2 get 54-year jail terms
for theft, slay of teacher
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Two men found guilty of theft and the murder of a 23-year-old elementary school teacher, while intoxicated and high on drugs, were sentenced to 52 years imprisonment each yesterday.

Bago Regional Trial Court Judge Frances Guanzon convicted Vicente Echenagocia Nuñez Jr. and Christian Salapante Yema of the crime of murder with the penalty of reclusion perpetua or 20 years and one day to 40 years imprisonment each, and of theft with a penalty of 10 years and one day to 12 years.

The two were also ordered to pay the heirs of Allen Hope Barcoma, of Hinigaran town and a teacher at the Fellowship Baptist School in Binalbagan, P50,000 as indemnity for her death, and P50,000 as moral damages. They were also ordered committed to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa.

A Bacolod resident was sentenced yesterday to life imprisonment for the sale of four marijuana cigarets to a policeman in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, five years ago.

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 47 Judge Edgar Garvilles found Rey Gestopa Zamora, alias Panoy, guilty beyond reasonable doubt  for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for the sale, delivery and trading of dangerous drugs.

Aside from sentencing Zamora to life imprisonment at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa, he was also ordered to pay a fine of P500,000.

A 60-day preventive suspension  was meted to Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Secretary Nilo Alejandrino   yesterday by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson to preclude him from exerting influence or pressure on witnesses or tampering evidences on file, during  the investigation of the administrative complaint filed against him by Councilor Caesar Distrito.

 Sayson  designated board secretary Helen Legaspi yesterday to act as acting SP Secretary.

Distrito filed an administrative complaint against Alejandrino last month for alleged grave misconduct, abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming, and unprofessional conduct, before the Office of the Vice Mayor.