Police alert up for rebel attack
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Police stations and their outposts in Negros Occidental have been placed on alert status in the wake of the series of rebel attacks of police units in Mindanao recently.

The NPA carried away several high-powered firearms from police stations of Kibawe in Bukidnon, and Chiongbian in Misamis Occidental, police records show.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, provincial police director, reminded police chiefs to institute target hardening measures to prevent attacks against government and private installations.

‘Yolanda’ damage in
WV hits P13.4B
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Damage from super typhoon Yolanda in Western Visayas rose to P13.4 billion as of December 14, from P9.7 billion last week, records of the Office of the Civil Defense 6 show.

In Negros Occidental, damage to infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries were placed at P932,920,087, OCD 6 reports also showed.

However, the number of casualties reduced from 231 to 227 after verification of the fatalities, with 948 injured and the missing persons still at 20, OCD 6 regional director Rosario Cabrera, said in her report to OCD Administrator Eduardo del Rosario.

Peña seeking names,
girding for counter suit
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Former Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña is asking authorities for a complete list of the Philippine National Police and Special Action Force men who participated in the raid on his ancestral house in Barangay Ubay, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, on May 2.

His lawyer, Roem Arbolado, said they are asking for the names, ranks, serial numbers and the addresses of the personnel involved, in preparation for legal action against those who participated in the “illegal raid.”

He pointed out that the DOJ joint resolution dated November 11 dismissed charges for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives, and for harboring a criminal, against Peña and his co-accused, in connection with a raid on his ancestral house.