Hold departure order
issued versus Monico
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A hold departure order has been issued by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division against Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella and two others while a case is pending against them involving the anomalous procurement of overpriced computer packages worth more than P25 million, using his Priority Development Assistance Fund when he was yet a congressman.

The order was issued by Sandiganbayan Fourth Division chairperson Gregory Ong, and members Jose Hernandez and Maria Cristina Cornejo in relation to case number SB-14-CRM-0108 titled “People of the Philippines vs. Monico Puentevella, et al,” that was filed last week.

The criminal case was filed against Puentevella and Victorino Tirol, Jr. of the Department of Education, and supplier Jessie Garcia, chairman of Merryland Publishing Corporation, after the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict them for acting in violation of R.A. 3019, or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Decena new Bacolod
OIC police head
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO & SHIELA GELERA

Police Senior Supt. Larry Decena will be the new officer-in-charge of the Bacolod City Police Office and will replace Senior Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel starting Monday, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said in a press conference yesterday.

A final order designating Decena as the OIC of the BCPO will be issued today by the Police Regional Office-6, Chief Supt. Josephus Angan, regional director of Western Visayas, told the DAILY STAR last night.

Decena was among the three candidates in the shortlist presented to Puentevella by Angan with Ordaniel and an undisclosed officer.

Speed up Sum-ag
work, DPWH told

Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia has asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to expedite the construction works along the Sum-ag highway.

This has gone on far too long already, Leonardia told District Engineer Abraham Villareal. “While our people can put up with temporary inconvenience while you construct these new bridges and highways, you cannot abuse them for too long,” Leonardia said.

The Bacolod congressman said he was informed that the project that was started in June 9, 2012 was due for completion last Nov 30, 2013, but the completion date has been revised to March 15, 2013.