Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Estefanio Libutan Jr. yesterday denied the petition of SM Prime Holdings Inc. for a temporary restraining order to prevent Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. from entering into a negotiated lease and sale of 7.7 hectares of prime properties owned by the Negros Occidental provincial government in Bacolod City.

Marañon said with that ruling, the provincial government’s Committee on Awards and Disposal of Real Properties will go ahead with its scheduled acceptance of negotiated sale and lease proposals today for evaluation and awarding.

The governor said he is thankful that the Lord guided the judge to come up with a wise decision, because the provincial government is putting the 7.7 hectares up for sale and lease for the good of the public.

A city-wide campaign against freelance commercial sex workers was ordered by Bacolod City Police Director, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, yesterday after 22 of those arrested by Station 1 policemen since Sunday tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases.

On Tuesday policemen apprehended 14 commercial sex workers at the Bacolod public plaza and at Locsin Street and 10 of them were proven to have STD; the following day three of the four commercial sex workers also tested positive for STD.

Yesterday, 13 more commercial sex workers were arrested and nine of them have STD.

La Carlota City Vice Mayor David Baga Jr. expressed dismay at allegedly being subjected to “trial by publicity”, after a raid was conducted by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for alleged violation of Republic Act 9287, or the amended law on illegal gambling, at his property that he said also affected his family, political allies and constituents.

In a privilege speech during the regular session of the La Carlota City Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, Baga apologized for the raid.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Bago Judge Frances Guanzon, a team of CIDG personnel led   Chief Inspector Cesar Paday-os swooped down on the house of Baga Monday, in Brgy. 2 poblacion, La Carlota City.