Three grave sites of alleged victims of New People’s Army summary executions were discovered and skeletal remains were exhumed yesterday by soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion in Brgy, Camindangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.

Lt. Col. Romeo Basco, 61st IB commander, said the discovery of the grave sites of civilians suspected to be military informers was based on information provided by an inactive NPA member to a militiaman, who is the son of one of the victims.

Basco said the grave site of Kagawad Porferio Tabano who was abducted in 1989 on suspicion of being a military informant, and a cave where two more skeletal remains were discovered, are a kilometer away to another grave site, all in Sitio Bangco-Bangco, Brgy. Camindangan, Sipalay City. .

Seventy-nine persons sought medical help for suspected food poisoning at the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City Sunday night, the Bacolod City Health Office reported yesterday.

Of those who went to the hospital for check-up, 23 were admitted for further observation, while 56 were outpatients suffering from upset stomachs, Dr. Salome Biñas, CHO officer-in-charge, said.

The patients, who had come from a sports activity of cigarette company Mighty Corp., started to arrive at the hospital around 5 p.m. Sunday, with most of them complaining of abdominal pain, Biñas said.

CPG photo

Senator Loren Legarda with Acting Gov. Isidro Zayco at the Capitol in Bacolod City yesterday*

Senator Loren Legarda yesterday said she hopes there is closure to the Senate ZTE-National broadband deal hearings soon and if evidence proves that money really changed hands, charges should be filed against those involved regardless of their position.

This could lead to resignations or impeachment, she said.

But Legarda, who was in Bacolod City, said she is opposed to succession by Vice President Noli de Castro, saying she believes the people would rather have snap elections to have a clean slate in the top leadership of the country.