Slain vendor's kin calls
for swift arrest of cop
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

The son of vendor Vivian Niepes, 59, who was killed by her neighbor Police Officer 1 Kenji Beloya, on Wednesday night in Purok Lampirong-Tres, Sitio Magsungay, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City , yesterday appealed for his speedy arrest.

Niepes was shot from the back by Beloya, of the City Mobile Group and assigned as security escort of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, at about 7 p.m. Wednesday while she was washing dishes in her house, a police report showed.

Romeo Niepes, 35, son of the victim said although their families have had misunderstandings, he did not expect the killing to happen.

A candidate for Bacolod councilor survived a road accident at about 12:30 a.m. yesterday in Bacolod City , while his companion was hospitalized.

Injured was Luis Zabaljauregui, 30, of Capitol Subdivision, Brgy. Villamonte, who was rushed to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center , and later transferred to the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital , Police Officer 3 Xavier Rama said.

He was on board a Toyota Innova (FFR 626) allegedly driven by City Councilor aspirant Philip Montelibano, a police report said.

Silay City Administrator Ignacio Salmingo yesterday said he is filing a disqualification case against former mayor Edwin Velez before the Commission on Elections in Manila today.

Velez, who is running for Silay mayor in the 2010 polls, in turn said he is filing harassment and libel charges against Salmingo.

He is also filling harassment and illegal entry raps against a lawyer's messenger Hector Ruiz Ilon, 38, and driver Marilo Ebon Alvarez, 50, Velez said.