DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

For the first time in Negros Oriental, the Commission on Human Rights is dealing with what it considers the gravest incident of torture, slavery, maltreatment, inhuman and degrading acts, allegedly committed against househelpers in Bacong town.

CHR special investigator Jess Cañete is looking into the complaint against Shiela Marie Cielo-Alfanta and her husband, Regan, of Barangay Sulodpan, Bacong.

Cañete is also looking into the involvement of a government agency that one of the victims claimed had booked him against his will, handcuffed, and forced him to sign documents, finger printed and photographed him.

Survey on deadly
starfish recommended
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

The Environment and Natural Resources Division of the provincial government of Negros Oriental is recommending an ocular inspection of Tambobo Bay and other areas in Siaton town to determine the infestation of the deadly Crown of Thorns starfish.

ENRD’s Manric Barillo, coastal resources management coordinator, said the proposed survey will ascertain whether this type of starfish has spread to other coral reefs, particularly in Tambobo Bay where an outbreak was also reported in the mid-1990s.

More than 13,000 crown of thorns starfish had been collected in Siaton recently and this prompted the ENRD to coordinate with local government for night ocular inspections..

Budol-budol men
victimize lawyer, too
BY RENE GENOVE

A 90-year-old lawyer was victimized by a “budol-budol” gang yesterday near the Dumaguete Cathedral at Perdices Street in Dumaguete City.

Ma. Paz Perigua, a resident of Barangay Bagacay, Dumaguete City, told the police that the two suspects approached her, one a woman about 40 years old, of regular build, not more than 5 feet tall, and her male companion, also 40 years old, with short hair, a moustache and of regular build and about 5’5” in height.

The police investigator said the victim told them the suspects were able to convince her to give them the two rings, one gold and the other a platinum, a necklace with gold pendant, a wrist watch, two gold bangle bracelets in exchange for one bagful of “budol” money.

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