P-Noy SONA today,
Negros hopes aired
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental officials hope President Benigno Aquino III, in his State of the Nation Address this afternoon, places agriculture, the main lifeblood of Negros’ economy, and empowerment of local governments among his priorities.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. Saturday said he expects Aquino to present the truth about the state of the nation and the problems it is facing, and outline his solutions.

“We do not need beautiful rhetoric but plans that can be put into immediate action,” said the governor, who is not attending the SONA.

A doctor, a lawyer and a businessman will join four veteran congressmen in representing Negros Occidental and Bacolod City in the 15th Congress that opens today.

The three neophyte solons are Dr. Anthony Golez (Bacolod), businessman Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) and lawyer Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District).

They will join returning solons Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1st District), Afredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District), Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) and Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th District).

The suspect in the massacre of five, including two Negrenses and an American war veteran, in their house at Angeles City, Pampanga, Thursday, is still at-large, Marilyn Adraneda said last night.

Adraneda is the sister of Janet Adraneda Mitchell, 53, whose body and that of her husband Albert Mitchell, 70, househelpers Marissa Prado and Isabel Fajardo, 30, and driver Yulberto Vergara, 50, were found with gunshot wounds in various parts of the house.

Janet Mitchell and Fajardo are from Cadiz City in Negros Occidental.