Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Ray Allan Drilon yesterday sentenced two Bacoleños to reclusion perpetua for the rape of a niece and a friend.

Found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of rape in two separate decisions promulgated yesterday were Jimmy Juaneza Treyes and Jonathan Providencia Tapang.

Drilon sentenced Treyes to reclusion perpetua on two counts or 80 years imprisonment and ordered him to pay his niece P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 in moral damages and P25,000 in exemplary damages.

The weeklong Independence Day celebration in Bacolod City opened yesterday morning with the launching of the “Fiesta sa NGC” led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.

The “Fiesta sa NGC”, a three-in-one celebration to commemorate the 113th Independence Day, the 73rd Charter Anniversary, and the 150th birthday of national hero, Jose Rizal, will run from June 6 to 20, 2011, with the theme, “Kalayaan: Paninindigan ng Bayan”.

The program yesterday started with the flag-raising ceremony followed by a cultural presentation that featured song and dance numbers from the Department of Social Services and Development, City Tourism Office, Department of Education and the DJP Trio, “ Pilipinas Got Talent” finalist.

Two fishermen died, while 10 others were rushed to the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, after eating puffer fish, locally know as butete, health officials said yesterday.

The two fishermen and their ten companions ate the puffer fish while on board fishing boat in the seawaters of Escalante City Saturday.

The fatalities were Jose Artajo, 62, captain of the fishing boat from Cadiz City, and Nixon Legaspi, 33, of Escalante City, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Negros Occidental provincial health officer, said.