Epileptic drowns

A trisikad driver who was reportedly suffering from epilepsy, drowned in waters beyond the BREDCO port III at the Bacolod reclamation area yesterday noon.

The body of Reynaldo Entoma Sortida, 28, single, of B.S. Aquino-Hilado streets, Bacolod City was found floating by his relatives after half an hour of searching, case investigator PO1 Eduard Alejano told the DAILY STAR yesterday.

Alejano said relatives of Reynaldo believe he must have had an epilepsy attack and that probably caused his drowning.

Sortida was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician, Alejano said.

Visitacion Sortida, 63, his mother, told the police that her son invited his cousins to swim in the sea at the BREDCO port yesterday noon. She said she reminded her son not to stay long in the water because of his illness. Initial reports said Reynaldo was teaching his 11-year-old cousin to swim when he had the attack. Reports said the minor was shocked to see his cousin in that condition and was unable to seek help from his two other cousins and security guards in the area.

Reports said his body was later found floating a few meters from the port. Alejano said police investigation showed there was no foul play in the death of Sortida*DMG

back to top

Iloilo priest fears for life

ILOILO CITY - A priest and official of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente aired fears for his life after masked men tried to break into the rectory of his parish in Banate town, Iloilo, 54 kilometers north of this city.

Fr. Marco Sulayao, secretary-general of the Promotion of Church People's Response in Panay, said the attempted entry happened at dawn on March 9, a day after he spoke at a rally in Iloilo City calling for the ouster of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Sulayao, who is also the national governor of the IFI's National Priests Organization, said he was not at his parish at the time, but a helper, Alejandro Bandiola, told him that he was awakened around 3 a.m. when a vehicle stopped near the church. When he peeped at a window of the rectory, he saw two bonnet-wearing men in denim pants and fatigue jackets trying to open the wooden door of the rectory.

Bandiola told Sulayao he saw two other similarly-dressed men standing near a tree in front of the rectory.

When they failed to open the locked door, the men looked through a window of Sulayao's room but left a few minutes later after seeing no one was inside.

Sulayao said they reported the incident to the Banate police station. He said they have been seeing "suspicious-looking" men posted near the church since he became active in campaigns on various issues a few years ago.

The human rights group Panay-Alliance-Karapatan and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said the incident was the latest act of state terrorism against leaders of militant groups and organizations.

The partylist group Bayan Muna said more than 80 of its leaders and members have been killed nationwide since 2001. Bayan and Bayan Muna have blamed the police and the military for the killings, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by military and police officials.

"This shows that the crackdown and murderous campaign against those most vocal against the Arroyo government continues despite the lifting of Proclamation 1017," Samuel Torrato, Panay Alliance-Karapatan secretary-general, said, referring to the week-long declaration of a state of national emergency issued by the President.*NPB

back to top

Snatcher, vagrants nabbed

A 27-year-old man was arrested by Precinct 1 policemen for allegedly snatching the bag of a Bacolod resident Jerry Morin Prado of Brgy. 26, at Gatuslao-Gonzaga streets in Bacolod City at about 10 a.m. yesterday.

Jesus Poblico Apdo of Purok Rosal, Brgy. Singcang-Aiport, Bacolod City was arrested later by PO1s Gideon Montaño and Celerino Arollado.

Prado said he was walking in the area when Apdo grabbed his bag that contained Nokia 3310 cellphone and other documents, police reports said.

The police also recovered an 11 1/2-inch bladed weapon from Apdo who became unruly during apprehension.

Meanwhile, eight persons were apprehended by the Bacolod police at Gonzaga, Gatuslao and Cuadra streets in Bacolod City at about 12:30 a.m. yesterday, for violation of Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code, or vagrancy.

Arrested were Rommel dela Cruz, 26, of Brgy. Estefania; Radjie Descutido, 24, of Brgy. Alijis; Samantha Sanz, 25, of Brgy. 12; Anafe Guillaran, 28, of Talisay City; Rhoda Besa, 23, of Victorias City; Arlene Gonzaga, 23, of Brgy. Mandalagan and Joan Mahilum, 23, of Talisay City, police reports said. The eight are now detained in the lock-up cell of Police Precinct 1.*DMG

back to top