Laguna vice mayor gunned down

Article posted at 08:41 a.m. GMT+8 by GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/63036/Laguna-vice-mayor-gunned-down#

Unidentified gunmen ambushed and shot dead a municipal vice mayor in Pagsanjan town in Laguna province early Thursday morning.

Radio dzRH reported that the ambush on Lumban Vice Mayor Zaldy Raga took place at about 8 a.m., just as his service vehicle reached the bridge in Pagsanjan town.

The victim, wearing a white T-shirt and denim shorts, was clutching his cal-.45 pistol when he fell dead to the ground, indicating he tried to fire back at his assailants.

Initial investigation showed Raga was going to Pagsanjan from Lumban when he was ambushed. Police are still trying to determine the motive for the ambush.

Radio dzMM reported that police recovered 43 empty slugs at the crime scene.

Lumban is a fourth-class town with a population of 25,936 people in 5,456 households. Pagsanjan is a second-class town with a population of 32,622 people in 7,274 households. - with a report from Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV

Desperate husband denies food to in-laws' small hungry children, wife alleges

Bern (14:03:27): Hello Tina. I'm so sorry to hear Jovs has been so angry and unfriendly to your sisters and their families. I do hope your situation has improved by now. Tina will receive your messages on a mobile device.

Bern (14:26:30): Hi Jovs, how are you? Still working hard, I guess. Mel texted me requesting financial help again but most regrettably I have very high costs to pay now.

Tina (14:33:30): Yes Bern it's impossible. Liza [did] pay d store till she cannot return to her work [i.e. until she became too ill to work], but Jovs ask me not to continue [helping her], not to give food from d store, but I did not follow, I help other people but I cannot control my self [not] to help d kids' hunger.

Bern (14:41:15): I have some idea of the harsh situation. I'll text Jovs and hope he will explain a little to me but he rarely contacts me.

Bern (14:47:30): Tina, some 50 minutes ago I texted Mel but there was no reply. Twenty minutes ago I texted Jovs, asking about himself and Mel but he didn't reply either.

Tina (14:49:04): You know Bern, it's so hard for me, Jovs continue to his work, I prepared food for him, but he did not stay d house long, his duty was 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., he slept last nite, but this a.m. he go again, I text Mel but Mel said Jovs was there this a.m. ,just eat, and left, he did not know where he goes.

Bern (14:51:34): I see. I'd like to ask Jovs gently about his own welfare and that of his brother and later, if possible, about the other children but I don't think he'd answer me.

Bern (14:53:02): You mentioned that you visited Jov's father. Would it help to talk with him again, I wonder? Also, I wonder if Liza or Laurice or Rod can work in the shop.

Tina (14:58:46): Yes day help me, but Jovs don't want them to do dat.

Bern (15:01:49): I don't know Jov's reasons for not wanting their help, but it seems good to me if they help and you can rely on them to do that.

Sick young man unable to afford therapy requests help

Texts received online at 13:47 GMT+10

Mel (12:11:10): Gud a.m. Bern, sorry I spent my money for therapy today - I can't go today, bcoz the other night and tonight I had fever flue. I buy food med and fruits, that's why!

Mel (12:13:48): Right now Bern I have phlegm and dry cough! Bern hope you can help me to my therapy and to have a load selling too my Smart load is not enough eh! Sorry but please try.

Mel (12:15:19): I hope you will get in touch soon, bcoz I will wait for your touch again Bern, hope you understand me. Ate Gelay [Aunt Anagel] is taking care of me when I'm sick. Love Mel.

Bern (13:53:23): Hello Mel. I'm sorry to hear you are sick. Also, regrettably, I can't help you today. Six days ago Tina said she would hand you 4,000 pesos [US$88.65] from me.

Bern (13:57:53): Mel it was extremely important that you spend and save with great care. Please explain what you did with the 4,000 pesos.

Angry husband allegedly denies food to children of indigent in-laws

Text received online at 09:32 GMT+10

Tina (09:02:11): Gud evening Bern, you know Bern since Sept. 14 nite I don't have slept coz of our family problem, I cannot give help for d kids in d front of Jovs coz he was angry, I can't give food from d salary of Jovs. He was angry? What I can do, I need to survive my store, think d best things to become successful, to help d kids. I hope you understand what I want to say? I really need to [have] additional capital for rice and other household need, for d sake of my customers and family.

Young man Mel suffers pain, weakness and anxiety

Text received online at 09:32

Mel (03:11:52): Hello Bern, good evening! I don't know if I will go to the specialist - the pain is still [present,] I feel [it] though I continue take the med[ications] and also I feel weak. I'm worried.

Ministore owner desperately seeks capital, citing great need

September 17

Tina (17:26:21): Bern, I and Mel decide to go home, we will return [to the Laguna Provincial Hospital] on Wed[nesday]. Some Indian (Bombay) 5/6* ask me if I want some capital from them, coz day know dat there [is] lots of demand but I don't have capital, but I think it's not good for my business. But almost of d guard force me to have extra capital to support der family needs.

September 18

Tina (10:03:21): Bern gud a.m., Jovs slept last nite with us, now little Bern and [I] was going to Magdapio but [we] will return after lunch, I don't have per kl. of rice right now, da 20 guard family rely on me including my family.

Tina (18/09/2007 10:12:33): You know Bern, tell you d truth, I don't want to borrow money to 5/6*, coz I really need to buy 5 sacks of rice, 1,200 each, to support d needs of d guards till payday 25th, it total cost 6,000, if ever I borrow I'm return it will be 7,200, my profit will be goes to them, if I have only a chance to have capital to support them and my family, I really need help.

* * *

* 5/6: A loan shark, so-called because one who borrows 500 pesos, for example, must repay 600 within a month. "Bombays" are moneylenders of Indian extraction, generally held in low repute by Filipinos.

Young man Mel left with little money after buying antibacterial tablets and vitamins

Mel (11:54:04): Hello Bern, good morning, I already buy Ofloxacin and vitamins. Now [I have] 500 [pesos]* left in my wallet. I'm here now in Mercury drugs in Sta. Cruz, and ready [to] ride a jeep to go home.

* * *

* About US$10.78.

Text received online at 18:12 AEST