P1M lost in fire

Around P1 million worth of properties were razed in a fire that raged for more than an hour in Bacolod City early yesterday, the fire bureau said.

The fire, which started at about 1:45 a.m. , burned down the guest room of the bungalow of Manuel Astorga at No. 989 Marapara Street , Brgy. Villamonte, in Bacolod , FO2 Gem Jacildo of the Bureau of Fire Protection, said.

FO3 Harry Fernandez, meanwhile, said in a television interview that the fire, which was put out at about 3 a.m. , may have been caused by an unattended candle in the guest room or an electrical connection between Astorga's house and his neighbor.

Yesterday's fire call was the second this month. The first had destroyed an estimated P400,000 in properties at the corner of Rosario-Henares streets, in Bacolod Friday.

Astorga sustained injuries but no other injuries were reported, Jacildo said.

Six fire trucks including those from the BFP and the Amity and Chamber fire brigades responded to the incident, Jacildo said.*PP

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‘ Sale of rugby to
minor prohibited'

The police yesterday called on hardware shops in Bacolod City to strictly observe the ordinance governing the sale of volatile substance like rugby to minors to avoid sanctions because of the continued presence of rugby users in the city.

Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, said hardware stores should not sell rugby to teenagers to help in the campaign against its abuse.

Violators could be fined or even imprisoned if proved to have sold the substance to minors, who usually sniff it at sidewalks at the downtown area, Quebrar said.

Yesterday, nine teenagers were endorsed by the Anti-Mendicancy Task Group to Police Station 1 for allegedly sniffing rugby.

Last year, a 14-year-old girl told the police she was gang-raped by six rugby boys at the downtown area.

The Bacolod Social Development Center is tasked to rehabilitate children found to be sniffing rugby.

Meanwhile, hardware outfits said they have been complying with the city ordinance regulating the sale of rugby.

Edwin Balatucan of Kingston Hardware at Gonzaga Street , in Bacolod , said it is their policy not to sell rugby to children.

Those who will likely sniff it can easily be detected by their behavior anyway, Balatucan said.

Jackie Salusay of Integral Hardware at Luzuriaga Street , meanwhile, said, they have been instructed by their boss not to sell rugby to minors and students.

Quebrar, however, said, that while bigger hardware shops abide by the ordinance, rugby users could also get the substance from other sources such as shoe repairmen.*PP

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Trisikad driver nabbed
for threatening enforcer

A trisikad driver was arrested in Bacolod City yesterday for allegedly threatening a traffic enforcer with a knife, the police said.

Myco Amocen, 35, was nabbed by Police Station 1 officers at the trisikad waiting area in Purok Dawis, Brgy. 14, in Bacolod , after he allegedly pointed a knife at Mars Urbanozo, a member of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, at about 3:30 p.m. yesterday, police records show.

Urbanozo told the police he had advised Amocen not to go beyond their route at the corner of San Sebastian-San Juan streets, when the driver challenged him to “take off his uniform”, while pulling the bladed weapon from his waistband.

Amocen denied threatening the traffic enforcer and said several witnesses can attest to this.

The police detained Amocen and impounded his trisikad at the station yesterday.

The Bacolod City Police Office Traffic Management Unit and the BTAO have been campaigning for trisikad drivers to stay within the bounds of the barangays they serve to avoid apprehension.*PP

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