Raps filed vs. Monico,
2 others in Sandigan
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The criminal case against Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella and two others in connection with the alleged overpriced computer package using the former’s Priority Development Assistance Fund when he was yet congressman, was filed before the SandiganBayan Tuesday.

This was confirmed yesterday by Graft Investigating Officer Evangeline Nuñal of the Office of the Ombudsman who said that the case against Puentevella was filed Tuesday but she was not able to get the docket number and has requested the SandiganBayan to provide her with it.

Nuñal said the case is now with the Judicial Records Section of the Sandiganbayan and will be raffled off in the First Division at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Apostol does not know
if signature tampered
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol yesterday said they do not know if the signature of the Ombudsman was tampered (in the case filed against former Mayor Evelio Leonardia) because there were those whose signatures were not tampered, in an interview over ABS-CBN yesterday.

This came after a member of the office of Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella issued a press statement asking Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to probe what she called the mysterious dismissal of cases filed against former Mayor and now Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia.

The complainant in most of the cases against the solon, Sarah Esguerra, who is now an executive assistant of Puentevella, said she is glad to receive news that the Ombudsman is set to file charges with the Sandiganbayan against former Luzon Deputy Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni and expressed optimism that justice will finally be served, her press statement said.

SM not giving up
on Capitol case
BY CARLA GOMEZ

SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) will take further legal action, it will not abandon its cause.

This was the reaction of SMPHI lawyer Vincent Patrick Bayhon yesterday to Gov. Alfredo Marañon's announcement that the Regional Trial Court had denied the petition of SMPHI to declare it the winning bidder of the 7.7-hectare property of the Negros Occidental provincial government in Bacolod.

"SM will not abandon its cause and it remains confident that its efforts will result to a just and equitable resolution," Bayhon said.