Tuesday, January 03, 2006 (Philippines)

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Vicente Loot says his promotion to senior superintendent is "long overdue" because some of his classmates were promoted to that rank two years ago. (Sunstar file photo) A New Year’s Day joyride ended in tragedy when a couple and their three-year-old son drowned after an overloaded outrig-ger boat capsized off the southern town of Boljoon, Cebu. Five others survived. The boat, used for line fishing, was built for just three people. It carried eight, including the boat owner’s son, who took the blame for the incident. Kevin Bequilla, whose father owns the boat, said he invited the victims to a boat ride that afternoon. Most of the victims, the Bequillas’ family friends, did not know how to swim. [full story]