Protest vs. COA still on,
impeachment raps eyed
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A group of private citizens areputting up streamers in Bacolod City calling on the Commission on Audit to release its decision on thesale and lease by the Negros Occidental provincial government of its 7.7-hectare Bacolod property to AyalaLand immediately, and are sending a call to actionmanifesto to President Benigno Aquino III.

The group that is also calling on AyalaLandnot to withdraw its P6 billion investment in the Capitol property, wants to know what the COA decision is so it can move on,NestorEvaristo, vice president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental, said yesterday

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon said the provincial government is not taking legal action against the COA for the delay in the decision but he was informed that some private citizens are doing so.

Three persons were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act for the recruitment of two residents of Victorias City, Negros Occidental, to be waitresses but whom they later sold for sex.

Private prosecutor Arnel Sigue said yesterday that Infanta, Quezon Regional Trial Court Branch 65 Judge Arnelo Mesa on August 24 sentenced Eric Rosas Morilla, Riza Doromal Pingcas and Rona Doromal Pingcas to imprisonment of 17 years and four months as minimum to 20 years as maximum and to pay a fine of P2 million for each accused, for violating Republic Act 9208.

It is believed to be the first anti-trafficking conviction in the CALABARZON, a region composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, said Sigue, who is from Bacolod City and is president of the Anti-Trafficking Legal Advocates Society.

CADIZ CITY - Members of the Cadiznon Kontra Coal yesterday expressed strong opposition on the construction of the proposed coal fired powered plant in Brgy. Bangkerohan and demanded transparency in the transactions done by its city officials on the project.

They also started a signature campaign to stop the CFPP and have gathered about 1,000 signatures to will be attached to their petition to the city government of Cadiz.

At a press conference at the Saint Andre Bessette Mission Station in Cadiz, CKC spokesperson Dindo Ampalla said the information on the CFPP was not well disseminated and residents were misinformed about the issue.