There’s good news for Central Negros Electric Cooperative power consumers.

Power rates did not go up by 36 centavos per kWh the day after Christmas as earlier expected by CENECO. In fact consumers’ power bills may be lower than before in the next three months, CENECO general manager Sulpicio Lagarde Jr. said yesterday.

CENECO covers Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay cities and Murcia.

Rampant jai alai and illegal gambling operations in his area caused the immediate relief of Bacolod City Police Station 5 chief, Senior Insp. Ulysses Ortiz, Wednesday, Police Regional Office-6 Director Chief Supt. Cepriano Querol said yesterday.

Querol, who was in Bacolod City, said Ortiz will be temporarily transferred to the City Police Office headquarters until he can prove that he is capable to be a police chief again.

He said the PRO-6’s Regional Special Operations Group conducted raids in Brgy. Granada twice, without the participation of Ortiz and his men.

The policeman who was arrested while allegedly having a pot session with five other men in Brgy. 2 Wednesday, tested positive for shabu use, Bacolod City Police Office Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group team leader Senior Insp. Joemarie Occeño said yesterday.

Occeño said Police Officer 1 Mark Anthony Pestolante, 32, of Brgy. Daga in Cadiz City is now facing charges for violation of section 15 of Republic Act 9165, or illegal drug use.

Police Regional Office-6 Director Chief Supt. Cepriano Querol said he will work on the dismissal of Pestolante, so other policemen will not follow his misdeeds.