Pontevedra pupils still
hounded by nightmares
DepEd official orders more stress debriefing
BY CARLA GOMEZ

An official of the Department of Education conducted an investigation Saturday on the death of two teachers in Pontevedra town, Negros Occidental, and ordered the holding of more stress debriefing sessions.

Assistant Secretary Reynaldo Antonio Laguda, chief of staff of Education Secretary Armin Luistro, met with the families of Trinidad Elementary School head Jojit Gaudiel, 40, and Grade 5 teacher Harold Salas, 37, to see how the DepEd can assist them, Dr. Juliet Jeruta, provincial schools superintendent, said.

Salas killed Gaudiel, before shooting himself in the head, and the incident was witnessed by their co-teachers and pupils of the Trinidad Elementary School on January 20.

Raps vs. cop chief,
2 others junked
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Philippine National Police has dismissed an administrative case for serious irregularity in the performance of duties against the former police chief of Pulupandan and two policemen, for lack of merit.

Former PNP 6 Regional Director Agrimero Cruz, in a decision dated December 12, copies of which were released to the media yesterday, dismissed the case filed against Senior Inspector Edfel Balibadlan, PO3 Ronald Palacios and PO2 Lelanie Lagoting.

The complaint was filed by the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office against the three policemen in relation to the incident where then Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña went to the provincial Capitol to have a debate and to challenge Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., to a boxing bout on March 25, 2013.

Animals die from
cold weather: vet
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

Livestock from four barangays in Don Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental, have reportedly died from the cold temperature since last week, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, said yesterday.

Decena said their paravets reported the deaths of two carabaos, three goats, a cow, a sow and four pigs in barangays Bunga, Kumaliskis, Pandanon and Bagong Silang. The total estimated value of these animals is about P100,000.

He said the animals showed symptoms of pneumonia, like coughing and chills.