LTO, Coast Guard set for
passenger security
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

The Land Transportation Office and the Philippine Coast Guard in Negros Occidental have set up security plans to ensure the safety of passengers travelling back to their hometowns this Holly Week.

Elmer Defensor, chief of the law enforcement unit of the LTO in Bacolod, said yesterday that they have assigned agents in the highways of Negros Occidental to check the road-worthiness of buses.

Defensor said they are ensuring that the buses are not overloaded and that the drivers have licenses. LTO is appealing for the cooperation of passengers especially those who are not allowed to board buses that are full, he said..

1 killed, 5 hurt in shooting
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

A shooting spree in Brgy. Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, involving five unidentified suspects, claimed the life of a person linked to illegal activities, and caused injuries to five others, Saturday.

Police chief Supt. Salvador Dagoon said yesterday that the victim, identified as Leo Arante, who is reportedly linked to illegal activities, succumbed to 10 gunshot wounds.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, acting provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said they have received reports that the suspects are members of the New People’s Army, and that the killing was ordered by the leadership of the rebel group.

Expect a wet Holy Week
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Expect a rainy Holy Week in Negros Occidental.

Eric Villaluna, Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Team officer-in-charge, said rains brought on by a low pressure area, which resulted from the weakening of tropical depression "Domeng", are expected during the entire week.

The province will experience rains, with no expected heavy winds, he said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the low pressure area, spotted off Guiuan, Eastern Samar, was causing the rains in many parts of the country yesterday.