LEONARDIA SAYS
Bacolod would lose
P70M without ‘pork’
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia said he is not in favor of the abolition of the pork barrel because, as soon as it is abolished, Bacolod City will instantly be deprived of P70 million that could go to so many projects to benefit its people.

There is no assurance that if it is realigned it will go back to Bacolod, Leonardia said during the blessing and inauguration of the Bacolod City Congressional Office at the St. Francis Building at Araneta Street Saturday.

Leonardia said the pork barrel, per se, is not bad, only if it is abused and that is something that they should watch out for.

Lito happy to see
sad episode end
BY CARLA GOMEZ

“It’s been a long 12 years and I will be happy to see this sad episode come to an end.”

That was the reaction of former Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela yesterday to the DAILY STAR headline story Saturday on the order of the Supreme Court Second Division for the Sandiganbayan to dismiss a criminal case filed against him and three others because of the violation of their Constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases.

In its 12-page decision promulgated July 15, the SC included in the dismissal of the case Dr. Ernesto Malvas - former Negros Occidental Provincial Health officer, Edwin Nacionales - former Special Projects Division head, and his subordinate, Jose Ma. Amugod.

Bing pushes for
second city flyover
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia said Saturday that he will push for the construction of the second flyover in the city that has an estimated cost of P365 million, that did not push through before.

Originally, the second flyover was to be built at the junction of Magsaysay Avenue and Araneta Street, where a study had been conducted, but Leonardia, who was the mayor then, did not agree to it as the study was done when the old airport was still operational.

“I will recommend that it be constructed at the junction of Circumferential road and Burgos Extension, near the Lopue’s East because, given the fact that the City’s Government Center is at the Circumferential road, it can be assumed that, in the next five years, the area will become congested”, Leonardia said.