ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Quake rocks Davao

A magnitude-5.4 earthquake shook Sarangani in Davao Occidental yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The quake, which occurred at 2:51 a.m., was located 185 kilometers southeast of Sarangani.

No damage was expected from the quake, which was tectonic in origin.

Phivolcs said the tremor could generate aftershocks. – Helen Flores

Boy hurt in crocodile attack

A 16-year-old boy was injured after he was attacked by a crocodile in Balabac, Palawan on Saturday.

Parsi Hulia Diaz and his friend were riding a boat in Barangay Poblacion when the crocodile bit him in the leg.

Diaz’s companion hit the crocodile with a paddle, forcing it to release his leg.

Diaz was taken to a nearby health unit for treatment. – Emmanuel Tupas, Cecille Suerte Felipe

2 dead in motorbike collision

ILOILO CITY – Two men, one of them an Army corporal, died in a collision involving two motorcycles in Miag-ao, Iloilo at past midnight yesterday.

Arvin Flonasca, 28, of Barangay Bacauan, and Cpl. Clyde Rilleta of Bohol died at the scene.

Flonasca was driving his Motoposh Pinoy motorcycle along Zulueta Avenue when it collided with a Honda XRM driven by Rilleta.

Rilleta’s passengers – Cpls. Jake Villanueva and Ryan Bauzon – were taken to a hospital for treatment.

The soldiers, all from the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion, were on their way to Monteclaro in Miag-ao when they figured in the accident. – Jennifer Rendon

Drug suspect shot dead

A construction worker said to be involved in illegal drugs and other criminal activities was shot dead by unidentified men in San Pedro, Laguna on Saturday.

Darwin Mundala, 21, was at a construction site in Barangay San Vicente when the assailants arrived at around 3:40 p.m.

Witnesses said the suspects pulled out their guns and shot Mundala at close range, killing him instantly.

Probers recovered two bullet shells for a .45 caliber pistol from the crime scene.

Aside from drugs, records showed Mundala was involved in theft and robbery cases.

Police have yet to determine if the murder is related to Mundala’s illegal activities. – Emanuel Tupas