COMELEC deactivates
53,325 Bacolod voters
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Commission on Elections has deactivated about 53,325 registered voters from the voter’s list in Bacolod City by provision of law, for failure to vote twice during regular elections, Bacolod Election Officer Mavil Majarucon said yesterday.

Majarucon said they deactivated the names of those who failed to vote in the May 2007 and barangay elections during the Election Registration Board meeting held in the city Monday and yesterday.

She said the ERB hearing was attended by the representatives of Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the National Movement for Free Elections and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

Two brothers and their friend were sentenced to 40 years in prison each by a Regional Trial Court judge yesterday for the murder on his birthday of a barangay official and his companion in Bago City, Negros Occidental, more than 11 years ago.

Reynaldo and Rene, both surnamed Magdato, and Reynaldo Mata, were convicted beyond reasonable doubt of double murder and were sentenced to two counts of reclusion perpetua by RTC Branch 62 Judge Frances Guanzon, for the fatal shooting of Cicero Centina and John Perez in Hacienda Margarita Jison, Brgy. Taloc, Bago, on May 30, 1997.

The three men were ordered to pay a total of P100,000 as indemnity for the victims’ death and P2,868,089.46 for Centina’s loss of earning capacity.

Bacolod City administrator Roger Balo yesterday said they are preparing to submit to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative the service electric contract entered into by the city and the power firm for the installation of electrical connection to the Bacolod City Government Center.

The contract, which was ratified by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod in a special session Friday, was among the conditions agreed on by both parties under the compromise agreement signed in the presence of Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra on January 9.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he has instructed Balo to give priority to the processing of the contract between the city and CENECO for the electrification of the new government center.