Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro has ordered the suspension of Hinobaan Mayor Ma. Teresa Bilbao and the town’s municipal administrator Jose Candulizas for two months and one day for simple dishonesty.

Bilbao yesterday maintained that they did not commit any wrongdoing and have filed a motion for reconsideration before  the Ombudsman.

She also pointed out that since she was reelected as mayor of Hinoba-an in 2010 after the complaint had been filed against her, she cannot be suspended under the Aguinaldo doctrine.

A joint complaint for violation of Sections 155 and 170 of the Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual property Code of the Philippines was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the United Laboratories Inc. against the management of Sincere Drug Store before the Department of Justice, Unilab External Affairs Officer Claire Papa told the DAILY STAR yesterday.

The charges were in connection with the raids conducted by NBI and Unilab on the branches of Sincere Drug Store at Burgos, Libertad, Dela Rama Center, Gatuslao, Centroplex and Gonzaga branches and at the warehouse in Purok Dawis in Brgy. 14 on June 16, for alleged sale of counterfeit medicines.

Ricky Enriquez, general manager of the Sincere chain of drug stores, said they are yet to comment on the charges filed against them by NBI and the Unilab group as they have not received subpoenas yet.

Three members of an armed group engaged in treasure hunting activities, were arrested, while a policeman was injured in an intermittent gunbattle Monday with armed men in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.

Police Officer 2 Ricky Lademora, of the Sipalay City police station, is now fighting for his life at the Dr. Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City, after he was hit in the head, during a clash with about seven armed men in Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City.

Supt. Leonardo Angcon, Sipalay police chief, yesterday said the arrest of three suspects identified as  Pepito Canonigo, Bert Anthony Villacencio and Enarciso Villavito, yielded a 9mm pistol with a magazine containing ammunition, while two hand grenades, two homemade shotguns, and assorted ammunition of various caliber of firearms, five bolos, a gun holster, were recovered from a cave they were hiding in.