Longno after his arrest*

The police apprehended an alleged gun-for-hire group leader at Rizal-Lacson streets, Bacolod City , at about 2 a.m. yesterday Station 1 chief, Senior Insp. Luisito Acebuche, said.

Acebuche said that they received a text message from an informant that Ric Raymond Longno, alias “Small Boy”, 34, of Marapara Street , Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod , who has pending arrest warrants for frustrated and attempted murder, was at Rizal-Lacson streets in Brgy. 22.

The police immediately proceeded to the area to arrest Longno but he and his companions Joselito Alfonso, 32, of Brgy. Calumangan, Bago City , and Robert delos Santos , 25, of Brgy. 39, Bacolod , resisted arrest by shooting at them, Acebuche said.

A labor representative on the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board yesterday said he is seeking another wage increase in Western Visayas following oil price hikes this week.

Wennie Sancho, who is still deliberating on the amount to be sought, said he will file his petition before the RTWPB next week.

President Gloria Arroyo's lifting of Executive Order No. 839 that had set a ceiling on oil prices will open the floodgates and trigger hikes in the cost of basic goods and services, he said.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday turned over to Barangay Captain Jocelyn Uychiat financial assistance given by Bacoleños in the United States to the victims of the Nov. 2 fire in Barangay 19, Bacolod City .

Leonardia, whose official leave ended yesterday, said the Bacoleños in America were able to raise $1,630 which is equivalent to about P78,240.

He said Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao also agreed to extend help to the fire victims while Al Denila of the Bacolod Society of America and Ed Zayco of the United Ilonggos told him that they will also raise more funds for the affected Brgy. 19 families.