COCKFARM WATCHMAN CASE
RPA admits abduction;
belies slay-try charges

The Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade vehemently denied allegations of cock farm watchman Elmer Toreja that they were behind his abduction and near salvaging.

Ka Victorino Sumulong, RPA-ABB spokesman, however, admitted that they arrested Toreja for endorsement to the Murcia Police Station, in response to numerous complaints aired against Toreja by fighting cock breeders. Toreja, alias Dodoy, who sought refuge at the Murcia Police Station, alleged that he was taken at gunpoint by about 10 to 12 RPA members led by a certain Joshua from the cock farm of Newton Flores, on Wednesday night in Brgy. Alegria, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

While undergoing tactical interrogation, Toreja, in a radio interview, also claimed he was also mauled and hit with a rifle by his "abductors." He, however, said he was able to escape from his abductors and was not hit even when they fired at him.

Sumulong, in a statement, justified the arrest of Toreja, which he said, formed part of what he calls "police function" of the RPA-ABB, as stipulated in the peace agreement signed between them and the government in previous years.

Based on their investigations, Sumulong said Toreja is the prime suspect in the stealing of gamefowls of Leo Nabajas, Bingbong Coscolluela, Manolo Escalante, Joe Laurenio, Al Garcia and Roger Buenaflor in Brgy. Alegria, Murcia, and that of Henry Nagon in Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod City.

He further claimed that it was the fighting cock breeders who identified Toreja as the prime suspect in the ransacking of their respective farms.

Police investigations show that Toreja who was previously charged and convicted for theft and illegal possession of firearms, had already served his sentence and managed to work later in the cock farm of Flores in Brgy. Alegria, Murcia.

Meanwhile, Ben Solilapsi, Alab Katipunan spokesman, yesterday encouraged Toreja to file a formal complaint against the RPA-ABB before the Joint Enforcement Monitoring Committee, which oversees the RPA-government agreement.

Solilapsi added that he will request the Commission on Human Rights to also investigate the allegations of Toreja.

Sumulong maintained they had no intention to salvage Toreja, contrary to his claims.*GPB

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Cops launch
'BACOLOD' thrust for 2006

Bacolod police director, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, has presented to Mayor Evelio Leonardia the 7-priority concerns for 2006 of the Bacolod City Police called "BACOLOD," a press release from the City Hall said yesterday.

Merced said the acronym BACOLOD stands for B - Bantay terorismo, A - Andam Durugista, C - Control sang krimen sa kalye, O - Obserbahan ang trapiko, L - Lider ang pulis sa katawhay kag kalinong, O - On-time ang pulis, and D - Dungganon ang pulis."

He added that the motto of the police this year is "Best in 2006." Merced and the 10 police station commanders called on the mayor Thursday to reiterate their support to the Leonardia administration.

Merced presented to Leonardia his plans and suggestions for a more effective crime-fighting operation this year, including the "MassKara Operation" which would entail the automatic and simultaneous movement of all precinct commaners during entrapment operations, particularly the 2 to 5 minute response time of the police, using the Nissan Terrano vehicles. He also suggested that big bikes be used in pursuit operations because these are more manageable in traffic jam situations.

Leonardia, on the other hand, aired his concern over the continued pilferage of electrical wires especially in the boundaries of the cities of Bacolod and Talisay.

Merced vowed to monitor these areas and to find out whether the stolen items are being sold in junkshops in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, the press release added.*

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Snatcher apprehended,
marijuana recovered

A teenager was arrested by the Bacolod police for allegedly snatching the gold necklace of an 18-year-old woman in front of the Robinson's Place Bacolod in Brgy. Mandalagan at about 8 p.m. Thursday.

Complainant Salvacio Morales Paterne, 18, of Alicante, E.B. Magalona town, Negros Occidental, reported to Police Precinct 3 that Arnold Tamayo Flores, 19, married, of Purok Kalubihan, Doña Juliana Subdivision, Brgy. Taculing in the city, suddenly grabbed her necklace with a gold pendant while she was standing outside the mall, police reports said. Paterne said she was able to ask for help prompting Police Officer 1 Miguelito Perez, detailed at the Regional Mobile Group in Victorias City who happened to be in the area, to respond which led to the arrest of Flores and recovery of her necklace.

Bystanders in the area mobbed Flores, who was later brought to Police Precinct 3 for further investigation. In a body search, PO2 Jeffrey Sellado confiscated marijuana leaves with fruiting tops from Flores, police reports also said.*DMG

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