POLICE SAYS
Killer videotaped
brutal slay of doc
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

The brutal killing last week of Dr. Andres Gumban, whose neck was slashed and who was stabbed 34 times, was videotaped by one of his assailants, who smiled and winked at the camera after committing the deed.

The 5 minutes and 18 seconds video, taken through the cellular phone camera of the 16-year-old Facebook friend of the doctor, was released to the media yesterday by Bacolod city police director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz.

Gumban, 63, was killed at his house in DC 2 Regent Pearl Homes Subdivision in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City, Thursday. The 16-year-old from Sagay City, whose name is being withheld as he is a minor, and his companion, identified as Fof Pascual, 18, of Brgy. Tadlong, Sagay City, were immediately apprehended.

The United Negros Drivers Operators Center in Bacolod City yesterday called for uniform jeepney fare rates nationwide, saying it is unfair that drivers in Metro Manila are allowed to charge 50 centavos more than in the provinces where fuel is more expensive.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board effective Tuesday rolled back a 50-centavo provisional fair increase it implemented in March bringing the fare rate in Metro Manila down to P8 and in the Visayas to P7.50.

The jeepney fare rates should be uniform nationwide, if the rate it Manila is P8 for the first four kilometers, why is the rate here P7.50 for the first five kilometers? Jessie Ortega, UNDOC secretary general, asked.

The Bacolod City government will file a petition for intervention with the Energy Regulatory Commission through Mayor Evelio Leonardia so the city can cross examine the witnesses of Central Negros Electric Cooperative during the hearing to be conducted by the commission in Bacolod next month.

Acting Permits and Licensing head Vicente Petiere III also said that the ERC has set the hearing of the application of CENECO to be allowed to refund, collect over and under-recoveries, in Bacolod City, 9 a.m. June 8.

ERC granted the demand of Bayan Muna for the transfer of the hearings for rate increases to Bacolod, instead of its main office in Manila.