The discovery of fake quedans, or sugar warehouse receipts, for more than 300,000 Lkg of “D” or world market sugar, is now being investigated, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin said yesterday.

At a market price of P900 per Lkg about two years ago, the fake quedans for 300,000 Lkg that were used as collateral for loans  at banks could amount to about P270,000,000, Martin said.

Martin also said she was informed that fake quedans for 200,000 Lkg of “B”, or domestic sugar, have also been discovered.

Three Negros Occidental congressmen are in the list of the top 20 richest members of the House of Representatives.

They are. Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) in second place, Rep. Julio Ledesma (Neg. Occ., 1st District) – fourth place and Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District) – 18th place.

Rep. Manny Pacquiao (Sarangani), said to be the highest paid athlete in the world, is the richest congressman worth P1.134 billion as of Dec. 31, 2010, according to his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth from the House of Representatives.

The owner of the 888 China Town Square is also interested in acquiring prime provincial government property, which is the site of the present Negros Occidental Provincial Jail at Gatuslao Street in Bacolod City for its expansion, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

Marañon also announced that the inmates now detained at the jail will be transferred next month to the new Negros Occidental Provincial Jail in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City.

The new jail that has already been completed can accommodate 500 male inmates, and 50 female inmates. This time, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology will supervise the inmates, Marañon, who met BJMP top officials of Region 6 yesterday, said.