Man dies of electrocution,
another hurt in Pontevedra

A 30-year-old truck helper died while his companion sustained burns in his arms and legs, after being electrocuted yesterday in Brgy. 2 Poblacion, Pontevedra in Negros Occidental.

The Pontevedra police identified the fatality as Gerardo Pahamtang, while Raffy Cejo is being treated at the Valladolid District Hospital.

Police investigations showed that the cargo truck that was at the compound of a lime factory in the barangay accidentally touched the primary power lines, which led to the electrocution of the victims, who were closing the rear door of the vehicle.

The driver of the truck, identified as Ritchie Cornelio, is in police custody pending further investigation of the incident.*GPB

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3 arrested for
murder charges

Three men wanted for murder were arrested by Station 2 policemen at their residences in Brgy. 3 and in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City, yesterday and Wednesday.

Rodolfo Magala, 24, of Purok Cereza North, and Jason Baron, 23, of Purok Kamunsil, both in Brgy. 3, Bacolod, were nabbed at about 11:40 a.m. yesterday, on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Franklin Demonteverde, who denied them bail.

The warrant for Magala, Baron and two others, whose names were not disclosed, stemmed from the charges filed by the family of Rebecco Concepcion, 35, of Purok Lubi, who was stabbed to death on January 16 last year, police records show.

Lawyer Cesar Beloria, counsel for Baron, said his client is applying to become a state witness.

Mary Joy Vallente, the wife of Concepcion, said she is elated by the arrest of Malaga and Baron, adding that she hopes that she can finally get justice for the death of her husband.

Station 2 policemen, led by Senior Police Officer 1 Dante Victor Escorpion and Police Officer 3 Benjamin Jamora, meanwhile, arrested Cardie Bales, of the National Housing Authority in Brgy. Pahanocoy, at about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday on the strength of an arrest warrant, also issued by Demonteverde, who denied him bail.*APN

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BCPO looking into
theft of water meters

Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, city police director, ordered the Investigation Branch yesterday to look into cases of water meter pilfering, and to inspect the junk shops, where the items could have been sold.

This was after six residents of Bacolod City sought police help yesterday, claiming that unidentified thieves took their water meters.

Roger Zaldarriaga, 40, of Gatuslao-Rosario Streets in Brgy. 15, said that he discovered his water meter, placed outside his compound, gone at about 5 a.m.; while Liza Chua, 43, of 17th Street, Brgy. 7, reported hers gone at about 5:30 a.m.

George Ng, 50, of 16th Street, Brgy. 4, claimed that suspected thieves took his water meter at about 5 a.m.; while Gisela Bautista, 45, of Aguinaldo Street, and Danny Delfin, 30, of 17th Street, all of Brgy. 4, discovered theirs gone at about 5:50 a.m. and 6 a.m., respectively, the police said.

De La Paz said that there is a possibility that the suspects in these incidents are one and the same, and that the stolen items may have already been disposed of outside Bacolod.

He also warned junkshop owners not to buy water meters, or they will be charged for violating the anti-fencing law.*APN

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