Jules battle cry: 46-79,
calls Assunta the 'icing'
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Former representative Julio Ledesma IV last night said he is running for congressman of the first district of Negros Occidental under the Lakas CMD ticket and bears no ill will against anyone for not being chosen the official candidate of the Nationalist People's Coalition to which he belongs.

The NPC named Rep. Tranquilino Carmona its official congressional candidate for the first district, but Ledesma said that, as far as he knows, the solon was a KAMPI member in good standing until March 1. Ledesma, who finally broke his long silence in the media, told the DAILY STAR he had a gentleman's agreement with Carmona in 2001 that in 2007 it would be his turn to run for congressman, but the solon did not honor it.

Vice guv unopposed,
Depasucat offers change
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The filing of Certificates of Candidacy ended at midnight yesterday with three candidates running for governor, one for vice governor, 21 for the 12 provincial board seats and 14 for the six congressional seats of Negros Occidental.

Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco and the candidates for board member of the second and sixth districts are unopposed.

The latest to file their certificates of candidacy for congressmen were Jules Ledesma IV (Lakas CMD) and Ernesto Lindongan Librando (PMP) - first district, Oscar Arias (Independent) - second district, Reynaldo Depasucat (LP) - third district, and George Rivera Lopez (Independent) - 6th district.

Guv: Keep high
level campaign
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday called on candidates in the May polls to keep the election campaign on a high level instead of engaging in mudslinging that is unproductive.

He also called on the police and Commission on Elections to keep the May polls peaceful and orderly.

We should concentrate on issues that will ensure progress for our people and on the programs that we plan to implement in the next three years, he said. The governor said he will also report to the people on what his team has done for Negros Occidental in the last 5 years and a half.