Lito suspects smugglers
plot to oust him from SRA
POSTS BAIL, FILES BID TO
QUASH GRAFT RAPS
BY CARLA GOMEZ

MANILA – Sugar Regulatory Administrator Rafael Coscolluela yesterday said the trial by publicity moves against him on a case lodged before the Sandiganbayan looks like an orchestrated campaign to embarrass him in public.

Reports in the Manila papers yesterday said the Sandiganbayan had ordered the arrest of Coscolluela, who is facing graft charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman three weeks ago, together with four others, and had issued hold departure orders against them.

 “I suspect that this is part of a campaign to remove me from SRA because of our anti-smuggling campaign. We’ve apparently hurt a few people and now we’ve heard there is an effort to have me replaced,” Coscolluela said.

Fires hit the Land Transportation Office building in Cottage Road, Bacolod City at about 7 p.m., and the Lopue’s Department Store Araneta Branch at about 11 last night.

The causes of both fires and the estimate of damages, however, were still being determined by the Bureau of Fire Protection’s arson investigators up to 12:45 this morning.

Security guard Mike Joyo, who is employed by the Surefire Security Agency and detailed at the LTO, told the DAILY STAR that he was about to take his dinner when he saw the fire and immediately called the BFP.

A former Army sergeant  accused  by the  New People’s Army of facilitating the arrest of a farmer’s group leader affiliated with the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas, was gunned down yesterday by suspected rebels in Brgy. Quinten Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, the military said.

Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, identified the victim as MSgt. Jaime Mori, 49, a former member of his unit.

The killing of Mori, husband of Quintin Remo Barangay Kagawad Liberty Mori, came three days after suspected rebels also ambushed a group of civilians in Brgy. Salamanca, Toboso, killing three, including a minor, and causing injuries to three others.