Fire destroyed six houses and damaged four others in Brgy. 3, Bacolod City, at about 1:40 p.m. yesterday causing an estimated P700,000 in damages.

Fire Officer 1 Jerson Ganava, who sustained a cut on his finger, and resident Ryan Vargas, 31, who suffered first degree burns, were hospitalized, City Fire Bureau deputy marshal Insp. Publio Ploteña said

Ploteña said they received a call from a concerned citizen at about 1:50 p.m. informing them that some houses in Purok Cereza North in Brgy. 3 were on fire.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia yesterday said there is a very good possibility that President Benigno Aquino III will be among the thousands of football fans when the Philippine Azkals clash against Mongolia in the first leg of their qualifying series in the Asian Confederation Challenge Cup at the Panaad Sports Stadium in Bacolod City on Feb. 9.

Although there is no final confirmation yet of Aquino’s attendance to the game, Garcia said Malacañang has started asking for details about the game after an invitation was sent to the President.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental police director, yesterday ordered the disarming and restriction of a police officer accused of raping a 20-year-old bride-to-be, following the filing of molestation charges against him before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office Thursday.

Guisihan said the complaint-affidavit of the bride-to-be, whose identity is being withheld, will also serve as basis for them to conduct a pre-charge investigation against the married policeman, who is assigned at the La Castellana police station.

The 20-year-old victim, accompanied by her mother, who had sought the help of Guisihan, said she was molested by the police officer in a Bacolod motel on Jan. 9.