Kudos to Negros CIDG

We salute the members of the Negros Occidental Criminal Investigation and Detection Group who worked hard and dedicatedly to solve the killing in August last year of Iloilo block-time broadcaster Neil “Lito” Jimena in Brgy. Tabigue, of E.B. Magalona town.

Kudos also to assistant provincial prosecutor Elsie Madragaca-Senido who filed with the Regional Trial Court a murder charge against the two suspected gunmen – Noel Calungsod alias “Toto,” and Noel Guimeroy.

There is no gainsaying that the CIDG under Chief Inspector Rey Vergara Cuanico did a painstaking and tedious job until they finally got the evidence needed to tie up the gunmen to the death of Jimena.

The Negros Press Club, headed by president Armando Toga, was poised to sign a resolution conveying their commendation of the local press organization hailing the CIDG for their exemplary work in solving the Jimena killing.

The Bacolod TRC had issued a warrant for the arrest of both Calungsod and Guimeroy.

Both had originally filed a motion for reconsideration of the findings by the provincial prosecutor but this was denied for lack of merit.

The alleged mastermind for the killing remains unmentioned in the complaint. Jimena had reportedly criticized a powerful Iloilo politician over the radio.

Iloilo Press Club president Rommel Ynion hailed the prosecution’s resolution as “a triumph over against evil.”

Noel Bolivar was the principal witness. His statement was corroborated by Tabigue Barangay Captain Maroo Bolivar and Winnese Soberano.

Bolivar said the two suspects, riding in a red Honda motorcycle fired a gun several times at Jimena.

On the other hand, kudos also to Daily Tribune reporter Fernan Angeles who, despite his seven bullet wounds, yesterday said his text message to an Eastern District chief regarding the arrest of a suspected drug personality, Faisal, was shunted fade by the police officer. That massacre reportedly also served as the leak which pointed Angeles as the author.

Angeles was ambushed by Faisal purportedly 14 hours after he had sent the massage to Senior Supt. Francisco Manalo are the EPD.

Angeles mentioned the incident of his text message to Mariano where he was being wheeled for another surgery at the Pasig City General Hospital.

The Pasig police initially claimed that they were trying to identify Angeles if as the subject of a warrant of arrest for somebody named in RTC warrant which can be in a different trick name than Angeles.

That immediately made DILG Secretary Robredo remind the Pasig police to content on solving who had tried to kill Angeles instead of terrifying the authenticity to the name mentioned in the arrest warrant.

A clap for Angeles. There goes a real newsman.

Congratulations to Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez (3rd, Neg. Occ.) who humbly denied he has become the political kingmaker of Negros Occidental.

Instead, Benitez stressed that the United Negros Alliance head is still Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. the chairman of the UNA.

Benitez, incidentally, is head of the Liberal Party in the province. And, he decried claims that he is now an influential official of political decisions as bruited about that in some circles.

He also stressed that decisions-making in provincial politics is always collegial and not exercised by only one person, the DAILY STAR reported.

Insofar as his relationship with acknowledged UNA head, Benitez said he is on cordial terms with the NPC supremo Danding Cojuangco, the report added.

He also denied the special election in the 5th district, vacated by the recent death of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, will not be a political intramural between the Arroyo and the Aquino Administration.

Most likely what is going to happen is that the UNA, which is the most influential in the district and all over the province, may select either Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol and Board Member Melvin Ibañez as its official bet in the special balloting.

Board Member Emilio Yulo III and Mirasol had pledged to support whoever is selected by their extended family clan to be the potential bet in the special balloting.*

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