Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Police: Holy Week generally peaceful By Nicolas C. Delfin and Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
DESPITE reports of six deaths in different parts of Negros Occidental during the observance of Holy Week, both the police and Army declared this Christian celebration as generally peaceful.
“We’re very thankful that no untoward incident happened during the observance of Holy Week,” said Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Gregorio Fajardo.
Provincial Police Director Rosendo Franco, on the other hand, said maintaining police visibility anywhere in the province helped much in attaining peace and order.
These include monitoring all seaports, airport, bus terminals and other public places, including beaches and resorts in the province.
Aside from police visibility and monitoring, Franco said they also conducted a round-the-clock police patrol operations and checkpoints in all strategic areas in every town and city in the province.
On the other hand, the six fatalities during the Holy Week were from Talisay City and the towns of EB Magalona, Cauayan and Ilog.
In Talisay City, an 18-year-old boy died while two of his companions were wounded after they were attacked by a knife-wielding boy 9 p.m. Friday.
Moises Cabalo of Barangay Zone 12, Talisay City died while being treated at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City.
While his two neighbor-companions, Rodrigo Dugayo, 18 and a 14-year-old boy, only sustained stab wounds in different parts of their bodies.
Police identified the suspect as Rolex Kent Guardiano, 18, of Hacienda Claparols in Barangay 15 also in Talisay City. He was arrested hours after the incident.
Love triangle was eyed as motive of the incident.
In Cauayan town, two men also died while one was injured due to “pusoy” (a card game) at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Of the two fatalities, one was identified as Pepito Tomayas, 42 of Barangay Tomena while the other one remains unidentified as of press time.
A certain Romulo Estan, 40, also of the same place survived the attack and is presently confined at CLMMRH.
The suspect, on the other hand, was only identified as a certain “Sonny” also of the same barangay. He remains at large until press time.
In Ilog, two persons also died in separate stabbing incidents on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Killed on Thursday was identified as Renante Magao, 25, of Km. 110, Barangay Dancalan.
On the other hand, Wilbert Mahinay of Km.107 also of Dancalan also died on the spot after he was stabbed by his drinking buddy identified as Renato Perez.
In E.B. Magalona, a 28-year-old man died while his male companion was severely injured in a road mishap along Hacienda Lulobcon, Barangay San Jose,8 p.m. last Monday.
Died on the spot was identified as Restituto Flores of Barangay Guimbala-on, Silay City.
His neighbor, identified as Eliseo Jibugos, 28, suffered severe injuries in different parts of his body.
The two were riding on a single motorcycle when they bumped a cargo truck parked along the highway.
Probers said the victims failed to notice the road signs installed only few feet apart at the back portion of a parked cargo truck loaded with molasses.
Police identified the driver as Roy Parpay of Pontevedra town, who at the time of the accident was having dinner in a nearby eatery along the road.
Parpay surrendered to police authorities and was detained at the E.B. Magalona Police Office but was also released later.
