By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An Ayungon barangay captain is currently in critical condition after ingesting poison in a reported suicide attempt.
Police identified the victim as Barangay Captain Sunny Calderon, an official for the Negros Oriental town’s Barangay Mabato.
Ayungon municipal police chief, Police Major Romel Luga, said Calderon drank pesticide in attempt to kill himself. However, his plans were thwarted after his family discovered him lying down and vomiting.
The barangay captain was rushed to a hospital in Dumaguete City for treatment, where he is presently under observation in an intensive care unit.
Earlier, Police Regional Office-7 said Calderon could be held liable for the deaths of four police officers at the hands of New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents, accusing him of failing to inform authorities that his area had a high presence of rebel activity./DGB, WDJ