12 dead in Holy Week incidents

MANILA, Philippines - At least 12 persons died in separate incidents that transpired during the Holy Week, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported yesterday.

The NDRRMC said seven of the fatalities drowned, two died in vehicular accidents, two others were killed in separate shooting incidents, and one perished in a fire.

Those who drowned were identified as Roland Deo, 33, of Caloocan City; Avelino Daliri, 29, of Isabela; Venancio Dumon, 33, of Isabela; Felimon Aclan Jr., 25, of Batangas; Blizz Tesorio, 3, Junior Redondo, and Richard Matanguihan, whose addresses and ages were still being determined.

NDRRMC said a Romeo Parahinog, 18, and Simon Abitong Jr. died in two road mishaps in Antipolo City.

The NDRRMC reported that Sofronie Bombeo, 50, died of multiple bullet wounds in Misamis Oriental.

Suspected communist rebels gunned down a militiaman in Butuan City last Friday.

The identity of the slain militiaman was withheld pending notification of his family.

Another fatality, identified as Louie Bulso, died in a fire in Barangay Guadalupe in Lipa City last Good Friday.

The NDRRMC said two persons were reported missing while swimming in Pangasinan and Occidental Mindoro.

They were identified as Cristy Dion, 39, who was reported missing in Barangay Bolasi in San Fabian, Pangasinan, and Apple Carion, 13, who was last seen in Caguray River in Occidental Mindoro.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC has not yet verified reports of three people killed in a vehicular accident in Batangas.

Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, Batangas police director, had reported that three people were killed in a vehicular accident in San Juan, Batangas early Saturday morning.

Acio identified the fatalities as Chona Señado-Abejar, 34, Jhon-jhon Abejar, 12, and Junel Señado,17, all residents of Sitio Baybayin, Pulangbato, San Juan, Batangas.

A total of 531 persons were hurt during the Holy Week while two others were reported missing.

Majority of the 493 victims were injured in various incidents in Metro Manila, 24 incidents transpired in Calabarzon, seven in Cagayan Valley, six in Northern Mindanao and one in Central Luzon.

Of the 531 injured persons, 490 were hurt during the Black Nazarene procession in Quiapo, Manila last Friday.

Other causes of injuries were road accidents, bullet wounds, and snake bites.

As of yesterday, a total of 33 incidents were monitored during the Holy Week. Of this, 12 were vehicular accidents, eight were drowning incidents, six were fire incidents, two were shooting incidents and two were victims of snakebites.

A procession-related mishap, sea accident, and a flooding incident were also recorded during the Holy Week.

The NDRRMC is expected to lift today the blue alert status it declared last March 27.

Police units have started securing vacationers returning to Metro Manila from the provinces after the Holy Week, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima said yesterday.

Purisima noted that the PNP is likely to downgrade the level of alert from heightened to normal depending on the prevailing situation.

“We are closely monitor vacationers returning to Metro Manila especially along road. We are advising the public to maintain their cool during their trip. We expect heavy volume of traffic,” he added.

Purisima was referring to the millions of Filipinos who spent the Lenten break in the provinces.

The PNP chief described as generally peaceful the observance of Lent, and no significant crime was recorded in any part of the country. With Cecile Suerte Felipe, Arnell Ozaeta, Charlie Lagasca