Controversial brgy chief
jailed for ‘cutting trees’ 
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Controversial Brgy. Capt. Leandro de la Torre is back in jail after being arrested yesterday by Task Force Ilahas operatives in Murcia, Negros Occidental, allegedly for violation of PD 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines.

TFI operatives seized about 600 board feet of regulated species of narra from the compound of De la Torre, who is facing frustrated murder charges in court, in Brgy. Pandanon Silos, Murcia.

SPO1 Stanley Mendoza of the TFI said de la Torre failed to present documents, allowing him to possess banned species of forestry products.

A Bacoleño was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment yesterday for the murder of a drunk barangay street cleaner who was flirting with his younger sister at a videoke bar in Barangay 21, Bacolod City,  during 2004 MassKara Festival celebration.

Judge Roberto Chiongson of the Regional Trial Court of Bacolod found Arlan Belocora Dingson guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the murder of Rey Aragon Denosta   and sentenced him to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua.

Dingson was also ordered to pay the heirs of Denosta P50,000 as death indemnity and P25,000 as reimbursement for burial expenses.

Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday said the National Food Authority has deputized mayors and barangay captains of Negros Occidental to help monitor  prices  and to  ensure that NFA rice in their areas is not rebagged and sold at commercial rates.

There is no shortage of rice in Negros Occidental, Zayco also stressed.

NFA Provincial Manager Marianito Bejemino yesterday also said there is still 1.4 million bags of rice in Negros Occidental and 120,000 bags more from Vietnam are expected to arrive today or tomorrow.