Give LGUs bigger slice,
tap customs fund: Koko
BY CARLA GOMEZ

“Bigger pie, bigger slice”

That is what Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said yesterday he will seek for local government units in a bill he is set to file.

Pimentel, who was in Bacolod City for the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Negros Occidental Chapter induction, told the DAILY STAR that the bill he will file will seek a bigger share of funds for the LGUs beyond what is available through the Internal Revenue Allotment.

The IRA fund comes from taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, with 60 percent allocated for the national government and 40 percent divided among the country’s LGUs, he said.

Negros on alert
for Napoles, Lim
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A Bureau of Immigration alert is up for businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and her brother, Reynald Luy Lim, in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, too, Bacolod Alien Control Officer Mita Chuvy Arguelles said yesterday.

The pictures of the two that have been posted at airports and seaports, are also posted at the BI office in Bacolod City.

Arguelles said BI officer-in-charge Siegfred Mison, in a memorandum, directed her to exercise utmost vigilance and to report any sightings of the two in the province for proper action.

Support 2 bills, IBP asked
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III yesterday sought the support of the members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines–Negros Occidental chapter for two bills that he will file soon to strengthen the justice system in the country.

As the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chairman, Pimentel said he wants to report to the IBP members that he intends to continue shepherding into law, bills that will strengthen the country’s legal institutions.

Pimentel told the DAILY STAR he is seeking the IBP support for his “Anti-Chamber Practice Bill” that aims to preserve objectivity in the justice system, and will also propose some amendments to the Speedy Trial Act in order to speed up trials and dispensation of justice in the country.