SC upholds VAWC law
versus Bacolod bizman
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Supreme Court, in a landmark decision, upheld the constitutionality of the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, and junked a petition filed by a Bacolod Filipino-Chinese businessman labeling Republic Act 9262 as a “husband-bashing” and “hate men” law.

The SC decision promulgated Thursday denied a petition for review on certiorari filed by the businessman after the Court of Appeals affirmed the Temporary Protection Order issued by Bacolod City Regional Trial Court Judge Ray Alan Drilon in favor of his wife.

The names of the husband and wife are being withheld by the DAILY STAR as the case in question falls under the Family Court.

Prosecutor files
charges against ten in Ubay raid
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutor’s Office this week filed charges of illegal possession of firearms, explosives and obstruction of justice against persons apprehended by the police when they searched the ancestral house of former Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña in Barangay Ubay, Pulupandan, where they seized 90 firearms on May 2.

But the prosecutor also dismissed charges for violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban against them, and specific charges for illegal possession of two unlicensed shotguns against security guard Deolito Suspende Morancil.

Roem Arbolado, lawyer of the 10 apprehended, yesterday said his clients were deprived of the right to file their counter-affidavits.

SRA allows advance swap
as US sugar prices plunge
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Sugar Regulatory Administrator Ma. Regina Bautista Martin said yesterday that she has issued Sugar Order No. 9 granting the advance swapping of “A”, or US quota sugar production for crop year 2012-2013 into “D” or world market sugar, for shipment or export.

Martin said the Philippine sugar production for this year increased by about one percent for a total of 2.457 million metric tons but it did not bring prices down because withdrawals have also hit an all-time high.

“We have had the highest sugar production since 1975…and our consumption has also increased to about 2.2 million metric tons,” she said.