Man gets 3 months
for injuring reveler

The Kabankalan Regional Trial Court judge recently sentenced a man to three months imprisonment for attacking a fellow reveler in a riot at a fiesta in Cauayan town, Negros Occidental nearly five years ago.

Joey Inapan, 29, was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of less serious physical injuries and meted three months in jail by Kabankalan RTC Branch 61 Judge Henry Arles. He was penalized for hitting Gen Mark Torres with a beer bottle on the head, near a disco hall in Cauayan on December 22, 2003.

Inapan was originally charged with frustrated murder but Arles said that, based on the evidence presented in court, he did not intend to kill Torres.

Inapan denied attacking Torres, saying he was waiting for a bus near the disco hall when the brawl between the complainant's group and their rivals happened.

Inapan's nephew, Ian Ray Cantutay, however, told the court it was his uncle who, indeed, attacked Torres.

In his eight-page decision, Arles credited Cantutay's testimony, saying he could have not testified against his own uncle unless the accusation was true.

The judge also ordered Inapan to pay Torres P50,000 for actual damages, P15,000 for attorney's fees, and the P1,000 per court appearance fee for the complainant's lawyer.*PP

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Detainee recaptured

The 20-year-old rape suspect who escaped from detention three weeks ago was recaptured Thursday, the police said yesterday.

Avelino Romanillos was arrested by Police Station 10 officers at their house in Purok Roseville, Brgy. Handumanan, in Bacolod , at about 7 p.m. Thursday, precinct commander, Inspector Adonis Rosales, said.

He said they had been watching Romanillos' house since he fled from their station on January 4.

Romanillos, who was accused of rape by his live-in partner, refused to go out of the house first but was eventually persuaded by his parents to surrender, Rosales said.

He said they were determined to recapture him “by all means” because his escape is their liability, especially for PO1 Rene Labating, the jailer on detail when he fled.

The administrative report against Labating over Romanillos' escape is still pending at the Bacolod City Police Office's Intelligence and Investigation Branch, Rosales said.

He said they have temporarily handcuffed Romanillos in his lock-up cell, because of his tendency to flee but will take off them once he shows good behavior.*PP

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Cops vow to heighten
drive vs. teenage gangs

The police yesterday vowed to crack down on teenage gangs involved in the series of firecracker explosions that damaged three vehicles in Bacolod City recently.

Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, said they will step up their drive against gangs that are starting to proliferate again in the city.

Investigations of Police Station 1 and 2 point to newly-founded teenage fraternities as behind the explosions of firecrackers thrown at vehicles parked at SM City, the Social Security System, and the Pearl Manor Pension House.

Probers say the incidents may be part of the initiation rites for neophyte gang members.

Police Station 1 commander, Chief Inspector Noel Manaay, meanwhile, said they are now tracking down the suspects.

Gumban said their investigations also show that while fraternities used to target out-of-school minors for membership, they now concentrate their recruitment on schools.

The BCPO had also launched a similar campaign against teenage gangs in the city last year, over repeated unprovoked attacks on pedestrians by unidentified men, particularly near Police Station 6 in Brgy. Taculing.*PP

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