Judge declares CLOA null and void

Judge Reynaldo Alon of the 6th Regional Trial Court of La Carlota City thumbed down as null and void then ordered their cancellation. It also ordered the Cloas cancelled by reason of a writ of preliminary injunction.

Immediately, the CLOA holders who own 10.48 hectares of the Cuenca landholdings in Hda. Malaga-Cuenca in Barangay Robles, last Castella, backed the RTC move and pointed that the Parad has the right to cancel it because it is the DAR program.

It was Raul Flores, one of the live farmers who had joined the Task Force Mapalad and recently separated from the group, who claimed that Task Force Mapalad had tried to trigger a tiff between the tillers and the landowner to secure logistics from non-government organizations from Manila.

But that may have been a pyrrhic victory for Cuenca. Task Force Mapalad members, especially Guillermo Santillan and Othelo Cahilig, said they took over the land because they have the verified true copy of the CLOA processed through RA 6657, the CARL.

Land Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza yesterday organized a 15-man team to accelerate the "peaceful installation" of farmer-beneficiaries of the comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Braganza claimed that we hope to see former landowner engaged in agri-business and rural industrialization with their former tenants and farm workers.

Hall of fame for Bacolod

It was exciting. Bacolod City was adjudged the cleanest and greenest Highly Urbanized City of the Philippines, earning it the hall of fame. It also captured the P3 million Gawad sa Kapaligiran Award of the city. This was livelihood and environmentally-oriented awards for the city.

Chairman Nena Nolido received the award from President Arroyo. She was accompanied by Department of Public Services’ Salvador Carmona and Portia Familiaran of the Clean and Green task force.

City Mayor Luzviminda Valdez is still in Cambodia where she was one of the those invited by the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations.

A citywide caravan will be held tomorrow to mark the celebration. A triumphal celebration will be held tomorrow at the Bay Center.

Meanwhile, DOLE Regional Director Carlos Boteros presented three major awards to Bacolod City. These are for Special Program for Employment for placing Persons with Disabilities under Tulong, Alalay sa Taong May Kapansanan," for having placed applicants under the regular program for the Employment facilitation in Region VI.

BID arrests two foreigners

The Bureau of Immigration and Deportation yesterday announced the arrest of two foreigners by their men. These two arrested foreign nationals were Cuana Lim, also known as Luis Tan, and Kang Maeng Won of Rhea Maeng Korean Surplus.

Alien control officer Mita Chuvy Arguelles said Lim is not in jail. Maeng, whose visa expires Dec. 21, has posted bail.

Maeng was nabbed for violation of the anti-dummy law, otherwise known as Commonwealth Act No. 108, and amended by PD 715. He was also charged for violation of immigration laws by engaging in business or commerce in the Philippines without the proper working visas or business permit.

Maeng reportedly harassed her in one of their stores in San Juan Street. She asked Rhea Blanche to speed up her case against Maeng so she can ask the BID for the inclusion of his name in the hold-departure list.

Escaped foreigner

Police and immigration officials of Negros Oriental have joined hands in the quest for a foreigner, Hans Albert Keonig, accused of raping a Filipina in Negros Oriental.

Keonig, who is accused of having raped a local girl, was reportedly placed in the watchlist of the justice department.

When checked at his Maayong Tubig, Dauin residence, Koenig was nowhere to be found.

Keonig was reported to have left the house with two big suitcases and had boarded his car.

Provincial treasury record

The provincial treasury under Dr. Melba Sullivan, posted a record operating surplus of Iloilo by posting P78.2 million, the highest posted as against the record of January to November, last year.

Thus, Iloilo will be able to grant the 14 month pay to employees of the provincial government. This was the policy announced by the provincial board instead of the traditional P5,000 bonus for the government workers.

"We make it a point to squeeze and be strict with the municipal collection with the cooperation of their respective mayors," was the formula adopted by Mrs. Sullivan.

Governor Niel Tupas, meanwhile, also clarified that he is seeking only the relief of PNP personnel in Carlestown found ineffective in enforcing the laws on illegal fishing.

Not all of them will be relieved. Only those who have been found ineffective in carrying out my program of stopping illegal fishing," confirmed Tupas.

Carles has the widest municipal water in Iloilo and most of its sea area falls within the larger Visayan Sea, one of the richest areas of marine life in the Philippines.

Tupas has made marine conservation his campaign platform "to restore the bounties of the sea and ensure abundant food for our people."