3 more gun ban
violators collared

Three more persons were arrested for violation of the Comelec gun ban in the cities of Escalante and Cadiz and in Calatrava town, bringing to seven the number of violators apprehended in Negros Occidental since the start of its enforcement on Sept. 29, police records show.

Arrested were Dominador Yago, Pedro Margaja and Florentino Torino, whose arrest yielded a .45 caliber pistol, 357 caliber magnum and .38 caliber revolvers, respectively.

Chief Inspector Leonardo Angcon, in his report to Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday said the arrest of Yago by his alert team led by SPO3 Luisito Magalona, came after the suspect tried to draw his .45 caliber pistol during a commotion along the highway of the poblacion in Escalante City Saturday.

Torino, on the other hand, was apprehended by the police after he was positively identified by Roy Pagapang as the one who robbed him of P5,000 in Brgy. San Benito, Calatrava, on Oct. 2. A .38 caliber revolver was recovered from the possession of Torino who is now facing robbery and violation of gun ban charges in court.

Chief Inspector Jefferson Descallar said Margaja, a 28-year-old laborer, was arrested by a team of policemen led by PO1 Arnold Tolentino at Purok Consing, Brgy. Pepsi, Cadiz City, for possessing a 357 magnum revolver.

Four unlicensed firearms were also recovered by the police from violators of the gun ban in cities of Kabankalan and Himamaylan last week, police records also showed.

Franco has ordered the 31 police chiefs in Negros Occidental to intensify their efforts in the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms in their respective areas.*GPB

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San Carlos, EB Magalona
3rd quarter top performers

The San Carlos City and E.B. Magalona police stations topped the performance evaluation rating in the city and municipal categories, respectively, among 31 police units in Negros Occidental, in the third quarter of 2007.

Police records showed that the San Carlos PNP which ranked third, and E.B. Magalona that was in second place in their respective categories, in the second quarter this year, dislodged the Cadiz and Manapla police in the 3rd quarter performance evaluation rating.

The police stations of San Carlos and E.B. Magalona have new police chiefs in the persons of Supt. Harold Tuzon and Senior Inspector Samuel Mina, respectively. The performance rating of Cadiz slid to second among 12 city police stations in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City, following the relief of Chief Inspector Jefferson Descallar on Aug. 1 as city police chief. However, he was reinstated on Sept. 28 after the drug-related charges filed against him were dismissed for lack of probable cause.

On the other hand, the city police stations of Silay, Bago and Talisay ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Valladolid Police Station that used to top the performance evaluation rating, ranked fourth, while Binalbagan was in third place, in the municipal category. The 31 police stations and four provincial mobile groups under the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office are rated every quarter of the year on community relations, operation and intelligence work, and on management of manpower and logistics.*GPB

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3 knifed at
MassKara Festival sites

Three persons were injured in separate stabbing incidents as the MassKara Festival was celebrated in Bacolod City during the weekend, the police said.

Lester Sohol, 20, of SP Village, Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, was rushed to the Doctor's Hospital after sustaining a stab wound on his right armpit when he was attacked by a still unidentified person near the public plaza at about 12:30 a.m. yesterday, police records showed.

About two hours later, Victor Tima-an, 19, of Purok Bagong Buhay, Brgy. 30, in the city, was brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano, Memorial Regional Hospital with stab wounds on his head, left hand, and back, police reports said. Tima-on was attacked by still unidentified assailants at the Manokan Country at the Bacolod Reclamation Area, police reports added.

Meanwhile, Glenn Agsam, 41, of Purok Masinadyahon, Brgy. 12, in the city, was brought to the CLMMRH after sustaining stab wounds on his face, chest, and right shoulder, police reports said.

Agsam was stabbed by a certain "Kempee" who fled after the incident at Rizal Street, in the city, at about 1 a.m. Saturday, police reports said.

The police said the incidents happened near the public plaza where makeshift stores serve liquor to customers until morning.

Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, had warned vendors to immediately report "suspicious" customers, who may be carrying weapons, to police officers who patrol the public plaza.*PP

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2 'thieves' arrested

Two persons were arrested by the police in separate theft incidents in Bacolod City yesterday and Saturday, the Philippine National Police said.

Jovel Batus-Batusan, 18, of Galo Street, Bacolod City, was arrested by Police Station 4 officer PO1 Mark Felicio for allegedly stealing the bag of Retchel Biantan, 28, from her house at Tukmo Alley, Brgy. Villamonte, in the city, at about 1:45 a.m. yesterday, police records showed.

Recovered from Batus-Batusan was a black bag with P337 in cash, IDs, bank cards, photos, and some documents, police reports said.

The suspect said his unidentified friend just gave the bag to him after he took it from Biantan's house. He admitted, though, that he had accompanied his other friends in breaking into houses previously.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old woman from Bacolod City was nabbed and endorsed to Police Station 1 by a mall employee for allegedly taking assorted items from five business outfits inside the shopping center without paying for them, at about 8:35 p.m. Saturday, police reports said.

Recovered from the woman were pastry products, perfumes, a pair of shorts, a belt, an electric plug, and office supplies with a total amount of P1,843.50, police records showed.

The woman, who requested anonymity, said she also took a number of toys without paying for them.

She said she just took the items because her two children, who were with her, were asking for toys and she did not have the money to pay for them.

The pastry products were for her children's snacks when they go to school, the woman said.

She also said she had taken items without paying for them before she was arrested Saturday but added that she regrets what she had done.

The woman said she and her husband are currently jobless and they are still trying to find means to earn money.*PP

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