3-month retraining program
for soldiers set in Escalante

Escalante City in Negros Occidental, where some barangays have been reported to be bailiwicks of the New People's Army, will host a three-month retraining program for the 62nd Infantry Battalion starting June.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, said yesterday that Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. has agreed to their request for the retraining of 62IB soldiers to be held in Escalante City, instead of at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.

The 400-strong 62IB in northern Negros will be retrained on new combat operation strategies, values formation programs and orientation on human rights issues, and related concerns.

Lactao thanked Yap for his generosity to the Philippine Army. The mayor has been earlier alleged to have links with the NPA, claim that Yap has vehemently denied.

Lactao said that the soldiers will be pulled out if there is a need for security assistance elsewhere.

The soldiers undergoing retraining will be re-equipped with additional weapons, and have a full complement of officers and men. The retraining is part of the capability upgrading program of the AFP, he added.*GPB

back to top

No raps yet against jail guard
who shot inmate dead: police

No criminal charges have been filed yet against a jail guard, who shot and killed an inmate of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in La Castellana town, Monday, Senior Insp. Allan Reloj said yesterday.

Reloj, the police chief, said they still are waiting for the complaint-affidavit of the family of Alberto Cordova, 30, of Brgy. Manghanoy, in the town, against Jail Officer 2 Fernando Tamon, so they can pursue the criminal charges.

He said that if Cordova's family fails to file a formal complaint against Tamon by Friday, the jail guard will be set free.

Reloj added that the BJMP Region 6 has already started an inquiry on the circumstances behind the incident, so that appropriate administrative charges can also be pursued against Tamon.

Senior Supt. Ignacio Panti, BJMP 6 regional director, went to La Castellana for the investigation.

He added that the firearm used by Tamon in shooting Cordova will be sent to the crime laboratory of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office for ballistic examination.

Investigation showed that Cordova, who was facing murder charges, just had a haircut and had asked for permission to clean up at the jail's kitchen, where he took a bolo, went to the administrative office and hacked Tamon, hitting his left hand.

Tamon shot Cordova in the stomach and lower jaw, with the bullet exiting through his head. He was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod, but was declared dead on arrival.*APN

back to top

Suspects in
NPC robbery hunted

The Bacolod City Police Office already has leads on the identities of the suspects, who broke into the Negros Press Club building, in San Juan Street, Bacolod City, after the Holy Week.

Supt. Santiago Rapiz, Special Operations Group head, said yesterday thieves took an audio component with speaker valued at P24,000. Station 1 policemen were tasked to locate and arrest the suspects.

Rapiz met with officials of the press club, led by Arman Toga, to discuss the incident. He said one suspect used to live near the place but could no longer be found after the robbery.

The suspects are not considered notorious because they did not take all the things at the NPC building, he said.

Toga said he is grateful for the action of the police on the incident, adding that window grills will soon be installed on the building as a precaution.*APN

back to top