A Bacolod resident was sentenced yesterday to 40 years imprisonment for the rape of his 14-year-old neighbor in Bacolod City.

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 41 Judge Ray Alan Drilon sentenced Richard Jimenez to reclusion perpetua and to pay P75,000 in moral damages and P25,000 in  exemplary damage to his victim, whose name is being withheld by the DAILY STAR.

The victim told the court that at 2 a.m. of Feb. 11, 2005 Jimenez poked a knife at her neck and raped her.

Representatives of the Philippine Reclamation Authority yesterday informed city officials that the “fingerport” being operated by the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation has no authority from them.

Councilor Caesar Distrito inquired about the title of the remaining portion of the port known as the ‘fingerport’ where inter-island terminals of Weesam, Supercat and Ocean Jet are located, during a hearing conducted by the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government of the Sangguniang Panlungsod which he chairs.

PRA officials explained that the fingerport has no authority from their office yet, and in case they will have to approve it, it needs again the city, PRA and BREDCO to talk and agree on the matter.

MANILA – Senator Panfilo Lacson yesterday rebuffed on several fronts the claim of Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District) that the helicopters supposedly sold forcibly to the Philippine National Police were not owned but "leased" by LTA Inc., the Arroyo’s family-owned company.

Like the San Francisco, California properties and the Jose Pidal accounts, Iggy Arroyo has developed the habit of rescuing big brother Mike but without much success, Lacson said.

Citing records from the criminal complaints filed by Jose Miguel Arroyo against Archibald Po with the Pasay City prosecutor's office, Lacson noted details on the so-called lease documents Arroyo presented contained several contradictions.