DISMISSED ACCOUNTANT
Fortu opposing Capitol
move to stop her return
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Dismissed provincial accountant Merly Fortu will ask the Civil Service Commission to deny the motion for reconsideration filed by the Negros Occidental provincial government that seeks to reverse the recent CSC order reinstating her, lawyer Ermundo Manlapao said yesterday.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. earlier said he would exhaust all legal means to prevent Fortu from returning to the Capitol.

If the CSC denies the Capitol’s motion for reconsideration, Manlapao said the reinstatement of Fortu will be executory even if the provincial government files for certiorari or judicial review before the Court of Appeals.

The decomposing body of a faith healer was found in a sugarcane field in Purok Oya, Brgy. Vista Alegre in Bacolod City, Wednesday night.

The victim was identified as Lorna Estaniel, 45, of Purok Seawall, Brgy. Punta Taytay, Bacolod, by Station 7 commander, Chief Insp. Levy Pangue, yesterday.

The discovery of Estaniel’s body came four days after her family had sought the help of ABS-CBN Bacolod and the police when she went missing Sunday, Pangue said.

A resolution urging the Department of Energy, City Legal Office, City Permits and Licensing Division Monitoring Task Force under the City Mayor’s Office to investigate and inspect all gasoline stations in Bacolod City after reports on gasoline pump discrepancies surfaced, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.

Authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, the resolution said that according to the DOE report, during the agency’s recent inspection, it was found out that there are 139 liquid petroleum retail outlets in the province committing various violations.