NEWS BRIEFS

18 FARMERS FREED

AT LEAST 18 farmers and two students were released on bail yesterday after Monday’s clash with policemen who dispersed a human barricade of protestors trying to stop the fencing of Hacienda Gantuangco in Aloguinsan, midwest Cebu..

The detainees, all women, stepped out of jail in Pinamungajan town about 6 p.m.

College students Remy Jade Manson and Melanie Montanio were also freed after posting bail.

Judge Ruben Altubar of Branch 29 in the Regional Trial Court Branch 29 issued the release order.

The detainess are facing charges of direct assault and resistance of persons in authority.

But 16 other male detainees, including a college student, have not been released as of 9 p.m. yesterday. The processing of their bail was delayed.

They were committed to the Cebu provincial jail in barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City. The farmers’ lawyers have been trying to process their bail quickly after convincing the court to reduce the original amount set for their temporary liberty.

From the original bail of P12,000, the court allowed each of the accused to pay t P6,000 on the charge of direct assault.

On charges of “resistance and disobedience of persons in authority,” each of the accused were made to pay P1,000 instead of the P2,000 recommended by the prosecutor.

Their lawyers requested the court to reduce the bail of the detainees saying “there is no risk of flight on the part of the accused.”

Former Senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña paid for the bail of the detainees except for Manson and Montanio who used their own funds.

The farmers y sought the assistance of Osmena, who used to be the congressmen of Cebu’s 3rd district, a position he said he is seeking again..  Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol

VIGILANTE KILLINGS

“WE don’t tolerate any acts of violence or extrajudicial killings.”

A Cebu Chamber of Comerce and Industry official gave this statement after a Wikileaks report quoted a former US Ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone in a declassified memo in 2005 that the chamber, was one of the non-government organizations supporting vigilante killings in Cebu.

“The CCCI always holds true to its vision to be the engine of Cebu’s business growth towards global competitiveness. In fact the CCCI delivers extraordinary services to maintain a healthy business environment for the stakeholders. The CCCI firmly believes that criminality is not solved by bloody procedures. Criminality exists due to poor human life conditions such as joblessness and lack of livelihood,” said Buddy Villasis, CCCI executive director.

He said job creation would alleviate the living conditions in the city and the province.  Reporter Marian Z. Codilla

BARILI ACCIDENT

THE recent release from jail of truck driver Alwin Bayno after he posted bail drew mixed reactions from the victims of the Aug. 18 Barili dump truck accident.

Michael Tumulak, 30, who suffered fractures on his right arm, said he felt bad after learning of Bayno’s release.

Rosemarie Empis, who is still confined at the hospital after suffering fractures in her right leg and had wounds on her face, arm and feet, said she was angry because it was the government who allowed Bayno be released and at the same time it was also the government who helped them.

But, Margarito Cereno, the father of the two-year-old survivor, Ashley, said he was not concerned about the release because Ashley had no serious injuries.

The accident claimed the lives of 12 persons and injured at least 60 people. Corresponent Rhea Ruth V. Rosell