MANILA: An 11-month-old baby was found dead, floating inside his family’s flooded house in Malolos City, Bulacan, a local official said yesterday. Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad identified the baby as Jian Charles Centeno, resident of Barangay Canalate, which is among the villages hit with massive flooding. The incessant monsoon rains forced authorities to release water from Bulacan’s Ipo and Bustos dams, water from which cascaded to nearby villages. Centeno’s parents, Jaime and Carol, recounted that they left the boy in the care of their 13-year-old daughter Kathrina before they left for the public market.
25 officials hurt in Cebu mishap
MANILA: Around 25 members of a local youth council were hurt after a mini-bus they were riding fell into a ravine in Cebu City yesterday. The victims, who are all members and officials of the Sangguniang Kabataan, were on their way to a gathering when mishap happened in San Carlos Heights. Authorities were yet to determine the cause of the accident.
Hagel arriving for troop talks
MANILA: US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel will visit the Philippines this month amid ongoing negotiations on the increased rotational presence of US troops in the country. The US Defence Department said Hagel’s trip would cap his nine-day trip to Southeast Asia. He will visit the country from August 29 to 30. The statement did not provide information about Hagel’s itinerary in the Philippines, Washington’s oldest ally in Asia. The Philippine Defence department could not provide any information about Hagel’s agenda as of yesterday. Hagel’s trip comes as Manila and Washington are discussing an agreement granting American troops greater access to Philippine military facilities.
Agencies
