IN MOISES PADILLA
Cops face blank wall
on slay of Intel officer

Police continue to face a blank wall in the identification of the assassins of T/Sgt. Abraham Infante who was gunned down on Aug. 14 in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Chief Inspector Rosauro Francisco, Moises Padilla police chief, yesterday said family members of Infante and witnesses in the killing are hesitant to cooperate with them, for fear for their lives. Infante was the third intelligence operative of the 11th Infantry Battalion assassinated by New People's Army hitmen, military said.

Francisco said he has enlisted the help of the 11th IB to convince the witnesses to help them.

Military records show that 25 civilians, five soldiers and two policemen were gunned down by rebels in northern and central Negros, from 2004 up to this month.

Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil, 11th IB commanding officer, yesterday said manhunt operations on the assassins of Infante are still going on.

The two other 11th IB intelligence operatives also assassinated in Guihulngan, Oriental Negros, and in Manapla, Negros Occidental, earlier, were T/Sgt. Tranquilino Malcredo and Sgt. Diosdado Sudayan.

Manangquil advised his men not to lower their vigilance.*GPB

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RAPE OF MINOR
Police pursuing
3 more suspects

Three suspects in the gang-rape of a minor who have remained at-large are being pursued by the Bacolod police who believe they have not yet left the city, Senior Inspector Joeresty Coronica, Police Station 1 commander said.

Coronica said the suspects may only be hiding in Bacolod.

The teenaged victim, whose name is being withheld, told the DAILY STAR that her "friends" and three others, took turns in molesting her in an abandoned lot near a department store at San Sebastian Street in the city at about 4:30 p.m. on August 20.

She said that she left her mother and three brothers and started using rugby when she was just 12 years old because her mother had been hitting her. Three of the suspects, known by their aliases, "Ex-con", "Domino", and "Stephen", admitted to having raped the girl when they were arrested by Police Station 1 and BCPO Intelligence and Investigation Branch operatives led by Coronica in a string of operations Monday.

The victim is now in the custody of the BCPO Women's and Children's Concerns Desk, which will handle her case.*PP

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Illegal gun raps filed
vs. 'gang member'

The police yesterday filed illegal gun possession charges against a college student, and an alleged member of the "Bloods" gang in Bacolod City who was arrested Monday.

Police Station 2 commander Rie Gumban told the DAILY STAR they had filed charges for violation of Republic Act 8294, or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives against Leonard Poblacion, 20, of Purok Lilang, Brgy. Banago, Bacold at the city Prosecutor's Office yesterday.

Poblacion, an alleged member of Bloods, was nabbed by Police Station 2 officers led by PO2 Rolito Roldan for alleged possession of a homemade .38 caliber revolver, known as "sumpak", in Purok Kabuhi, Brgy. 10, Bacolod City at about 3:20 p.m. on August 20.

A concerned citizen told the police that they were alarmed by his presence in the area.

Poblacion admitted being a member of Bloods, but added that the gun was just lent to him by a friend. Last week, an alleged member of "Crips", the Bloods' rival gang, surrendered to the police after allegedly shooting to death the Bloods' founder.

Bacolod City Police Office Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar had earlier directed the 10 police station commanders in the city to neutralize teenage gangs in their area.*PP

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