Security guard draws
15 years for homicide

A former security guard has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for the fatal shooting of a driver in Ilog town, Negros Occidental, almost 10 years ago.

Joelito Pandacan, 44, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of homicide by Regional Trial Court Branch 61 Judge Henry Arles for shooting and killing Renato Peñaranda, 52, with a handgun, in Hacienda Soledad, Brgy. Manalad, Ilog, on Dec. 27, 1998.

Arles ordered the immediate transfer of Pandacan to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, and for him to pay Peñaranda’s family P50,000 as indemnity for his death.

Pandacan was originally charged with murder but Arles said there was no evidence of premeditation on his part.

Court records show that Pandacan, a security guard at the hacienda, was apparently irritated by the victim’s shouting.

Peñaranda was calling his wife, Evelyn, to go home after she ran to their neighbor’s house because of an argument, the court was told.

Pandacan, however, denied the charge, saying it was Evelyn who had accidentally shot him when they grappled for a gun while they were quarrelling in their house just about 20 meters from his post.

Nerio Obiena, a defense witness, told the court that he saw the Peñaranda couple quarreling in their house through a window while he was at a store.

Concepcion Peñaranda, Renato’s daughter-in-law and Pandacan’s god-sister, however, told the court that it was the security guard who had shot the victim after telling her that he would be the one who will silence him if she could not do it.

Arles said Concepcion’s statements could not be negated as she had positively identified Pandacan and that she didn’t have any ill motive to testify falsely against him, noting that they are god-siblings.

Arles also said that Obiena could not be considered a disinterested witness because he was Pandacan’s brother-in-law and that there was no other witness to corroborate his claim.*PP

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1ST QUARTER
E.B. Magalona,
Cadiz PNP top rating

The E.B. Magalona and Cadiz City police stations topped the performance evaluation rating among the 31 city and municipal police stations in Negros Occidental, in the first quarter of 2008.

Police records show the E.B. Magalona police, which had consistently topped the performance evaluation rating for four quarters last year, bested 18 other municipal police stations in the province.

In the city category, the Cadiz police dislodged the Talisay police, which settled for second in the rating, while the San Carlos police slid to third spot, police records show.

The Manapla police is next to E.B. Magalona in the municipal category, with Binalbagan in third spot.

The 613rd Provincial Mobile Group, which used to lag behind in the evaluation rating, occupied the top slot in the first quarter of this year, followed by the 614th and 612nd PMGs.

Chief Inspector Samuel Mina commands the E.B. Magalona Police Station, while Chief Inspector Jefferson Descallar and Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel headed the Cadiz City police and 613rd PMG.

The 31 police stations and four provincial mobile groups under the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office are being rated every quarter of the year on community relations, operation and intelligence work, management of manpower, and logistics.*GPB

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Man in stabbing facing
attempted murder raps

Frustrated murder charges were lodged against a man who stabbed his drinking partners in Bacolod City Monday night, the police said yesterday.

Rogelio Vicentino, 52, was charged at the City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday, after stabbing Oliver Macatibo, 24, and his uncle, Joel Samson, 40, near a gasoline station at Purok 6, Magsungay, Brgy. Singcang, at about 9 p.m. Monday, Police Station 8 commander, Senior Inspector Placido Gentoleo, said.

Vicentino initially fled to Brgy. 36 but later surrendered to a barangay official who turned him over to Police Station 8, Gentoleo said.

Macatibo and Samson were treated at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, PO1 Ronie Benitua said.

PO3 Narciso Obregoso reported that Benitua said Vicentino waylaid Macatibo at the gasoline station after the three had a drinking spree. He also said the attack was triggered by old grudges between Vicentino and the two victims.

Vicentino, meanwhile, said their conflict was due to differences among their friends.

Samson, who was stabbed on the right forearm, said he and his companions went after Vicentino who stabbed his nephew.*PP

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