Mayors push Ferrer,
Lacson team for 2013
"AS ALTERNATIVE COMMON BETS
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Twenty mayors of Negros Occidental endorsed Thursday night La Carlota City Mayor Juliet Marie Ferrer as a common candidate for governor of Negros Occidental in 2013, in an attempt to prevent a split in the United Negros Alliance, with the looming showdown for the post between Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr.

EB Magalona Mayor David Albert Lacson yesterday said the mayors, who met at 21st Restaurant in Bacolod City, will present their proposal for a common candidate to UNA founder, business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco, Marañon and Alvarez.

They hope the proposal is acceptable to their top leaders to try to keep the party together, he said.

A former civilian agent tagged as the prime suspect in the fatal shooting of the nephew of former House Speaker Prospero Nograles about five years ago was apprehended at about 6 p.m. Thursday at Nueva Street in Bacolod.

Police Officer 3 Celito Dullan, case investigator, identified the one arrested as Romeo Soriba, 53, of Alunan-Yulo, Brgy. 16, Bacolod.

Soriba was apprehended on the strength of an arrest warrant for murder issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 41 Judge Ray Alan Drilon, who denied him bail.

BRGY. QUEZON, San Carlos City - Twenty-eight of the 67 rebel returnees in Negros Occidental, who have availed of financial and livelihood assistance from the provincial government, are expected to also receive P50,000 each from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said that the OPPAP is also expected to process the livelihood assistance of the 39 other former members of the New People’s Army, who have decided to abandon the armed struggle and live normal lives with their families.

Lactao, however, said that before the 28 rebel returnees availed of livelihood assistance from the OPPAP, they were required to undergo social preparations by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, that included training and seminars.