Bishop urging parishes:
join noise barrage today
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra yesterday called on the public to join a noise barrage in front of the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City 5:30 p.m. today to air their indignation over the move of the House of Representatives to convene into a Constituent Assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution.

In a text message sent for him by Fr. Anecito Buenafe, Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Director, the Bishop called on the priests to inform their parishioners yesterday to join a series of protests actions spearheaded by the Negreses United Against ConAss.

He called on the Bacolod parishes to join the noise barrage at 5:30 a.m. to be capped by the ringing of church bells from 6 to 6:05 p.m. today

Rep. Genaro Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) yesterday denied that the congressmen who voted to convene congress into a constituent assembly received P20 million each.

They voted for House Resolution 1109 because they believe economic reforms are needed for the good of the country, but have committed not to extend the terms of office of any incumbent official, including the president, he said.

Alvarez said he did not get P20 million for his vote, what he got for the sixth district of Negros Occidental was a P420 million in infrastructure stimulus projects from January to June  for much-needed roads.

Bago Regional Trial Court Judge Frances Guanzon yesterday denied that she was on leave on May 18 when she issued a temporary restraining order against Pulupandan barangay captains picketing at Asian Alcohol Corp.

The judge was reacting to an urgent motion to divulge filed by the Pulupandan barangay captains Friday, a copy of which was furnished the DAILY STAR by Mayor Magdaleno Peña.

In their motion, the barangay captains asked that the judge inhibit from the AAC case since she is a close family relation of lawyer Benilda Villena Abrasia-Tejada, legal confidant of Lucio Tan, owner of AAC.