Reconsideration rejected,
raps ordered vs. Monico
2 OTHERS AT SANDIGANBAYAN
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Ombudsman has denied the motion for reconsideration of Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella seeking the reversal of the decision indicting him and two others in connection with the purchase of alleged overpriced computers worth almost P25 million when he was still a congressman.

This is a landmark case and believedto be the first pork barrel-related one to be elevated to the Sandiganbayan since the scandal on the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund broke out last year, private complainant, lawyer Joselito Bayatan said.

The Ombudsman, saying it has no basis to reverse its Sept. 30, 2013 decision, also ordered the filing of the case against Puentevella, former Department of Education regional director Victorino Tirol and Merryland Publishing chairman Jessie Garcia before the Sandiganbayan.

Cops file murder charges
against 1 for Indian’s slay
BY SHIELA GELERA

One of the four suspects in the killing of an Indian national and a Philippine Army reservist in Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City, last week, was charged before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday, Senior Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel, acting city police director said yesterday.

The suspect, identified as Cris Balbuena, 31, of Brgy. Balintawak, Escalante City in Negros Occidental, was charged for double murder.

Of the four suspects, only Balbuena and his driver, alias “Dodoy” were identified by the police, STAR sources said.

Politics hampering dev’t,
focus on economy - guv
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said politics is hampering development in Negros Occidental, citing moves by some to discredit the provincial government’s effort to create a sheep industry for the province.

He said the sheep imported by the provincial government from Australia as part of its push toward diversification in Negros Occidental have multiplied and are now in almost all of the towns and cities of the province.

But those who used the sheep importation as an issue in the polls last year, are still engaging in politics, he said.