Driver gets 17 years
for raping 9-year-old
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

A Regional Trial Court judge sentenced a jeepney driver to 17 years, four months and one day of imprisonment yesterday for raping the 9-year-old niece of his wife at his house in Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City about eight years ago.

RTC Branch 41 Judge Ray Alan Drilon found the accused, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim, guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

He also ordered him to pay his victim P75,000 as moral damages and P25,000 as exemplary damages.

AT TRIAL
Video of doc killing shown
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

The video of the brutal killing of Dr. Andres Gumban was viewed yesterday by Regional Trial Court Branch 41 Judge Ray Alan Drilon at the hearing of the murder case filed against the minor suspect, whom the doctor had met through Facebook.

Some relatives of Gumban became emotional while watching the five-minute video showing how he was killed.

Senior Police Officer 1 Karyl Mugemulta, case investigator, who did not make it to the hearing in September, took the witness stand.

Former tourism attaché and Bacolod Rep. John Orola Jr. is the new City Administrator following the resignation of Rogelio Balo, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia announced yesterday.

He appointed Orola as City Administrator Friday after accepting the resignation of Balo on the same day, the mayor said.

Balo, who is now with his family in the U.S., tendered his resignation Friday for health reasons, Leonardia said.