Basyang slams houses,
affects 3,812 in Negros
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Tropical Storm “Basyang” destroyed two houses and damaged 55 in Talisay and Silay cities early Saturday morning, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia said yesterday.

“Basyang” also caused 99 families or 457 individuals to preemptively evacuate from 12 barangays in Silay and Talisay City Friday night, but they were able to return to their houses by Saturday morning, she said.

They evacuated before “Basyang” hit to avoid being endangered in areas where heavy rains and high tide could trigger flooding, she said.

Ceneco: Only ERC
can stop add'l rates
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

Only the Energy Regulatory Commission can stop Central Negros Electric Cooperative from collecting an additional P0.0457 per kilowatt hour according to its settlement agreement with the Panay Energy Development Corp., CENECO President Arnel Lapore, said yesterday.

Lapore was reacting to the motions filed by lawyer Vicente Petierre III and Councilor Archie Baribar asking the ERC to reverse its decision and dismiss the settlement agreement between CENECO and PEDC on the P192 million debt the utility firm owes the power supplier.

Lapore said that, while they respect the decision of Petierre and Baribar who are representing the Bacolod Diocese Social Action Center and the Bacolod City Council, respectively, to file the petition, they cannot stop collecting the additional P0.0457 in the power rates.

Solas doubt NPA
behind farm raid
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The owner of an hacienda compound, raided recently by alleged members of the New People's Army in Brgy. Camansi, Kabankalan City, yesterday expressed doubts about the rebel group being involved in the atrocities.

Contrary to military and police claims, Pablo Sola Jr. and his wife, Ederlinda, yesterday said it is a mystery for them that the suspects stayed in an area they had raided for almost 15 hours.

A police outpost of the 6 th Regional Public Safety Battalion is about a kilometer away from Hacienda Isabel, of which Pablo Sola Jr. is part owner.