8 nabbed for rape, murder

POLICE in Negros Occidental scored once again on the campaign against wanted persons following the arrest of eight suspects with standing arrest warrants over the weekend.

Police Chief Inspector Jefferson Descallar, chief of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office’s (Noppo) Operations and Plans Branch, said the relentless campaign of the Negros Occidental police against wanted persons resulted in the arrest of Joan Labarga, 29, of Moises Padilla town, for murder.

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Labarga was collared by elements of La Castellana Police Station led by Police Inspector Romeo Vargas by virtue of an arrest warrant for murder issued by Judge Francisco Rodriguez of Regional Trial Court Branch 63-La Carlota City.

Rodriguez recommended no bail for Labarga's provisional release.

Meanwhile, Bago City police personnel led by Senior Police Officer 1 Patricio Panhilason arrested businesswoman Salvacion Bibit, 55, and Gerly Bibit, 31, both residents of Sitio Pinanoyan in Barangay Sarait, Bago City last Friday for the crime of "attempted murder.”

Judge Frances Guanzon of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 62 recommended a bail of P120,000 each for the suspects' temporary release.

Other wanted persons arrested in the province were Leorey Gilbaliga for the crime of frustrated murder, Richard Resuma and Ariel Mesias for attempted murder, Teresita Cauntoy for grave oral defamation, Allan Moguad for frustrated homicide, and a 16-year-old minor in La Carlota City for two counts of rape. (GMD)