The Regional Trial Court dismissed yesterday for lack of merit the petition filed by Phuture Visions Inc. Co. against the city officials for implementing a closure order against its bingo outlet at SM City Bacolod that was operating without a Mayor's Permit.

In his 17-page decision dated March 20, RTC Judge Ramon Delariarte said the petitioner has no right to operate bingo games at SM Bacolod because it does not have a Business Permit and has not paid the assessment for bingo operation. Hence, he said, respondents acted lawfully in stopping petitioner's bingo operation on March 2 and closing its establishment for lack of business permit.

The order was issued without prejudice to the petitioners filing an application for a Mayor's Permit specifically for bingo operation.

Iggy's wife seeks
court protection order
HER CLAIMS HAVE NO BASIS - SOLON
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Alicia and Ignacio Arroyo in 2004*

The estranged wife of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) has filed a petition for a permanent protection order against him claiming her life is in danger, but last night he said it is not true, and "Maybe she is just scared of her own shadow."

Lorna Kapunan, lawyer of Alicia "Aleli" Arroyo, former chairperson of the Philippine Stock Exchange, told the DAILY STAR that the petition of her client was filed before Branch 107 of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City Tuesday.

In January Rep. Arroyo filed a petition for joint custody of their 9-year-old daughter. The solon left their home in La Vista Subdivision in 2006 and his wife is accusing him of having an affair with Grace Ibuna, and of using his credit card to buy the woman expensive jewelry and cars, Kapunan said.

Malaga farmers mass up
to oppose TFM installation
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Members of the Hacienda Malaga Independent Workers Union and the Hacienda Malaga-Cuenca Multi-Purpose Cooperative began massing up at the entrance of Hacienda Velez-Malaga in La Castellana shortly before midnight yesterday on receiving information that the Department of Agrarian Reform was going to install farmer beneficiaries from Task Force Mapalad.

A source said they received information that the Regional Mobile Group in Victorias was going to assist the DAR in the installation of the TFM members early today.

No DAR official could be reached for confirmation up to press time last night.