LA LIBERTAD AMBUSH
Private complainants
seek transfer of trial
JUDGE URGED TO INHIBIT, TOO
BY JUANCHO GALLARDE

Private complainants in the multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder raps filed against the suspects in the La Liberad ambush, have filed an urgent petition for a change of venue of the case, saying it is to prevent a miscarriage of justice.

Raymund Mercado and Allan Martinez, counsels for detained suspect William Paunilian, said it is of public knowledge that the case pending before Regional Trial Court Branch 65 in Guihulngan City, is imbued with a political aura, the victims being known as supporters of now Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong. The petition cited the ongoing political tussle between Limkaichong and former Rep. Jacinto "Jing" Paras, whom the petitioners said they consider as a "strongman" in the first district of Negros Oriental.

Paras has been implicated in the La Libertad ambush by Paunilian.

'Wastewater treatment
facility a model in Asia'

The highly-debated wastewater treatment plant at the Quezon Park in Dumaguete is a project that the city can be proud of, as it is one of very few cities in the country to have such facility that is required by law.

Lisa Kircher-Lumbao, manager of the Local Initiatives for Affordable Wastewater Treatment Project of the United States Agency for International Development, said there are only three or four cities in the Philippines that have a wastewater treatment plant for its public market.

"Compared to the other cities, Dumaguete is the only one to have a fully natural treatment system that is beautifully landscaped with flowers and plants," she added in a statement sent through e-mail.

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