Truck drags
widower to death

A widower was killed when a six-wheeler truck hit and dragged his body while he was about to cross the street at about 8:40 p.m. Friday in Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City.

Police Officer 2 Wilson Go, traffic investigator, identified the fatality as Bernardo Encia, 66, of Purok Camingawan in Brgy. Estefania.

Encia was rushed to the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital but died while being treated for injuries sustained at about 11:20 a.m., while truck driver Hector Montinola, 66, of JR Torres Subdivision in Brgy. Singcang Airport, Bacolod, was temporarily taken into police custody.

The investigation of Go showed that the Isuzu truck was heading west of Bangga Escala when it sideswiped Encia. Witnesses said that the speeding truck dragged the widower about 40 to 44 feet from the point of impact.

Go said that Montinola was released from police custody Saturday after a settlement was reached between him and the family of Encia.

The Traffic Management Unit has been reminding the public to always use the pedestrian lane in crossing the street to avoid accidents.*APN

back to top

BCPO: Shoplifters on
bail re-arrested in mall thefts

Two of the seven alleged shoplifters belonging to an organized group operating nationwide, who were apprehended in Bacolod City two weeks ago but released on bail, were again nabbed in Iloilo and Cebu cities after they also victimized the malls there.

This was disclosed yesterday by Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, Bacolod police director, who said the re-arrest of Jhon Paul Palma, 24, and Justine Pascual, 23, of Caloocan City, showed that they are recidivists.

Pascual was arrested in Iloilo City on June 23 while Palma was nabbed last week in Cebu City after they reportedly filched several items from SM City Iloilo and Cebu branches, De la Paz said.

The BCPO arrested Pascual and Palma, together with Mercy Derla, 39; Jeffrey Longasa, 25; and Joana Torres, 24, all of Caloocan City, and Diana Rose Blanza, 18, of Pasig City, at a pension house at Mabini Street, Bacolod, at about 8 p.m. on June 18 while Antonio de Luna, 20, also of Caloocan, was nabbed at Gaisano City grand mall on June 17 for shoplifting.

The group earlier admitted they stole about P1 million worth of merchandises from various malls in Bacolod City on October last year. The suspects were released after they each paid P24,000 bail, police records show.

De la Paz warned business establishments in Bacolod to be vigilant as the group may return, especially with the conduct of the MassKara festival three months from now.*APN

back to top

Ex-303rd Infantry Brigade
commander faces attrition

Maj. Gen. Josue Gaversa, who served as commanding officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade in Negros Occidental, is retiring from the military service on July 25, through attrition.

Gaversa, commanding general of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, is supposed to retire January next year when he reaches the mandatory age retirement of 56.

The law of attrition requires three years for a major or lieutenant general to be promoted to the next higher rank. Gaversa was promoted to his present rank in 2009.

If a general is not promoted to the next higher rank in three to five years, he will be considered retired even if he still has some time remaining in the service.

Aside from Gaversa, Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, commander of the Southern Luzon Command; Rear Admiral Victor Emmanuel Martir, commandant of the AFP General Staff College; Lt. Gen. Jorge Segovia, 10th Infantry Division commander; and Lt. Gen. Ireneo Espino, AFP inspector general, are also covered by the law of attrition.

Detabali, Gaversa and Martir are members of the Philippine Military Class 1978, of which former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is an honorary member; while Segovia and Espino belong to PMA Classes 79 and 80, respectively, military records show.

Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, Visayas Command chief, is also retiring from service next month. Among those reportedly being groomed to replace Villanueva is Major General Jose Mabanta, 3rd Infantry Division commander.

Newly-promoted Major Gen. Maximo Caro, Army chief of staff, is expected to be designated as commander of the Army Infantry Division within this month.*GPB

back to top