Dredging firm in Sagay
gets threats from NPA
BY CARLA GOMEZ

An official of the firm hired by the Sagay City government to dredge the mouths of two rivers, which also has a permit to extract magnetite at the same time, yesterday said they have received threats from the New People’s Army.

“We have received threats and extortion letters from ‘people up there’ that is why we  had to hire blue guards to secure  our magnetite processing plant and equipment,” Albert Golez, managing director of the ASPAC Dredging and Restoration Inc., said.

Complaints have been circulating in the Old Sagay area about offshore mining operations and of armed guards in Sitio Looc where ASPAC’s plant is located, who have been driving people away from the site. A position paper of those opposed to it is reportedly being circulated for signature.

Three youngsters linked to the robbery and alleged rape of a foreigner in a barangay in Bacolod City last week surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Wednesday and admitted the crime.

The suspects, aged 19, 21 and 23, whose identities the police withheld, are members of a local gang called “Hipos Balos Lang” and  are now in the custody of the CIDG, City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said yesterday.

The victim, a volunteer of a non-government organization, said she was with two male foreigners and they were sleeping when the suspects barged into their temporary residence and took turns in raping her.

What can he do to help Bacolod?

That was what President Benigno Aquino III yesterday asked Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia last night at the awarding ceremony of the 37th Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Manila, where he was guest of honor.

Leonardia said the President had earlier been the closing keynote speaker at the 3rd International Outsourcing Summit of the Business Process Association of the Philippines on October 10-11, attended by over 400 delegates and panelists  from Australia, Canada, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, United States, among others, as well as the Philippines.