AMBUSH OF KAGAWAD
Frustrated murder raps
filed vs. barangay chief

Frustrated murder charges were filed against a barangay captain for his alleged participation in the ambush of his kagawad in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, police said.

Kagawad Edgar Edgardo Coleta, a supporter of Mayor Carminia Bascon, survived an ambush by a group of armed men on June 7 in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan.

Coleta identified Carabalan Brgy. Capt. Gerardo Titular as one of those who had ambushed him behind his house in the barangay.

Supt. Milko Lirazan, Himamaylan police chief, said Titular who repeatedly denied the accusation of Coleta, is nowhere to be found now.

Recovered from the ambush site were 28 spent shells of an M-16 assault rifle.

Titular is a supporter of defeated mayoralty candidate Alain Gatuslao, while Coleta who, is still in a hospital, had plans to challenge the suspect in the October barangay election.

Coleta and Titular are neighbors in the barangay.

In November last year, the house of Titular was raided by intelligence operatives of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, on suspicion that he possessed several high-powered firearms.

The police raiding team recovered a .45 caliber pistol then, it was found to be covered by a license.*GPB

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Ex-convict, pal facing
robbery-in-band charges

An ex-convict and his brother were arrested by the police for robbery charges after a chase in Bacolod City late Sunday, the Philippine National Police said.

Ivan Castillo, 30, of Purok Cadena de Amor, Brgy 29, Bacolod City, was nabbed by Bacolod City Police Office City Mobile Group and Police Station 1 officers at Purok Cadena de Amor for allegedly robbing Jocelyn Garnado at about 9 p.m. on July 1, police reports said.

Castillo's brother, Nelmar, 24, was also arrested by the police officers for allegedly trying to block the pursuing PNP men and for hiding Ivan.

The elder Castillo has reportedly served six years at the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City for homicide.

Garnado, 33, told the police that Ivan robbed her at knifepoint on a jeepney at Luzuriaga Street in Bacolod City about an hour before the suspect was arrested.

The police conducted a hot pursuit operation after Garnado positively identified Ivan through the Police Station 1 rogue's gallery.

Recovered from Castillo were a brown wallet, a necklace worth P4,000, a P1,000 gold ring, and a pair of gold earrings worth P1,000, police records showed.

Garnado's P11,400 in cash was also recovered from the suspect, police reports said.

The younger Castillo confirmed that Ivan had indeed served sentence in jail, and that, he (Nelmar) just tried to defend his brother because the police officers were hurting him when he was arrested.*PP

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Decomposed body named

The body of a trisikad driver found floating on a river in Bacolod City Sunday was identified by his mother yesterday, the police said.

Julianita Arsaga of Purok Rosal, Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City, recognized her son, Michael, 24, through a tattoo on his right forearm, Chief Inspector Noel Manaay of Police Station 6 said.

Arsaga told the police that she last saw Michael Saturday when he went with a certain "Rolin" and an alias "Buaya" to take a bath in the Tamling River in Brgy. 40, Bacolod City and had not returned since. A 14-year-old boy found Michael's decomposing body floating in the river early Sunday.

The elder Arsaga also told the police that she had heard about the discovery of the body but did not claim it, as it was already unrecognizable, Manaay said. Manaay added that they are waiting for the autopsy report to find out if there was foul play in Michael's death.*PP

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