IN SAGAY CITY
Rights commission begins
probe on shooting of farmer

The Commission on Human Rights yesterday started its probe on the reported shooting of a farmer in Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City, Negros Occidental allegedly by 602nd Regional Mobile Group troopers.

Franciso Estalani, 66, claimed he was hit in the left foot and that his two carabaos were also injured.

Supt. Rene Aspera, 6th RMG director had earlier said Estalani and the two carabaos could have been hit by stray bullets during a brief gunbattle between police troopers and a group of armed men.

CHR Investigator Ric Barraca yesterday coordinated with the Sagay police in probing the alleged shooting of Estalani.

Chief Inspector William Señoron, Sagay police chief, said he had furnished Barraca copies of his investigation reports of the alleged shootout between RMG troopers and a group of armed men, on the probe being conducted by the CHR.

Aspera claimed the RMG troopers responded to the reported presence of armed men who opened fire at them in the barangay.

Three suspects, including a wanted person, were arrested by the RMG in the barangay, following reports that a group of unidentified suspects had fired at hacienda overseer Roger Sequeles and his workers.

Arrested were Edwin Melanio, his cousin, Emilio Melanio, and Ruel Demogena.

RMG troopers also recovered a .357 caliber magnum revolver with four live ammunition and one empty shell, scythe, bolo, cane cutter, a Nokia cellphone, P2,473 in cash and personal belongings.

Aspera said his troops only returned fire from the arrested persons. Police investigations show that Edwin Melanio has a pending arrest warrant for murder in Aklan.

RMG investigations also show that Estalani is not part of the group arrested by the 602nd RMG troopers.*GPB

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Merced designated
OIC chief of BTAO

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has temporarily designated Supt. Pedro Merced, Bacolod City police officer-in-charge, also as officer-in-charge of the Bacolod Traffic Authority, effective yesterday.

As such Merced is directed to supervise and take full operational control over the traffic enforcers of the city of Bacolod.

Merced said he will handle only the operational aspect of the traffic management.

He encouraged BTAO members to cooperate with his plans for the improvement of the traffic situation in the city.

Merced said he will meet today with the BTAO and the Bacolod Traffic Management Unit members to discuss his plans and preparations. He also said he expects the BTAO and TMU to work together since they will be under one chain of command.

He said he will direct Insp. Renato Ofamen, chief of the TMU to take charge of the enforcement and operation, while traffic policemen will supervise the city traffic enforcers. Meanwhile, the BTAO will be in-charge of the education and engineering aspect of traffic management.

Merced will attend a conference on security preparation in the coming Southeast ASEAN Games in Manila next week.*DMG

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'Charged 6th RMG
troopers may be suspended'

The case of two police troopers charged with alarm and scandal is now with Supt. Rene Aspera, 6th Regional Mobile Group director.

Aspera said he has already started the pre-charge investigations on Police Officers 1 Paul Eusoya and Sergio Sisles, a day after they were turned over to him by the Bacolod City Police Office, including the affidavits executed by two complainants.

Complainants Jomalyn Hilario and Nazarene Albert, both employees of the Dam Hyper kiosk at the Bacolod Reclamation Area accused them of alarm and scandal, as well as threats.

Eusoya had fired his .45 caliber pistol, after threatening Albert, police investigations show.

Sisles and Eusoya, who were among the 6th RMG troopers deployed in Bacolod City to secure the MassKara festival on Oct. 1 to 20, had been under the influence of liquor and were in police uniforms when the incident took place, the police said.

Aspera said he can recommend a 30-day suspension for any erring police trooper under his command at his level, in line with the Philippine National Police law.

Sisles, Eusoya and PO1 Job Sobrevega who is facing a rape complaint before the Victorias City Police Station, have been disarmed and placed under restriction at police camp in Victorias City.

A teenager claimed she was molested twice by Sobrevega at the barracks of 6th RMG on Oct. 18.

Sobrevega denied the accusations, claiming he and the girl are lovers.

Supt. Modesto Sanson, police chief of Victorias, said they are now preparing rape charges against Sobrevega.*GPB

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