TWO CARAGA POLICE OFFICIALS SACKED AFTER MAYOR’S DEATH

TWO Philippine National Police ( PNP) officials in the Caraga region were relieved on Thursday in connection with the killing of Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario Otaza and his son, Daryl, early this week, a police official said. CARAGA police spokesman Supt. Martin Gamba said that ordered administratively relieved from post were Supt. Joseph Plaza, Agusan del Sur Provincial Police acting director, and Supt. Francisco Dungo, the chief of police of Butuan City. Gamba said the two were ordered “administratively and temporarily relieved” from their respective positions pending a probe on the possible lapses committed by the police relative to the incident. Otaza and his son were abducted by about 18 heavily armed men who disguised themselves as agents of the National Bureau of Investigation on Monday. The bodies of the victims were found in Barangay Bitan- ag, Butuan City on Tuesday morning. The probe on the incident is conducted by an accountability audit team from the police national headquarters and is headed by Director Generoso Cerbo Jr., chief of the Directorate for Investigation, and Director Isagani Nerez, of the Directorate for Police Operations- Eastern Mindanao, Gamba said.

SOLDIER RUNS AMUCK, KILLS 5

FIVE soldiers were killed while 10 others including a civilian were wounded when an Army corporal ran amok in Sumisip town, Basilan province on Thursday. The soldier, Tahiruddinn Taha, was shot dead by responding soldiers. Reports reaching the Philippine Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City said that Taha, 37, of Bravo Company of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion arrived at the headquarters and opened fire at his colleagues who were then having a bible study. The soldiers killed in the incident were 2nd Lt. Alvin Ebina, 1st lt. Camlon Martin Puao, Cpl. Robert Jondayran, PFC Jessrell Calud, and SSgt. Jonathan Galicto. Those wounded were identified as 1st Lt. Pada Guingar, TSgt. Jerry Cardoza, Sgt. Anthony Bentoy, PFC Elber Noble, PFC Ruel Macalapay, PFC Nelson Calambro, PFC Junnel Cajote, PFC Remie Espanola Jr. and Rolly Matson, a pastor. Col. Benjamin Hao, Army spokesman, said the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion is conducting an investigation into the incident.