EDC starts cutting
trees in buffer zone
BISHOP, GREENWATCH BACK TRO BID
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Energy Development Corp. yesterday began cutting trees in the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park buffer zone to pave the way for geothermal exploration, even as Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra and Greenwatch Philippines backed the bid for court action to stop it.

EDC spokesman Joey Higgins said the cutting of trees began after a provincial government Oversight Monitoring and Compliance Committee headed by Board Member Mae Javellana visited the area Saturday to inspect the trees to be cut.

Representatives of the oversight committee and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were present during the cutting of trees, Javellana said.

For allegedly molesting his two minor daughters who are now pregnant, a construction worker is now behind bars in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental.

Police Chief, Inspector Samuel Mina, yesterday said they are readying rape charges against the suspect who was arrested by the police on Thursday at his residence in Sitio Bantud, Brgy. 3 poblacion, E.B. Magalona.

Initial police investigations show that the 36-year-old suspect who is a widower, allegedly molested his two daughters, whenever he got drunk.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said identification of beneficiaries for the P1 million assistance given by boxing champion Manny Pacquiao to the victims of typhoon ‘Frank' in the city was done by the Department of Social Service and Development, and no politics was involved in it.

At the same time, Leonardia said, he is grateful to Pacquiao for proceeding with his plans to come to Bacolod and deliver his assistance to the flood victims in the city despite the fact that, according to a very reliable source in the camp of the ring champion, Rep. Monico Puentevella tried to discourage him from coming, telling him that the city did not suffer that much damage from the typhoon.