Meeting with Ochoa Jr.
on 1-island region set
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) yesterday said he is meeting with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. tomorrow to discuss the possibility of President Benigno Aquino III’s issuing an executive order for the creation of a Negros Island-region.

Benitez said he is backing the lobby for the creation of a Negros Island region because it will boost the services of the national government agencies and economic growth in Negros Occidental and Oriental.

An island-region will mean that regional offices will be located on the island and will be more accessible, better police and military coordination for both provinces, and more resources from the national government, he said.

Cops probe ‘suicide’
of Navy man’s wife
BY SHIELA GELERA

The wife of a United States Navy man allegedly shot herself in the comfort room of their house in Bacolod City, at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The 32-year-old woman succumbed to a gunshot wound on her chest, Insp. Jinky Lou Ramos, the chief of the Women and Children Protection Desk, said yesterday.

Ramos said the victim was rushed to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, but was declared dead on arrival.

Security ready  for Holy Week
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The Philippine National Police is implementing its Oplan Semana Santa starting April 13, Palm Sunday, in Negros Occidental, to maintain peace and solemnity during the observance of the Holy Week.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said yesterday that he will require the presence of all policemen in every police station, and will cancel all leaves, to maximize the presence of lawmen in the vicinities of churches, airports, ports, bus terminals and other places where people are converging.

The Holy Week celebration starts on April 13 and culminates on Easter Sunday, April 20.