ILOILO CITY -- Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. yesterday took the cudgels for detained Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and condemned his treatment by law enforcers.

Tupas called on the administration to "stop the Gestapo-like harassment" of Ocampo and treat him with dignity and respect. "The police and military should accord Satur the respect due a legislator," Tupas said in a statement he issued.

"The images of soldiers bodily lifting Ocampo reminds us of martial law and the trampling of human rights," Tupas said, referring to footages showing policemen forcibly attempting to transfer Ocampo from his detention cell at the Manila Police District headquarters to Leyte where the lawmaker is facing multiple murder charges in connection with the killing of alleged communist spies in Leyte more than 20 years ago.

Ocampo's transfer was aborted when the Leyte Regional Trial Court issued an order allowing him to be detained at the MPD pending the hearing of his petition challenging his arrest before the Supreme Court.

The governor earlier condemned what he considered as high-handed measures of the administration and law enforcers in the attempt to enforce a dismissal order of the Ombudsman and the Department of Interior and Local Government against him and two provincial board members.

Around 200 heavily armed policemen stormed the Capitol on January 17 dispersing supporter of Tupas, breaking glass doors and holding family members and supporters of Tupas at gunpoint.

The assault was stopped after the Court of Appeals in Cebu City issued a temporary restraining order. It issued a preliminary injunction last week barring the implementation of the dismissal order against Tupas and two provincial board members for graft.

The assault drew widespread criticisms including from the human rights groups and local officials. The Ombudsman and the Commission on Human Rights have conducted separate investigations on the incident but are yet to release the results.

Tupas said the government "should let the courts decide on the fate of Ocampo and not try to hide him in a faraway place to prevent him from getting media exposure."

He reminded the Arroyo administration that "We are still a democracy where the rule of law reigns supreme."*NPB

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IN SILAY CITY
Lopez Jaena clan members
from abroad to join reunion

Many descendants of Negrense hero Graciano Lopez Jaena from abroad will join the May 26 clan reunion at Santa Teresita Academy covered court in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Jessie and Virgilio Lopez said.

Dr. Oscar Lopez, a private physician practicing in New York, said he is inviting his two sons, one of them a cinematographer, to also join. He said he wants his son to come up with a documentary on the reunion and the life of Graciano Lopez Jaena. Other members of the clan from San Diego have also been informed of the event. Romeo Lopez of Victorias City said he has alerted his brothers and sisters in Canada. Mia Lopez, assistant secretary of the Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Foundation, will inform the trustees that the descendants of Fermin and Eustaquio Lopez will host the reunion.

Dr. Maritel Ledesma, chief of the Teresita Jalandoni provincial hospital in Silay City, promised to allow the display of the Sto. Niño statue which the Lopez Jaena family had reportedly sent over to her grandfather in return for the many favors given to Graciano.

It was first displayed during the first reunion at the Bacolod Pavillion in 2000. Legend says that it was Graciano, was brought it back to Silay when he returned to the Philippines in 1876, but it was learned later that Graciano never came back to Negros because he had to flee the country when he was betrayed by Filipinos to the Spaniards.*RLE

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Negrense
outstanding RP student

A fourth year student of the Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City was one of the 10 academic excellence and exemplary leadership awardees of Vice President Noli de Castro honored in Malacañang last week.

James Michael Villegas of NOHS was the academic excellence awardee for the Visayas. Yesterday he paid a courtesy call on Gov. Joseph Marañon and Vice Governor Isidro Zayco with his adviser, Dannie Clark Uguil, Negros Occidental Schools Superintendent Eva Belicena, and NOHS principal Nilda Monge.

Villegas and the nine other awardees from other parts of the country received their awards from the vice president that included P25,000 each now and P30,000 in tuition fees every year.

Villegas said he went through several layers of selection, that included consideration of one's grades and personality, and an interview and essay writing.*

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Paintings for
sale at museum

Various paintings and artworks are for sale at the Negros Museum located at the Old Agricultural Building, Gatuslao Street, in Bacolod City, a press release from the museum said.

Called the "In Memoriam Exhibit," the sale includes the works of the late Negrense artists Lino Severino, Larry Tronco, Ely Santiago, Jesus Ayco, and Emilio Lopez. Galerie Joaquin of Manila presents an interesting collection of valuable art which includes a painting by national artist Arturo Luz. A rare historical and cultural is also featured in the commissioned collection of sketches of Fernando Amorsolo, the press release said.

Those interested may call the Negros Museum at Tel. Nos. 433- 4764 or 708 - 5080, or email at the negros museum96@yahoo.com, the press release added.*

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