Negros SP ok’s P43.8M,
members get P8M more 
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved a P43.8 million supplemental budget, which includes an additional P8 million for provincial board members to dispose on projects they deem necessary for their constituents.

Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday said each board member will get about P500,000 each for projects in their districts.

Earlier each board member was given P1.5 million  in discretionary funds for their districts and 11 of them chose to use the bulk of their shares to buy vehicles for their own use.

Warehouse owners and traders in the Philippines found to be hoarding rice will be charged with "economic sabotage" which carries a life sentence, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said yesterday.

The warning was issued by Gonzalez yesterday as Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco called on the public to report any trader hoarding rice, or rebagging National Food Authority rice to be sold at commercial rates.

Anyone with information on such activities can report to the NFA or the Office of the Governor so that action can be taken, he said.

After 24 hours of detention, controversial Brgy. Capt. Leandro de la Torre posted bail of P30,000 and  was freed from the police jail of Murcia at about  5 p.m. yesterday.

SPO1 Frisco Lobaton, Murcia PNP Desk Officer, said Judge Orlando Ayeng ordered the release of de la Torre who was arrested by Task Force Ilahas on Wednesday, for violation of PD 705, or the Forestry Code of the Philippines, in Brgy.Pandanon Silos, Murcia..

The raid on the residential compound of de la Torre, a barangay captain of Pandanon Silos, Murcia, which was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Ayeng, yielded 628.15 board feet of regulated species of “narra”, in assorted sizes, estimated to have a market value of P125,630, Task Force Ilahas operative SPO1 Stanley Mendoza said.