DOJ dismisses Peña gun,
explosives raps
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Department of Justice has dismissed charges for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives, and for harboring a criminal, against former Pulupandan mayor Magdaleno Peña and his co-accused.

This was in connection with a raid on his ancestral house in Barangay Ubay, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, on May 2, shortly before the 2013 midterm elections.

It has also ordered that an investigation be conducted on all police officers involved in the implementation of the search warrant for the allegation of planting of explosives in the searched premises, and for unnecessary expense incurred by the Philippine government in the conduct of the raid.

Neg. Occ. Damage hits P1.2B
BY CARLA GOMEZ

An initial estimate of the damage left by super typhoon “Yolanda” in Negros Occidental was placed at P1.2 billion yesterday, while the number of destroyed houses has been reduced after validation of earlier reports.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said that, from a reported 13,233 houses destroyed by “Yolanda” in Negros Occidental, the number has been reduced to 11,871.

The governor had said earlier that P3,000 in assistance would be provided to owners of houses that were destroyed and the provincial government allocated P22 million.

DBM asking guv for report
on P184M PDAF in Negros
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Department of Budget and Management has asked Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. to submit a project status report on P184,137,500 in Priority Development Assistance Funds released in Negros Occidental by 15 lawmakers  from Jan. 1, 2010 to Oct. 31, 2013.

DBM Region 6 Director Alfonso Bedonia Jr., in a letter to Marañon, said they are monitoring the status of the implementation of various priority development programs and projects implemented by local government units funded out of the PDAF and other financial assistance from the national government.

Marañon said PDAF allocations to the provincial government are accounted for up to the last centavo.