The Office of the Ombudsman (Visayas) has found enough basis to proceed with the preliminary investigation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act complaint filed against former Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscolluela and Julieta Cunanan, president of the Systems and Plan Integrator Development Corp.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol has ordered Coscolluela and Cunanan  to file their counter affidavits and controverting evidence  to the criminal complaint filed against them by  Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, in connection  with a P16.8 million  computerization project in Murcia, Rayfrando Diaz, counsel of the Montelibano, said yesterday.

The couple, facing parricide charges for the death of their 6-year-old daughter in Bacolod City, may seek a plea bargaining agreement with the court to reduce their penalty, Bacolod City Police Office Women and Children;s Complaint’s Desk chief, Insp. Jovy Cabcaban said yesterday.

Couple Rachel Esguera, 26, and her husband Bernard Nolan, 27, of B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod, were presented to the court yesterday for their pre-trial conference.

Cabcaban said City Prosecutor Amrando Abanado told the couples’ lawyers, Joel Cabalatungan and Christine Bogador, that they should put in writing the willingness of their clients to enter into a plea bargaining agreement.

A 12-year-old girl died when a speeding ambulance bumped her in Cauayan town, Negros Occidental, Tuesday while three men injured when their canter truck fell into a canal in Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City, on the same day.

The fatality was identified by Cauayan town police chief, Insp. Naser Canja, as Lynsie Rosal of Sitio Libun in Brgy. Tuyom in the town.

Initial investigation showed that the ambulance owned by the Municipality of Hinoba-an and driven by Nelson Pampliega Decena, 63, of Brgy. Bacuyangan of the same town, was heading north on the highway of Brgy. Tuyom when Rosal suddenly crossed the street.