The Office of the Ombudsman (Visayas) has indicted Escalante Vice Mayor Santiago Barcelona for 11 counts of violation of Republic Act No. 6656 for the termination of 11 city employees while he was mayor in 2002.

RA 6656 protects tenure of civil service officers and employees in the implementation of government reorganization.

A copy of the Ombudsman’s resolution penned by Acting Director Samuel Malazarte and approved by Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez on December 1, 2010 was furnished the DAILY STAR by Escalante City Hall personnel yesterday.

The Alberto D. Arceo Elementary School in Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod City has been ordered by Alberto Arceo to vacate its premises within 30 days from receipt of his letter to its head dated Jan. 3, 2011.

In his letter to teacher-in-charge Rene Oriendo dated Jan. 3, 2011, Arceo claimed that the school is located on their titled property and that the owners have never received any economic benefit from it.

He said the order is intended to allow a proper study of the feasibility of having a more economically viable use of the area.

The Bacolod City Police Office Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Group will seal off Barangay 2 starting today to curb any further illegal drugs operations in the area, City Police Director Senior Supt. Celestino Guara said yesterday.

Guara said they also expect to seal off Barangays 1 and 22, which are also considered as seriously affected by illegal drugs.

During his visit in Bacolod City last month, Police Regional Office-6 Director Chief Supt. Cepriano Querol said that there is a need to seal off these barangays because at least two percent of their population are drug users and pushers.