Ombudsman upholds case
dismissal vs. Oti, 13 others
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

The Ombudsman for Visayas upheld the dismissal of a complaint filed against Silay Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano and 13 others for the repainting of two buildings of the city’s public market.

The order, approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, a copy of which was furnished the DAILY STAR yesterday by Silay City Administrator Ignacio Salmingo, denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Silay residents Jose Lindy Chan and Jojo Sumiller to its resolution dated Aug. 28, 2009, dismissing their criminal complaint for lack of probable cause.

In filing the motion for reconsideration, Chan and Sumiller said that Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, Mark Jalandoni, has no authority to sign the assailed the resolution in behalf of the Ombudsman, then Merceditas Gutierrez, because he could not approve recommendations from a co-equal rank, much less from senior, Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Pelagio Apostol.

Comelec suspends
biometric validation
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The Commission on Elections has suspended the validation of records for voters without, or with incomplete biometrics effective yesterday.

Provincial Comelec supervisor Jessie Suarez said this is because of the preparations for the October 28 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Of the 1,574,787 voters in Negros Occidental, 118,784 have incomplete biometrics data. They are required by the Comelec to complete the procedure in preparation for the 2016 presidential elections.

Inmates riot over bad food
BY NIDA BUENAFE & ADRIAN NEMES III

The protest being waged by the 438 inmates at the Negros Occidental District Jail in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, for several days now reportedly escalated into a riot yesterday.

Gregorio Sanoy, leader of the inmates, said they are complaining about the rice and fish served to them the other night that they claimed had an awful smell.

Sanoy said this has been their ongoing plight since the BJMP took over the facility. He said they deserve to be treated as human beings, and some of them have not been meted jail terms yet.