A Bacolod resident, who is in the police order of battle for the proliferation of illegal drugs, was sentenced yesterday to life imprisonment for the sale of shabu to a police officer in a buy-bust operation.

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Edgar Garvilles found Rodolfo Noblezada Gamoyao guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Section 5, Article II of Republic Act 9165 prohibiting the sale and delivery of dangerous drugs in Criminal Case 03-25045 and meted the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.

In Criminal Case No. 03-25046 Gamoyao he was found guilty of possession of .09 gram of shabu and meted the indeterminate prison term of 12 to 14 years, and to pay the fine of P300,000.

Bishop backs probe
on DSB armed group
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The Diocese of San Carlos has expressed its support for the probe being conducted by the military and police on the reported existence of an independent armed group allegedly linked to rebel-turned Don Salvador Benedicto Councilor Vicente "Oti" Bacordo.

San Carlos Bishop Jose Advincula, in his letters to Maj. Gen. Alphonsus Crucero, 3rd Infantry Division commander, and Senior Supt. Charles Calima, PNP provincial director, said that if there is an armed group which is in possession of lethal weapons of coercion, and is distinct from and independent of the Armed Forces and National Police, this is a matter that concerns his office most deeply.

"As the pastor of my flock, I give utmost consideration to their human security, the most basic of which involves freedom from fear," Advincula said in his letters to Crucero and Calima, copies of which were furnished to the DAILY STAR. .

Partial list of local
bar passers out
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A niece of Speaker Jose de Venecia topped the 2005 bar examination, reports from Manila said last night.

Joan de Venecia of the University of the Philippines topped the bar with a score of 87.2 percent.

Others in the top 10 are Jomini Nazareno of Ateneo de Manila University (86.4 percent), Sheryll May Tanquilut (Ateneo, 85.9 percent), Nyerson Dexter Tualla (MLQU, 85.45 percent), Tamsin Rey Lucilla (UP, 85.35 percent), Gladys Gervacio (Perpetual Help College, 85.3 percent), Claudine Orocio-Isorena (UP, 85.2 percent), Pedro Jose Bernardo (Ateneo, 85.05 percent), Dexter Calizar (PLS, 84.7 percent and Johnson Ong (FEU 84.65 percent), ABS-CBN reported.