Cadiz police chief
ordered suspended
FOR MAKING WRONG ARREST – OMBUDSMAN
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Chief Inspector Jefferson Descalllar, Cadiz police chief, was meted a one month suspension without pay for simple misconduct, in connection with the arrest and detention of a person mistaken to be one of the most-wanted persons in Western Visayas.

The penalty was recommended by the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and other Law Enforcement Offices.

Similar charges filed against Supt. Cornelio Defensor, chief of the Western Visayas police Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division, and PO1 Richard Lampon, were dismissed by the Ombudsman after complainant Marcelino Palomo executed an affidavit of desistance.

Andy Alvarez photo

Fireworks at the Capitol Lagoon Park last night*

Fireworks lit up skies with radiant sparks and brightly colored animal lanterns paraded down Bacolod City 's streets last night to usher in the year of the rat and kick off the annual BacoLaodiat Festival.

The Negros Tsinoy, together with officials of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City , also lighted incense as a symbol of unity during the program at 6 th Street in Bacolod City that opened the 2008 BacoLaodiat.

Present were Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco, Board Members Melvin Ibañez and Gary Acuña, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Catalino Alisbo, Homer Bais, and Roberto Rojas, Bacolod Tourism Council chairman John Orola, U.S. Embassy vice consul Sarah Peck, and members of the Negros Tsinoy led by William Ong, among others.

Aviation security and environment officials Wednesday seized spiders, beetles and centipedes that two persons were trying to smuggle though the New Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City .

The attempt to bring them out of the province was in violation of Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Joan Gerangaya said yesterday.

He said they were detected when the box in which they were placed, passed through an X-ray machine and the aviation security personnel informed the environment office.