Suspect in rape of minor
8 times nabbed by cops

A jeepney driver accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in Bacolod City was arrested by Bacolod Warrant and Subpoena Section operatives at Gonzaga-Lacson streets at about 11:30 a.m. yesterday.

Antonio Leyte Marindoque, alias "Jimboy", 25, of Salamanca, Toboso town, Negros Occidental, was arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Ray Alan Drilon of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 41, by the WSS led by SPO1 Herson Villanueva for eight counts of rape, police reports said.

No bail was recommended for Marindoque's provisional liberty, police reports also said.

The girl's father, whose name is being withheld by the DAILY STAR, yesterday said his daughter, who was a helper in a coffee shop at the Burgos Public Market in Bacolod City, was asked by Marindoque for a date in April 2004 because it was his "birthday".

He said his daughter failed to return home two days and two nights after Marindoque's invitation. Later, he learned that his daughter was staying at Marindoque's boarding house so he fetched her, he added.

He said his daughter told him Marindoque tied her legs and hands and raped her several times at his boarding house.

Marindoque, denied the accusation, saying he and the girl had a relationship and he did not force her to go with him. She agreed when he invited her to go to a motel in Bacolod City in April 2004.

Meanwhile, the WSS also arrested Edwin Bonalos Barrita, 45, at his residence in Purok Rosal, Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, at about 12:30 p.m. Monday, for frustrated murder.

Barrita was collared on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Fernando Elumba of the RTC Branch 42. Barrita's bail was set at P200,000, police reports also said.

At about 3 p.m. Monday, the WSS also apprehended Henjie Claridad Espelita, 32, at the Bacolod reclamation area in Brgy. 8, on theft charges.

Espelita, of Purok Ramon Magsaysay, Brgy. 14, Bacolod City, was arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Judge Rafael Guanco of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Branch 7, police reports also said.*DMG

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Kabankalan PNP
gets firearms, motorcycles

Firearms and motorcycles were turned over by Mayor Pedro Zayco, Jr. and Board Member Adolfo Mangao (1st district, Neg.Occ.), and Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director Supt. Charles Calima to the Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental police station headed by Supt. Roderick Augustus Alba on Monday, a press release from the station said.

Given to the city police were five M16 baby Armalite rifles, and two motorcycles for the Traffic Management Section, the press release said.

Mangao also turned over two motorcycles funded by the provincial government, through the effort of Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco.

The added equipment are aimed at boosting the capability of the police in responding to traffic problems and other crimes and emergency cases.

Meanwhile, Alba said the recent 9th Charter Day anniversary of Kabankalan was generally peaceful as only 15 incidents were reported compared to last year with 23, the press release added.*

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60-year-old from Cauayan
gets 10 years for homicide

A 60-year-old fisherman was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment yesterday after the court found him guilty of homicide, instead of murder, for stabbing dead his neighbor in Purok 3, Brgy. Masaling, Cauayan town, Negros Occidental on Feb. 18, 2003.

Judge Henry Arles of the Kabankalan Regional Trial Court meted Dionisio Fernandez six years minimum imprisonment to 10 years as maximum for homicide, after, considering the mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender. Fernandez was also ordered to indemnify the heirs of his victim, Fructuso Hesola, P50,000 for his death, P50,000 as moral damages and P40,000 as actual damages and to pay the costs, Arles said.

Court records showed Hesola, then 58, and Fernandez, then 57, got into an altercation while having drinks in a store in Brgy. Masaling, Cauayan. During the argument, Hesola poured tuba on the head of Fernandez who, as a consequence, drew out a knife and stabbed him.

Fernandez, however, denied the accusation and claimed self-defense. He testified that he, Hesola, Marcelo Ferrer and his cousin were drinking tuba in a store in the barangay when the victim splashed tuba on his head. Prosecution witness Marcelo Ferrer, then 56, who was present, testified he was in the house when he saw the stabbing.

The court found no reason to disbelieve Ferrer's testimony because he explained his presence at the scene sufficiently by him. The claim of Fernandez that he killed the victim in self-defense could not be given credence, Arles said.*DMG

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