IN BACOLOD
P.5 M lost as blaze hits
3 establishments

About P500,000 worth of properties were razed by a 30-minute fire that hit a commercial building in Bacolod City yesterday, the Bureau of Fire Protection said.

The booth of Kotur tailoring services was burned down while the rooms of roast chicken shop, Saitino’s, and those of the Agencia Bacolod pawnshop, near the Lopue’s East Center in Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod, were damaged during the fire that started at about 3:58 p.m. yesterday, FO3 Jerry Resuma of the BFP said.

Case investigator, FO3 Harry Fernandez, said that, based on his initial findings, the cause of the flames that originated from the tailoring shop, was “electrical in nature.”

The three commercial outfits were tenants of the building of Jose Pancobilla, Resuma said.

No injuries were reported after the flames were put out at about 4:28 p.m., he said.

Six fire trucks, including four from the BFP, and one each from the Amity and Chamber volunteer fire brigades, responded to the call, aside from ambulances from the Chamber and the 117 Emergency services, Resuma said.*PP

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2 NPA militiamen surrender

Two members of the New People’s Army “Yunit Militia” surrendered to the 11th Infantry Battalion Special Operations Team in Guihulngan, while soldiers arrested a farmer in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, for illegal possession of firearms, military records show.

Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, 11th IB commanding officer, yesterday identified the two rebel returnees as Marcos Montecillo and Saturnino Bacquilta, who confessed to having been members of the “Yunit Militia” of the Barangay Revolutionary Council, that was organized by the CPP-NPA in Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan.

Gacal said Montecillo and Bacquilta were recruited by Veteliano Jakosalem, alias Motor, who chaired the BRC and served as party-list Bayan Muna chairman in Brgy. Trinidad, a rebel influenced barangays in Guihulngan.

Jakosalem who also admitted being the leader of “Lambat Paniktik” of the New People’s Army in the barangay, surrendered to 2Lt. Von Ryan Gomez, team leader of 11th IB Special Operations Team, on April 19.

This was after his deputy, Diosdado Cobol, also gave himself up earlier to Gomez, and surrendered a 357 magnum caliber revolver.

On the other hand, a certain Leonardo Nipalar, alias Lindoy, was recently arrested by 11th IB Special Operations Team members in Sitio Spur 2, Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava after he indiscriminately fired his sub-machine gun, and caused panic among the residents.

Gacal said the 11th IB soldiers were accompanied by Minapasok barangay tanods and kagawads in arresting Nipalar.

An Ingram machine pistol with nine ammunition was recovered from Nipalar.*GPB

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IN CALATRAVA
Mayor says Cafgus
to get allowances

Calatrava town mayor, Alfonso Baguio Jr., yesterday assured the 24 members of his municipality’s special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit that they will receive their additional monthly allowances as soon as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approves the supplemental budget he has submitted.

Baguio said in a telephone interview that as soon as the SP approves their supplemental allocation of P312 per CAFGU member, they will give out the incentives this week or next week.

He explained that the budget was delayed when opposition members of their Sangguniang Bayan blocked it in January.

The funds were later approved when one of the administration councilors, who had left the country, returned and voted for it and when their vice mayor also favored it.

Each CAFGU member receives an honorarium of more than P2,000 for their 15-day shifts, Baguio said.*PP

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