“We will of course vigorously defend ourselves when we are given an opportunity by the Sandiganbayan.”

This was the reaction of Sugar Regulatory Administrator Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela, former governor of Negros Occidental, to reports in the national media yesterday that the office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against him and four others on Monday.

They were charged for buying allegedly overpriced medical and farm equipment worth P20 million in 2001 from a supplier without any license from the Bureau of Food and Drugs in 2001, the reports said.

Passengers bound for Iloilo and Bacolod yesterday were stranded with the cancellation of ferry trips after PAGASA hoisted storm signal number two over northern Iloilo and Negros Occidental, and signal number one over the rest of Negros yesterday.

Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said their disaster councils and rescue teams have gone on alert, as they called on residents living in low-lying areas, and along creeks and river banks to take the necessary precautions in case of flooding as Tropical Storm Feria approaches.

Classes will be automatically suspended today if the typhoon signals remain, Education Department Acting Regional Director, Mildred Garay, said yesterday.

The Influenza A(H1N1) cases in Western Visayas rose to seven yesterday after the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine confirmed that a female student from Roxas City enrolled at the Assumption High School in Iloilo City was positive for the virus, Dr. Ariel Valencia, health regional director, said.

Iloilo City Mayor Gerry Treñas told the DAILY STAR classes at Assumption have been suspended for 10 days as a precautionary measure.

The DOH Region 6 recommended temporary suspension of classes at Assumption where the patient is enrolled based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Health.