Pagasa: 17 meteors seen Monday

SEVENTEEN meteors showed up in one hour time Monday morning, said local astronomers.

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, which reportedly looked like a fireworks display, originates from dust released by the famous Halley's Comet during its countless voyages through the solar system, according to the monthly astronomical diary prepared by Vicente Manalo, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Snatchers take pendant worth P14,000

AN ENRAGED woman reported a snatching incident to Police Station 2 at Fuente Osmena, Cebu City Monday noon, shortly after 2 unidentified men took the gold necklace pendant of her daughter worth P14,000.

The incident happened when the victims, Aurora Ajero, 51, and her daughter Sarah Mae Ajero, 30, were onboard a 17B jeepney around 12:30 p.m., just meters away from the police station.

Comelec to open source code for review

MANILA (Updated) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced Monday that the source code for this year's polls will finally be opened for review to interested groups and political parties this week.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Smartmatic International and Dominion Voting Systems, which owns the source code, signed an agreement to bring the human readable instructions of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines to the Philippines.

Manila Water undertakes pipe laying in Taguig

IN PURSUIT of excellent customer service, Ayala-led Manila Water continues to coordinate its road works with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to lessen the impact on motorists while continuously upgrading its service.

Manila Water is currently undertaking pipe rehabilitation and pipe laying activities in Villa Crisanta Subdivision, Barangay Napindan in Taguig City, while DPWH is upgrading the roads to serve as diversion for trucks currently using Elisco Road in Pasig City from Napindan going to C-6.

Binay receives towering Chinese basketball superstar

MANILA -- Vice President Jejomar Binay received on Monday towering Yao Ming, a Chinese man who is more than two feet taller than the Philippines' second most powerful person.

During their meeting at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City, the 5-foot-2 Binay told 7-foot-6 Yao that the Philippines and China share the same interest in basketball.

Mancao removed from witness protection program

MANILA (Updated) -- Former police officer Cezar Mancao will no longer be protected by the government for ignoring calls to surrender in light of a court's decision to make him an accused in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Chavit Singson son accused of vote buying

MANILA (Updated) -- A gubernatorial candidate of the Liberal Party (LP) in Ilocos Sur on Monday accused his opponent, son of incumbent Governor Chavit Singson, of vote buying during a talent search two weeks ago.   LP bet Roque Versoza, Jr., incumbent mayor of Tagudin town, filed vote buying charges against Ryan Luis Singson before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and also sought his disqualification.  

Filipina, 4 others killed in California limo fire

SAN FRANCISCO (Updated, 2:44 p.m.)— Relatives told the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News that one of the five persons killed in a limousine fire in California was Neriza Fojas, a registered nurse from Fresno who recently wed and was planning to repeat her marriage vows in the Philippines next month.

A limousine taking nine women to a night on the town to celebrate Fojas’ wedding erupted in flames, killing five of them, including Fojas, who were trapped inside. Four others escaped with burn and smoke inhalation injuries, authorities said Sunday.

Basilan explosion injures 4

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Four political coordinators of the administration’s Liberal Party (LP) were wounded in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion late Sunday in Lamitan City, Basilan province.

Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay said they were meeting with the campaign coordinators at the LP headquarters when an unidentified man tossed an IED around 10 p.m. Sunday.

Iloilo mayor's husband dies in ambush

ILOILO (Updated, 3:20 p.m.) -- The husband of Lemery, Iloilo Mayor Ligaya Apura was declared dead on arrival in a hospital following an ambush on Monday.

The vehicle of Apura's husband, Jun, and his companions were ambushed in the national highway in Barangay Anabo around 8 a.m. Monday, a report over dzMM said.