Bacoleño keeps
world boxing title
BY NIDA BUEANFE

Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo kept his promise of giving Bacolod City and Negros Occidental another piece of boxing glory as he successfully defended his World Boxing Organization minimumweight title against Jorle Estrada of Colombia at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City, Saturday night.

Also scoring a big win for Bacolod City and Negros Occidental was Bago City-born Arthur Villanueva, who claimed the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific super flyweight title by stopping Mexican Arturo Badillo in the fourth round of their scheduled 12-round ring battle.

Tense and a little bit overwhelmed by the posh venue for his first title defense, Sabillo said his motivation was to win for the country and to make the people who believe in him proud of his victory.

BING’S BIRTHDAY WISH
Opponents should
stop telling lies
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

“I wish my political opponents would stop sowing lies to mislead the people, especially about the actual financial condition of Bacolod City,” Bacolod Rep. and former Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said when asked for his birthday wish.

Because he had to attend a 4-day executive-legislative seminar in Manila for new congressmen, Leonardia celebrated his birthday yesterday instead of July 10, in Bacolod City with his partymates, family, close friends and supporters.

Leonardia said it was made clear before the transition that the city has money. Inspite of that, he was subjected to black propaganda to mar his record when, in fact, in the last nine years Bacolod never incurred a deficit, and, on the contrary, it always had a surplus all that time.

3 killed, 2 injured
in road accidents
BY SHIELA GELERA & GILBERT BAYORAN

Three died and two were injured in two vehicular accidents in Victorias City and in Hinigaran town, both in Negros Occidental, Saturday.

Two men, who were on a parked motorcycle beside the road, were hit by a pick-up truck, driven by a retired army man, in Bangga Canonoy, Brgy. Anahaw, Hinigaran town in Negros Occidental, at about 12:10 p.m. Saturday.

Hinigaran police officer-in-charge, Inspector Geruld Huerva, identified the fatalities as Felix Descartin, 46, of Purok Kapayas, Brgy. Miranda, Pontevedra town, and Joel Gustilo, 56, of Dinandan, Brgy. Anahaw, Hinigaran.