Judge metes
rapist 120 years jail term
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A San Enrique fighting cock handler was sentenced yesterday to 120 years imprisonment for three counts of rape committed against his 13-year-old neighbor in 1995.

Executive Judge Frances Guanzon of the Bago City Regional Trial Court sentenced Severo Parsan, alias Vero, to reclusion perpetua on three counts and ordered him to pay P150,000 in damages.

The victim was 13 years 11 months old when she was raped by Parsan, who was 38, on March 20, April 19 and June 4 in 1995 causing her to become pregnant, Guanzon noted.

A tanod in Barangay Caningay, Candoni died and his two children were seriously injured, when their neighbor hacked them with a long bolo (talibong), Wednesday night.

Inspector Anthony Caña of the Candoni police station said Joebert Lopez, 41, died from hack wounds on his head and neck, when his neighbor suspect Edwin Espares responded to his challenge to fight him.

Espares was still at-large as of press time.

An American Embassy official was in Negros Occidental yesterday to explore economic prospects in the province, an indication of increased interest of American investors in the growing Philippine economy.

“I'm here because I want to get an idea of what the situation is in this part of the country in order to more effectively see what kind of policies we can implement to improve the economic situation, increase trade, investment, and job growth,” Larry Memmott, counselor for economic affairs of the US Embassy in the Philippines, told the DAILY STAR.

Memmott said he was getting information to provide investors and looking at what can be done to make the economy function more effectively.