Couple killed in Negros Occidental crash
BACOLOD CITY – A couple was killed in a collision in Barangay Camingawan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental last Friday.
Police identified the fatalities as Carl Joshua Cardelina, 22, of Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental; and his girlfriend, Jay Ann Cultura, 25, of Mabinay, Negros Oriental.
Police Lt. Col. Jonel Guadalupe, Kabankalan police chief, said Cardelina was driving a motorcycle and reportedly encroached the opposite lane, slamming into a wing van cargo truck loaded with softdrinks on its way to Negros Oriental for a delivery. The truck was driven by Ronie Maguad, 51, of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental.
Guadalupe said the couple was on their way home from a school where Cultura was taking up her Master’s degree.
The couple sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Kabankalan City District Hospital, where they were declared dead. Victims were not wearing helmets when it happened, the city police chief said.
Guadalupe said Maguad was released from police custody yesterday, after the 18-hour-reglementary detention, following a settlement between the truck owner and the victims’ families. (Glazyl Masculino)
CA reinstates murder rap vs ex-Palawan Gov. Reyes
The Court of Appeals has reversed its 2018 decision as it ordered the reinstatement of the murder charge against former Palawan Gov. Mario Joel T. Reyes for the death in 2011 of environmentalist and radio broadcaster Dr. Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega.
In an amended decision written by Associate Justice Marie Christine Azcarraga Jacob, the CA also directed the Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court to order Reyes’ arrest.
The CA’s amended decision reversed its January 2018 ruling which dismissed the murder case filed against Reyes and ordered his release.
Reyes and his brother, former Coron, Palawan Mayor Mario T. Reyes, were charged with murder for the death of Ortega. Eight other persons were also charged in court.
The Reyes brothers slipped out of the country in early 2012 before an arrest order could be issued against them by the trial court on March 27, 2012.
They were arrested in Phuket, Thailand in October 2015, brought back to the Philippines, and ordered detained in Puerto Princesa City. (Rey Panaligan)
NCRPO cop gunned down
A policeman was shot and killed while on his way home in Muntinlupa City yesterday.
The victim was identified as Ariel dela Cruz, 34, assigned to the base police at the National Capital Region Police Office headquarters in Taguig City.
Investigation showed that Dela Cruz had just fetched his wife Frances Mira from the Christmas party of Barangay Putatan and was traversing Bruger St., Barangay Putatan at around 12:40 a.m. on board a motorcycle when two men on board two motorcycles appeared from behind.
The suspects opened fire at the victim and fled. Dela Cruz sustained a bullet wound in the head and was brought to the Medical Center Muntinlupa where he died.
The Police Community Precinct 2 of the Muntinlupa police conducted follow-up operation for the identification and arrest of the suspects but yielded negative result. (Dhel Nazario)
Boracay cited as one of 30 best islands in the world
Efforts to rehabilitate Boracay Island have paid off as it gained recognition as one of the best islands in the world this year.
“We couldn’t be more proud of what Boracay has become after one -and-a-half years of rehabilitation,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary and Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force chair Roy Cimatu said.
The Conde Nast Traveller, which is recognized as one of the most distinguished and trusted authorities on lifestyle travel, named Boracay as “the best island in Asia” and one of the 30 best islands in the world for 2019.
Boracay did not make it to the prestigious list last year due to ongoing rehabilitation, after being crowned as the world’s best island for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017.
This year’s rundown of the best islands in the world was broken down into six parts: Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, Caribbean and the Atlantic, Europe, North America, and the United States. (Ellalyn Ruiz)
