Guv gives P6.8M
to brgys, 3 tribes
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday released P6,850,000 to fund barangay projects in four cities and seven towns of Negros Occidental, including livelihood projects of indigenous people.

Marañon Jr. said he turned over a P100,000 check to the indigenous people of Isabela town and the cities of Silay and Cadiz to boost production of their traditional crafts.

The indigenous people, in turn gave him a hand crafted hat and necklace.

Murder charges have been filed against one of the teenagers tagged in the brutal killing of Dr. Andres Gumban before the Bacolod Regional Trial Court, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, Bacolod Police director, said yesterday.

The filing of the charges against Pof Pascual, 18, of Brgy. Tadlong, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, was recommended by inquest prosecutor Dennis Jarder, and approved by City Prosecutor Amando Abanado Thursday, de la Paz said.

The City Prosecutor’s Office has asked the Social Development Center social worker to evaluate whether the other suspect, a 16-year-old from Cadiz City, whose name is being withheld for being a minor, acted with discernment when he committed the crime, the police director added.

The Bacolod City police is seeking the help of the National Bureau of Investigation in coming up with facial sketches of the two suspects behind the brutal slay of a homosexual, whose body was found in a grassy portion of the city’s reclamation area Tuesday.

The facial sketches will hasten the arrest of the suspects in the killing of Eddie Saraet Bolatayo, 21, of Brgy. Canturay, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, Senior Supt. Ricardo de La Paz, Bacolod police director, said yesterday.

NBI Bacolod agent-in-charge Ferdinand Lavin said they are willing to assist the city police in the resolution of the crime.