Envoy bares importance
of US rebalance in Asia
BY CARLA GOMEZ

MANILA – American Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg yesterday stressed the importance of the US strategic rebalance in Asia to economic growth, stability and security.

Goldberg spoke at a press conference at the US embassy here, that capped the two-day Second US Embassy Regional Media Conference, ahead of the visit of President Barack Obama to the Philippines in April.

Obama’s trip will bring him to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In Manila, Obama and President Benigno Aquino III are expected to discuss economic and security concerns.

Puentevella pleads not
guilty in Sandigan arraignment
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella pleaded “not guilty” yesterday before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division during a conditional arraignment of the case involving the alleged anomalous procurement of overpriced computer packages for more than P25 million using his Priority Development Assistance Fund when he was yet congressman, STAR sources said.

Puentevella also deposited with the Court P90,000 in cash as travel bond, which is one of the conditions set in response to his “Motion for Leave of Court to Travel Abroad” dated March 11. This was because the court had issued a hold-departure order on him after his indictment for graft charges.

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

Murcia mayor dared to identify
DENR personnel in NNNP mess
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Andres Untal yesterday challenged Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano to identify the personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who assured him that there would be no problem in building his structures within the North Negros Natural Park in Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.

In fairness to other DENR employees, who are doing their job religiously, he should name names, Untal said, adding that it may help solve the problem.

Montelibano was among those issued cease-and-desist orders, together with Salvador Benedicto Mayor Jose Max Ortiz, by the DENR for acquiring land and building structures within the NNNP. He, however, claimed that he has the approval of the DENR, who assured him that there would be no problem, since he is occupying a multiple use zone.