Sugar leaders alarmed,
calling for C allocation
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The National Federation of Sugarcane Planters and the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association are calling on the Sugar Regulatory Administration to immediately allocate a portion of the country’s current sugar supply as “C”, or reserve, because of an upsurge in production and a drop in millgate prices to below P1,300 per Lkg.

Rafael Coscolluela, CONFED national president, said the allocation of “C” sugar is needed because of “a worrisome drop in sugar prices over the past several weeks, as well as the possibility of a further drop starting January 2013 due to the reduction in tariff on imported sugar to 18 percent and high inventory levels from January to May 2013, which are the peak milling months.”

SRA Administrator Ma. Regina Bautista Martin said that, as soon as she gets an estimate on production for this crop year, she will decide on whether or not to revise current sugar allocations.

Brgy head jailed for
slay of 70-year-old
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

A barangay captain is now in jail, for the death of a 70-year-old woman Friday in Brgy. Langub, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Langub barangay captain Macario Bayeta gave himself up to the Escalante police, after he allegedly shot Segundina Carbellido,70, in an incident that was an offshoot of a stone-throwing incident, police investigations show.

The .45 caliber pistol, allegedly used by Bayeta, in shooting at the house of the victim, and taken from him by two Army soldiers, and has been turned over to the Escalante police.

The number six most wanted drug personality in Western Visayas was arrested Saturday by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives during a buy-bust operation in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

PDEA regional director Edwin Layese said the arrest of Noli Mercado, alias Noy Noy, yielded 12 sachets of suspected shabu, with a market value estimated at P180,000, a digital weighing scale, and attaché case. A Nissan Sentra vehicle with plate number FDB 962 was also seized.

Layese said Mercado had been under surveillance for one week and test buy operations were conducted three times, before he was arrested Saturday at Margarita Village, Brgy. 2 in San Carlos City. The arrest was made in close coordination with the local police force headed by Supt. Joseph Bayan.