Protest vs. increase in
power rates aired
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The P1.50/KWH increase in power rate being imposed by Central Negros Electric Cooperative for January and its pending rates increase application with the Energy Regulatory Commission are being opposed by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares yesterday said they will file an intervention/opposition against application of CENECO with the ERC.

CENECO and Panay Energy Development Corp have asked ERC to approve the terms of the settlement agreement between them, authorizing PEDC to charge and collect from CENECO P192,064,798.50 in electricity fees, and authorizing CENECO it to pass the full amount to its consumer-members.

Security up at
Bacolod hall of justice
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Bacolod Hall of Justice has stepped up its security measures in the light of the recent shooting incident at the Palace of Justice in Cebu City that left three dead Tuesday.

They are now enforcing strict inspection of bags and body frisking on all those entering the Hall of Justice, including employees who work there, Bacolod RTC Clerk of Court 6 Ildefonso Villanueva Jr. said yesterday.

He said they are also asking the Supreme Court for four additional security guards and the Philippine National Police for four more policemen to secure the Hall of Justice.

A letter written by a Belgian national who fell from the fifth floor of a school building has already been translated from French to English, and showed that he was deeply depressed, Station 1 commander, Chief Insp. Danilo Francisco, said yesterday.

In the letter he addressed to his parents and two sisters, Matthieu Geurts, 18, said that the problem was not the people around him or society but, himself.

Geurts, who apologized to his family, said that he felt empty and exhausted, and had lost hope.