NPA sniper involved in death
of soldier, hurt in Army clash

A “sniper” of the New People’s Army, allegedly responsible for the death of Army 2Lt. Jose Angelo Esguerra, was one of the two rebels injured in a renewed clash with soldiers of the 47th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Mag-asawang Bukid, Brgy. Camindangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.

Lt. Col. Rodrigo Sosmeña, 47IB commander, identified yesterday the injured NPA sniper through his alias of “Ka Ador”, who was hit in the left arm in an encounter, citing information from residents in the area.

Esguerra died last month, after he was hit in the left eye by a sniper fire, in an ambush perpetrated by rebels. The troops were on their way then to a peace and development work in Brgy. Basak, Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

Sosmeña said he believes that they were able to pre-empt a tactical offensive of the NPA, when they chanced upon a group of about 15 rebels, who served as sentries of the main force. This led to more than five minutes of gunbattle.

The Friday encounter was the second armed engagement between rebels and 47IB in the same area, since January, that led to the death of a suspected NPA member.

Soldiers of the 47IB conducted a checkpoint along the highway of Cauayan and Sipalay yesterday, as part of their security measures, in line with the 43rd founding anniversary of the NPA on March 29.

Sosmeña said the NPA in southwest Negros are continuously on the run, because of sustained military and social pressure.*GPB

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2 nabbed for
theft of groceries

Two suspected robbers were apprehended by the police at about 6 a.m. Monday after they broke into a residence in Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod City and stole several grocery items.

Station 8 chief, Senior Insp. Jerick Filosopo, identified those arrested as Jeffrey Jara, 30, of Brgy. Poblacion in Bago City, Negros Occidental; and Jessmark Banay, of Purok Hanapbuhay in Brgy. Pahanocoy.

Jara and Banay were reportedly caught while in the act of stealing grocery items valued at P5,000 at the residence of Melanie Pamor at Manville Royal Subdivision, the police said.

Investigation showed that the two destroyed the main door of Pamor’s house to get in.

A total of 26 hold-uppers, 13 robbers and six snatchers were arrested in different operations conducted by the Bacolod police this month alone, police records showed.

Bacolod City Police Director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, said their apprehension effort is in line with the intensified campaign against criminal elements as the Holy Week nears.

De la Paz said they will also boost their campaign against suspects riding motorcycles in tandem.*APN

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Motorcycle stolen

Unidentified thieves took the motorcycle of a baker parked outside his workplace at B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod City Monday.

Danilo Baltazar Jr., 25, of Brgy. Poblacion in San Enrique town, Negros Occidental and employed by the Chantilly Cake and Pastries said, he went out of his workplace at about 4 p.m. and discovered his motorcycle gone.

Baltazar reported the incident to Station 2 policemen, who alarmed other police stations. They also accompanied Baltazar in searching for his motorcycle but failed to recover it.

Minutes later, Station 3 policemen informed Station 2 policemen that they found the motorcycle of Baltazar parked beside the road in Purok Kawayanan in Brgy. Banago, but its plate number was gone.

Station 3 deputy chief, Insp. Larry Teovisio, said they were conducting a police operation when they spotted Baltazar’s motorcycle, but bystanders could not tell them who parked it there.

Meanwhile, a suspected carnapper, who is now detained at the Bacolod City Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, was served with an arrest warrant at about 5 p.m. Monday.

Police identified the suspect as Randy Garcia, “alias Panoy”, 28, of Purok Yanson 1 in Brgy. Mandalagan.

Garcia’s arrest warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 41 Judge Ray Alan Drilon, who set his bail at P180,000.*APN

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