LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – A 62-year-old American was allegedly robbed and killed inside his house in this city Wednesday afternoon while his Filipina wife was busy shopping at a nearby mall. George Harold Bujinowski, of Massachusetts, USA, was found dead with stab wounds at the bathroom of his house. His wife, Geneva, who first discovered the death of her husband, said the killers took away more than P400,000 in cash. Homicide Investigator PO3 Danilo Barinque said the crime took place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday as Bujinowski was left alone in the house while Geneva was out shopping. When Geneva returned home at 4 p.m., she was shocked to see her bloodied husband already sprawled on the floor of their bathroom. She immediately called up the police although the victim was already lifeless. Barinque said the police has taken custody of the cellular mobile phone of Geneva to have it checked by experts to determine if it contains any text messages that might shed light to the robbery and murder of her husband.

JEWELRY ZONE IN CEBU PUSHED

CEBU CITY — A travel organization is pushing for the creation of a jewelry zone in Cebu to further attract foreign investors and high-profile tourists, aside from providing an ideal venue for skilled jewelry makers to practice their skills and display the results of their craftsmanship. The National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS), with more than 1,200 members around the country, is pushing for the creation of such jewelry zone in Cebu to encourage the making of locally-made jewelry using diamonds, silver, and other precious stones.

"Countries abroad always promote jewelry shops offering high-end jewelry. We need to have that here," said NAITAS Chairman Emeritus Dr. Robert Lim Joseph. Creating a jewelry zone is seen as one way by which investors can be attracted to the country and further provide employment. "Cebu is the right place (for a jewelry zone) because there is already a tourism boom happening here. The jewelry zone will be an add-on to what it is currently offering to tourists," said Joseph, who is also the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia. Although there are already jewelry stores across the country, Joseph said there must be one place solely devoted for jewelry production.

Jewelry makers can import diamond, which the country lacks, and do the jewelry design here. "The Government should provide the atmosphere for this," said Joseph, adding that NAITAS will be discussing this proposal with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. (Mars Mosqueda)

BACOLOD SCHOOLS SUSPEND CLASSES DUE TO BOMB THREATS

BACOLOD CITY (PNA) — Two universities in Bacolod City suspended classes and office operations last Tuesday afternoon due to bomb threats and firecracker blast, a police report said. University of Negros Occidental officials dismissed classes after a male caller said an “explosion” will occur in the school, said Police Senior Inspector Ulyses Ortiz of Police Station 6. The threat was the first for the university, Ortiz said. The City Mobile Group, Army K-9, bomb experts and police interns of the university responded especially during the “sanitation” of the area, Ortiz said. Ortiz said a female student at the University’s Accounting Department received the call at around 3:30 p.m. and immediately reported this to the Chief Security Office which consequently alerted the Bacolod police station. A second call followed 30 minutes after the first one was received. Ortiz was to have talked with the girl last Wednesday about the details of the calls she received. A random safety and security check of all the school premises around Bacolod was also conducted Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the West Negros University also suspended night classes after a firecracker blast occurred in Room 203 of its Nursing Department, a report from the Explosive Ordinance Division of the Bacolod City Police Office said. There were no reported casualties, the Intelligence Detection Management Section said. The blast caused cracks on the room’s ceiling and walls.