The Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center needs additional firearms to augment its old Remington shotguns, some of which need repairs.

Provincial jail warden Jeffrey Araula said he is requesting for 10 .45 caliber pistols worth P250,000 at P25,000 each, and are China-made.

The short arms are needed in escorting detainees during court hearings and during shipment of convicts to the national penitentiary in Muntilupa, Metro Manila, he said. Araula said the jail has several armalite rifles and 12-gauge shotguns.

Meanwhile, water meter thefts in Dumaguete has apparently been stopped with the filing of charges against three suspects, all minors, who were caught in the act of stealing water meters in remote barangays.

Dumaguete City Water District general manager Esperatu Dicen has vowed to pursue the charges against the culprits who have victimized more than 60 water meter owners in different areas of the city. The water district could not have done this without the cooperation of barangay officials and residents in the affected areas, he said.

Dicen said he does not discount the possibility that the series of thefts is also drug-related, aside from personal gains, as motive.*JG

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