5 slain in gun attacks

MANILA, Philippines — Five persons were killed in gun attacks in Quezon, Batangas, Rizal and Negros Occidental on Saturday.

Police said Ferdinand Zurbano was shot during  a drinking spree with his friends in Barangay Magallanes, Lopez, Quezon.  He died on the way to the Magsaysay Memorial District Hospital.

Nomer del Mundo and Ricardo Basco were fired at by three men who barged into their house in Barangay Luntal, Tuy, Batangas. Another occupant of the house, Severina Basco, was wounded and taken to the Apacible Memorial District Hospital.

In Rizal, Teodoro Añez, 44, was with a woman at a restaurant in Barangay Inawaran, Antipolo when three people, who arrived in a tricycle, opened fire.

Police identified one of the suspects as Wineza Añez, the wife of the fatality.

Businessman Pablito Benaz, 67, was at a karaoke bar in Barangay Tuyom, Cauayan, Negros Occidental when an unidentified man shot him several times.

Probers have yet to determine the motives for the killings.

Drug suspect

In Bulacan, Joel Baladia reportedly engaged police officers in a shootout in a drug bust in Barangay Longos, Meycauayan City.

Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, Bulacan police director, said a .38-caliber revolver , 13 sachets of shabu and marked money were recovered from the fatality. 

Reward up

Meanwhile, a reward of P100,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest of John Albert Araojo, who ran amuck at a subdivision in Barangay Bagumbayan, Teresa, Rizal on Thursday night, shooting four people to death and wounding six others.

Senior Inspector Marinell Fronda, Teresa police chief, said Mayor Raul Palino offered the reward.

Three of those wounded remain confined at the St. Therese Hospital.

Fronda said they are coordinating with the Catanduanes police to verify reports that the suspect is hiding in the province.

Bakery owner Ruben Francisco, tricycle driver Celso Bernales and bystander Wilfredo Lukban died at the scene. Marvin Miotin, another bystander, died while being treated in a hospital. – Ramon Efren Lazaro, Emmanuel Tupas