
Lupa in Lipa, was allegedly abducted by Garcia and Castillo with three other
armed men. Go was released in Malvar, Batangas after his family paid an
undisclosed amount of ransom money. Go positively identified Garcia and Castillo
as among his abductors.
Confiscated from the suspects were two loaded guns, two cellphones and their
service vehicle. – Raymond Africa
