Civilian injured in Davao City landmine blast

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 8, 2009) – A civilian was injured after a roadside bomb intended for government soldiers exploded Tuesday in Davao City in the southern Philippines, officials told the Mindanao Examiner.

Officials said the explosive was planted by communist rebel group New People’s Army in the village of Suawan in Marilog District.

No soldiers were wounded or killed in the attack, but their jeep was hit by shrapnel. A motorcycle driver, Ronald Sayan, who overtook the jeep was hit, said Captain Rosa Maria Cristina Manuel, a spokeswoman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

She said the soldiers were on their way to a meeting with village officials when the NPA under rebel leader Leoncio Pitao detonated the explosive.

“The driver of a civilian motorcycle who overtook the troops was the one injured by the IED blast. No one was injured on the troops, but the KM450 vehicle was hit by shrapnel,” she said.

Manuel said the injured civilian was rushed by soldiers to hospital. (Mindanao Examiner)

Correctional Center For Youth Offenders To Rise In Davao City

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 29 Jul) – A P50-million facility that will house youth offenders will soon rise in the southern Philippine city of Davao.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the new reformatory center would be built in the remote Marilog District. "I will build the center in Marilog to ensure that these youth offenders will not escape and will surely reflect on the sins they commit in life," Duterte said.

Duterte said the facility will also have a school so detainees will have an opportunity to learn while under correction program.

"Youth offenders who stay in the street get killed so it is better for them to stay in a facility that will protect them," he said. (Romy Bwaga)

Truck Rams Street Pole, 1 Dead

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 27 May) – One person was killed and eleven others injured after the truck they were riding rammed a street lamp in Davao City in the southern Philippines, police said Sunday.

Police said the accident occurred in the village of Saumay in Marilog District on Friday.

The lone casualty was identified as Edolencia Abana. Police released the names of the injured passengers as Zenaida, 33 and Jerson Martetillas, 39; Levie Cortez, 28; Jay Tagaro, 19; Benito Enti, 49; Leonor Jane Abla¤a, 14; Merlyn Tagaro, 39; Edgardo Borja, 23; and the truck driver Andrew Gamoza, 35.

Police said the wounded are still at the Davao Medical Center.

The truck was transporting fresh vegetables to the Bankerohan public market in Davao City when the driver lose control of the wheel after its brake system failed while negotiating a hilly portion of the dirt road. (Romy Bwaga)