Former Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco and his wife, Gretchen*

Gretchen Oppen Cojuangco, wife of business tycoon and Nationalist People’s Coalition chairman emeritus, Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, said Saturday that she is not supporting the presidential bid of her husband’s nephew, former National Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro.

“Anybody but Gibo...anybody but him,” Mrs. Cojuangco said.

Teodoro, who is the standard bearer of the Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD), is the son of Danding Cojuangco’s younger sister Mercedes.

An overloaded tricycle was hit by a refrigeration van at the junction of Lacson and Circumferential Road, in Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City, at about 12:30 p.m. yesterday.

The driver and his 15 passengers, mostly infants and children, were injured, Traffic investigator Police Officer 3 Xavier Rama said.

Rama identified those injured as driver Ermilo Manayaga, 24, of Purok Jalandon, Maricor Lindayao, 25, and her children Jony Boy, 7, Joendy Jr., 2, Melody, 5, and her 8-month-old daughter Mariel; Rona Maglasang, 23 and her 3-month-old son Edwin, Emilyn Luces, 22 and her 11-month-old son Joenel, of Purok Lampirong, all of Brgy. 2, Bacolod.

CPG photo

Sagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is keeping up the fight to protect Sagay’s marine life*

Sagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon Saturday said his programs for ensuring food security and poverty alleviation have been tried and tested in his city, and he will replicate them throughout Negros Occidental if elected governor in May.

Marañon, who is running under the United Negros Alliance, during the weekend took the media on a tour of the various projects he has implemented in Sagay City. He said he wanted to show that his vision for Negros Occidental is not just “all talk”, it is real.

The mayor, who had also served as congressman of the second district of Negros Occidental, said he has spent 43 years of his life in public service, without a single graft case.