Man faces raps for
stabbing boy

Homicide charges were filed yesterday against one of the suspects in the fatal stabbing of Jason Esmael, 16, in Bacolod City on New Year's Day, the police said.

Riovel Qrranquez alias “Kokoy”, 18, was charged at the Bacolod City Prosecutor's Office for the stabbing of Esmael at the Capitol Lagoon at about 2 a.m. Tuesday, Police Station 2 commander, Inspector Rie Gumban, said.

Qrranquez admitted to the stabbing, saying he just defended himself when the victim and his companion mauled him without provocation, while he was talking to his friend at the Capitol Lagoon at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Edilberto Tecosta alias “Jun-Jun”, 18, on the other hand, was released because he did not have any participation in the incident, based on his testimony, Gumban said.

The two minors, who were brought to the Bacolod City Social Development Center , are also set for release, he added.

The suspects surrendered to Brgy. 10 kagawad, Dexter Yap, hours after the attack on Esmael.

Tecosta's mother, Norma, meanwhile, has appealed to the police to release him as Qrranquez had already admitted to stabbing Esmael.*PP

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Bacolod police to set up
tourist assistance desks

Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, yesterday said they will form tourist assistance desks in police stations in support of the tourism program of the city.

The project is aimed at organizing a separate group of policemen to help tourists, and it will be among the priorities of the Bacolod police this year, Quebrar said.

Selected officers from the city's 10 police precincts will undergo seminars to prepare them for the program, he added.

Security for tourists in the city and other assistance will be among the responsibilities of those chosen, Quebrar said.

He also said they will step up their operations against commercial sex workers, ambulant vendors, and beggars, at the public plaza.

Police Station 1 commander, Chief Inspector Noel Manaay, said that they will try to restore the plaza to its “old glory” when tourists, both local and foreign, go and stay there for picnics and recreation.

He said that with the present state of the place, where CSW's, illegal vendors, and beggars, loiter and transact businesses, the public, tourists in particular, hesitate to go and stay there.

Candy vendors, manicurists, and shoe repairmen stay at the plaza during the day, while CSW's and pimps loiter there at night, offering services to pedestrians.

The police conducted raids against CSW's in the area last year amid reports that women infected with sexually-transmitted diseases were operating there.

The Bacolod City Legal Office had also recently cleared vendors who have been mounting makeshift stalls at the streets at the downtown area.*PP

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