Pay Sugarland P21M,
Capitol, city ordered
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A Bacolod Regional Trial Court judge has ordered the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City governments, and their co-defendants, to jointly pay Sugarland Hotel P21.6 million plus interest for failure to comply with a Memorandum of Understanding in the demolition of the fourth floor of the hotel 11 years ago.

Lawyer Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Joseph Marañon, yesterday said the provincial government will appeal the recently released ruling of RTC Judge Ramon Delariarte dated Dec. 28, 2005.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he had not received a copy of Delariarte's decision but added that they will definitely appeal the ruling because "we want to protect the coffers of the city."

Judge dismisses
raps vs. Bilbao
FOR POSSESSION OF
ILLEGALLY CUT LUMBER
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Rodney Bolunia ordered Monday the dismissal of a case for possession of illegally-cut lumber filed against Hinobaan Mayor Francisco Bilbao, his lawyer William Mirano said yesterday.

Bilbao told the DAILY STAR last night, "I am very happy justice has been given to me. I have been waiting for this vindication for a long time."

On Nov. 27, 2002 Bolunia issued a search warrant to confiscate lumber in the cock farm of Bilbao in Barangay Po-ok, Hinobaan on the request of Task Force Ilahas.

Call center set to
open in Bacolod
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

A U.S.-based call center will soon open a new contact center site in Bacolod City and is expected to provide jobs to about 800 Negrenses within its first year of operation.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said Teleperformance will be the first wave of big business prospects that will come to Bacolod, along with the entry of the giant SM City this year. He said SM City intends to open in October, in time for the MassKara Festival.

Leonardia said Teleperformance will put the city in the global IT directory, and, with its entry, hundreds of jobs will be available to Bacoleños. "These developments auger well for our thrust to make Bacolod the new IT Center in Southern Philippines," he said.