NPA suspects attack:
Three killed, 3 injured
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

A group of civilians were ambushed in Sitio Toril, Brgy. Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, yesterday by about 30 suspected New People’s Army rebels who killed three of them, including a minor, on the spot and injured three others, the  police and military said.

The six victims, who included two high school students, were on board an Isuzu Elf Canter service vehicle of Brgy. Salamanca, and were on their way to Toboso town, at about 7 a.m. yesterday, when they were fired upon by a group of suspected rebels, with two amazons, armed with M-16 and M-14 assault rifles, police investigations showed.

Senior Insp. Nestor Tuadles yesterday identified the three fatalities as Edmar Sultan, 14, of Toboso National High School, Rodolfo Salipod, 56, driver of the Salamanca barangay service vehicle, and Ena Pata, 50.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines yesterday called on competent persons of integrity who are committed to change to get directly involved in principled partisan politics, and become candidates in the 2010 presidential and national elections.

The Catholic bishops also said they unequivocally condemn as a betrayal of public trust any attempt to abort the elections of 2010, and categorically say no to any attempt by congress to convert itself into a constituent assembly.

If charter change be needed, let it be after 2010 and by a mode that is credible, widely participative, transparent and not self-serving, the CBCP said.

Can government-funded scholarships be raffled off at a concert?

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority put the scholarships of 375 Bacoleños recommended by Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez “on hold pending evaluation of available funds,” but a poster of a Sarah Geronimo concert in Bacolod on July 17, announces that 1,000 scholarships will be given on the spot to the lucky ticket holders.

April Rose Pelaez, 19, of Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod, one of the Golez recommendees whose TESDA scholarship was put “on hold” yesterday came to the DAILY STAR to air her complaint.