Pyrotechnics blast burns
trike driver's private part

The private parts and some areas in the legs of a trisikad driver in Purok Rosal, Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, were burned when two pyrotechnics locally known as "kwitis" that were tucked in his waistband accidentally exploded at about 5 p.m. Monday.

Rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital with burned private parts was Gilbert Begeras Ambino, 20, married, of Purok Kingfisher, Brgy. 16, in the city.

Ambino told the DAILY STAR yesterday, that he lit a pyrotechnic with a cigaret in a clothesline with two others tucked in the waistband of his short pants. He said live sparks from the lit pyrotechnics might have ignited the pyrotechnics in his waist, causing the accident.

He said he almost went crazy when he realized that the blast had hit his private parts and burned his underwear and short pants.

He said he saw the pyrotechnics in a pail near a river in Brgy. 16 and brought them home. He said he was keeping the items for the New Year's celebration, but when he saw several children playing with firecrackers, he decided to light some of them. After his experience, Ambino warned the public to be extra careful while playing with pyrotechnics to avoid what had happened to him. Ambino is now recuperating at the CLMMRH.*DMG

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11th IB commander soon to be PMA
Corps of Cadets deputy commandant

The position of the assistant commandant of the Philippine Military Academy Corps of Cadets vacated by controversial Lt. Col. Alexander Balutan who defied the order of President Arroyo against attending congressional hearings, will soon be occupied by an Army colonel assigned in Negros.

Lt. Col. Abraham Bagasin, outgoing 11th Infantry Battalion commander, will replace Balutan who is now facing a court martial for defiance of the orders of his commander-in-chief, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Bagasin, younger brother of Lt. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, Armed Forces deputy chief of staff, and Balutan who also served with retired Marine Gen. Francisco Gudani during the May 2004 elections in Lanao provinces, are both members of the PMA Class '83.

Lt. Col. Jess Mananquil, intelligence chief of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, will also replace the younger Bagasin as a commander of the 11th Infantry Battalion. Mananquil is a member of PMA Class '85.

The turnover of the 11th IB command on Dec. 3 at Brgy. La Granja, La Carlota City, is expected to be officiated by Maj. Gen. Alphonsus Crucero, 3rd ID commanding general.

Bagasin who served Negrenses for one year and 10 months, yesterday said he considers his assignment in Negros as "memorable" because of the support from its people. He said the overwhelming support of the Negrenses and local government units for the Army's peace and development campaign cannot be found in other areas of the country.

During his stint as 11th IB commander for almost two years, Bagasin led his troops in the seizure of a CPP-NPA regional camp in Guihulngan town, and the foiling of planned rebel attack in Isabela town, which highlighted his other major accomplishments in the anti-insurgency campaign in Negros island.*GPB

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