Fire kills 3 siblings
BY SHIELA GELERA

Three children were killed while their grandmother was injured in a fire that hit six houses in Purok Kawayanan 2, Brgy. Handumanan in Bacolod City, at about 12:30 p.m. yesterday.

The fatalities were identified by Senior Insp. Ruel Culanag, Station 10 chief, as Rica, 16, a deaf-mute, Rex, 7, and Arvin, 3, all surnamed Montero. Injured was Estalita Montero, 68.

The uncle of the victims Simon Tiopez, 22, said Estalita, who was watching the children since their parents were working, left the rice she was cooking unattended on a stove and locked the main door of the house, before going to her house nearby.

Owners of burned area in
city want land back
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Residents of Purok Masinadyahon, Brgy. 10, whose houses were destroyed by the fire that broke out Monday morning, are seeking shelter assistance from the Bacolod City government since the property where their houses once stood is privately owned.

The fire victims are temporarily sheltered at the BAYS Center near the barangay and are being provided relief and food assistance by the city, non-government organizations, religious and business groups in Bacolod City including SM Foundation. Some affected families opted to stay with their relatives within the barangay.

Acting Bacolod City Social Services and Development head Pacita Tero yesterday requested that relief items and goods for the fire victims be delivered to the DSSD so the distribution will be centralized.

Negros crime volume up
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Crime volume in Negros Occidental has gone up by more than 500 percent in the first 45 days of 2014, compared to the same period last year, police records show.

This is because traffic incidents, petty crimes recorded in barangay courts and cases of violence against women and children, are now included in crime statistics, as ordered by Camp Crame, which was not done before, explained by Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, who is provincial police director, said.

The crime volume went up from 744 from January to Feb. 15 this year, compared to 112 in the same period last year.