CIDG files illegal gun raps
vs. Peña, 4 others at DOJ
BY CARLA GOMEZ

MANILA – The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed charges against Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña and four others for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives, and for harboring a criminal before the Department of Justice, a CIDG official here said.

Senior Supt. Jose Mario Espino, head of the PNP-CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Division, told the DAILY STAR the charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1866, as amended by Republic Act 8294 and RA 9516, or Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives, and Article 19 of the Revised Penal Code (harboring criminal) were filed before the DOJ in Manila on May 15.

Named respondents, along with Peña, are Florante Divinagracia Pondales, Joey Yungue, Rolly Escaran and Diego Anciano, in the charges docketed as xxi-inv-13E-00153.

Neg. Occ. setting standards
for organic food production
BY CARLA GOMEZ

PASAY CITY – Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat last night lauded Negros Occidental for setting the benchmark for organic food production in the country.

Negrense organic food has not only gone national, it has penetrated the international market, she told the DAILY STAR at the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines 2013, Asia's Ethnic Food and Ingredients Show, at the SMX Convention Center here.

Negros is the only island in the country that has gone all-out in organic production, she said.

PACE still hoping for wage hike
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Hopes are high for the 2,300-strong Capitol employees that the fourth tranche of their salary increases and additional P20,000 bonus will finally be resolved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental, with the May 13 elections finally over.

Ruben Diamante, president of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees, yesterday said they hope the SP will fast-track the approval of the proposed budget for this year, after it was approved on second reading last Wednesday, two days after the election.

“The political season is over. I hope they will now address the immediate concerns of the Capitol employees,” Diamante said, apparently referring to the SP members.