City gov’t fighting
for Korean flights
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is asking Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. to reconsider his position and provide the necessary Customs immigration and quarantine services to allow nine chartered flights from Korea to land at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in January and February, City Administrator and former Bacolod Rep. John Orola said yesterday.

In a letter to the mayor dated December 28, David had denied the city’s request, saying that the Bureau is in no position to accede to it now, citing prevailing manpower and equipment restrictions that, he said, limit their available resources.

David instead requested that the flights from Korea be diverted to the Iloilo International Airport where the Commission can provide the necessary immigration services.

Aquino condoles
with Leonardia kin
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO &
GILBERT BAYORAN

Condolences, including that from President Benigno Aquino lll, started to pour in for a candidate for councilor in Bacolod City who succumbed to a gunshot wound on his head at his house in Fortuna Subdivision, Silay City, Negros Occidental, Saturday morning.

Police blamed accidental firing as the cause of the death of businessman Andres “Andy” Leonardia, 62, the elder brother of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who had filed his certificate of candidacy for councilor under the Nationalist People’s Coalition-Grupo Progreso, last year.

One of the original incorporators of the Visayan DAILY STAR, Andy Leonardia was a former vice president, and the treasurer of the STAR Board of Directors at the time of his death. He had also served as managing director and columnist of the STAR.

The National Bureau of Investigation head office in Metro Manila released a member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, who is a suspect in the murder of Judge Henry Arles, from its custody Friday night.

The release of Eddie Fortunado of Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental, was in compliance with an order of Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 42 Judge Fernando Elumba.

Fortunado is expected to return to Negros Occidental this week after we can source the fare needed, Alan Gozon, Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, said yesterday.