Gloria promises
bishop action on Negros woes
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra raised before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday concerns about rising hunger and the increase in armed clashes between the New People's Army and the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade in Negros.

He also expressed concern over the dismissal of an illegal logging case involving a Negros mayor and the Supreme Court suspension of a human rights lawyer.

"Giving the president the benefit of the doubt, I hope something will be done about what we brought out to her," Navarra said.

Dispersal hit by
anti-Arroyo protest groups
BY DONALYN GUERRERO

Tension ran high yesterday as the Police Crowd Dispersal Management Team dispersed local protestors calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in front of the Bacolod airport and other areas of the city.

Thirty CMD troopers dispersed about 20 protestors near the airport who complained of "political harassment" after their streamers, placards and flags were allegedly grabbed and destroyed.

The CMD also dispersed about 150 local protestors at Hilado-Burgos streets in Bacolod City before they could proceed to the West Negros College where Arroyo watched the 23rd Southeast Asian Games volleyball match, Felipe Levy Gelle, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros, yesterday told the DAILY STAR.

Cauayan athlete wins gold
BY CEDELF TUPAS

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

This might be an overused adage for some, but Negrense strongman Arniel Ferrera had this on top of his mind yesterday when he bagged his second Southeast Asian Games gold medal in record-breaking fashion at the historic Rizal Memorial Track Stadium in Manila.

"This gold is really special for me. I offer this one to my fellow Negrenses," Ferrera told the DAILY STAR in a telephone interview.