TFM rejects bishop's
call for farmers dialog
PRAY FOR PEACE AT
VELEZ-MALAGA, PRIEST ASKS
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Let us all pray for a peaceful solution to the conflict at Hacienda Velez-Malaga in La Castellana, Fr. Rolex Nueva, social action director of the Diocese of Kabankalan, said yesterday.

The Diocese of Kabankalan has been trying to get two farmers groups at Velez-Malaga to talk, and on Saturday, Bishop Patricio Buzon visited those who are Task Force Mapalad members on hunger strike at the DAR office in Quezon City.

But Lani Factor, a TFM official, yesterday said their group is rejecting the bishop's call for a dialog among the farmers.

Don't worsen problem
with wrong info -- PNP
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Negros Occidental police director Rosendo Franco yesterday called on the people behind a disinformation campaign not to exacerbate the peace and order problem in the Hacienda Velez-Malaga property in Brgy. Robles, La Castellana.

Text messages have circulated saying that a hunger strike was taking place in the hacienda and truckloads of alleged armed goons are now prowling the area to prevent the installation of TFM affiliated agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Franco said the situation in the hacienda is now back to normal, and there is no indication of a possible clash between the rival groups of agrarian reform beneficiaries.

New gov't center case
called a conspiracy
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said the new case against the construction of the government center seeking the declaration of nullity of Appropriation Ordinance No. 01 for the release of the mobilization fund, is apparently part of a "conspiracy."

A case was filed by eight barangay captains and two former executive assistants of two former administrations against Bacolod City represented by Leonardia and several officials, as well as Hilmarc's Construction Corp, represented by engineer Efren Canlas.

On March 9, Regional Trial Court Judge Rodney Bolunia had dismissed a case seeking the nullification of the contract between the city and the government center contractor, Hilmarcs Construction Corp., filed by another group.