Another fetus found

Another dead fetus, between eight and nine months old and placed in a handbag, was found by a trisikad driver under the bridge of the Maupay creek in front of the Silos Building, at San Juan Street in Bacolod City at about 6 a.m. yesterday.

Two weeks earlier, a dead baby boy, about six to seven months old placed in a paper bag and deposited at the baggage counter of the a department store at downtown Bacolod was also found by a security guard, police reports said.

Trisikad driver Ares Turbanos Pagalilawan, 33, married, of Purok Dawis, Brgy. 14, yesterday told the police that he was about to answer the call of nature under the bridge when he spotted a dark blue handbag near the creek.

Curiously, Pagalilawan said, he opened the handbag and he found the dead male fetus weighing about nine to 10 pounds wrapped in a white cloth with fresh bloodstains. He said its umbilical cord was neatly cut and tied.

Security guard Edgar Garcia of Multiplier Security Agency told the police he was roving at the area of the bodega of the Lopue's East San Sebastian when he saw a woman about 28 to 30 years old in the act of throwing a blue handbag under the bridge at about 2 a.m. yesterday.

He said the woman immediately fled towards the Educational Training and Center School after sensing his presence, police reports said. PO3 Celito Dullan of Police Precinct 1 yesterday said his investigation showed the baby was still alive before he was placed in the bag and thrown into the creek.

He said he brought the fetus to the Bacolod City Health Office for proper disposition yesterday.*DMG

back to top

Traffic rules will be
strictly implemented

Bacolod City police director, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, said yesterday he will arrest any person caught violating traffic rules and regulations in Bacolod City.

Merced said nobody is exempted from following traffic rules and regulations and that he has directed the Bacolod traffic personnel to strictly implement traffic rules in the streets to reduce traffic congestion.

He said he has organized a traffic mobile patrol whose members are now waiting for their deputization order from the Land Transportation Office so they can effect arrests of traffic violators.

Earlier, two Bacolod residents had filed complaints of conduct unbecoming of a police officer against Merced when he requested one of them to move her car to prevent traffic problems in front of Centerline Accessories at Lacson Street in the city.

Merced said a relative of the complainants called his office and set an appointment with him. He said he wants the case to be settled as soon as possible because there was nothing extraordinary on it.

Meanwhile, Merced also warned jeepney owners and operators to refrain from accepting duplicated franchises or fake franchises because this is not prohibited. As of yesterday, Merced said, at least 15 duplicated franchises of public utility jeepneys have been confiscated.*DMG

back to top

Man wounded in shooting

A 30-year-old man was wounded in a shooting incident in Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City at about 5:25 a.m. yesterday, police reports said.

Rushed to the Riverside Medical Center was Francis Bendijo Policarpio of Purok Pinetree, Brgy. Bata, with a gunshot wound in the left portion of his hip. He was allegedly shot by Ceferino Santia Jr., 25, of Purok Villagracia, Brgy. Mandalagan, Senior Insp. Joeresty Coronica, Police Precinct 3 commander told the DAILY STAR in a phone interview yesterday.

Coronica said the shooting reportedly stemmed from an old grudge between Policarpio and Santia.

Initial reports said Santia was on his way home when Policarpio flagged down the tricycle he was riding and poked an alleged .38 caliber revolver at him. Policarpio reportedly fired at Santia but it did not fire, Coronica said.

Santia reportedly went home and took an improvised 12-guage shotgun, locally known as "sumpak", and attacked the victim in his house.

Coronica said they are still conducting a manhunt operation for Santia who was still at-large up to press time last night.*DMG

back to top