LP rebuilding
forces for 2013, Drilon says
PNoy arrival confirmed
BY CARLA GOMEZ

President Benigno Aquino III is definitely arriving to administer the oath to about 60 new members of the Liberal Party at the Natures Village Resort in Talisay City tomorrow, Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) yesterday said.

We are rebuilding the LP in Negros Occidental to make it a party to reckon with in 2013, Senator Franklin Drilon, LP vice chairman, told the DAILY STAR yesterday.

“We are also strengthening the LP all over the country,” he said.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal yesterday filed an urgent motion before the Supreme Court reiterating his call for the issuance of a temporary restraining order to stop the Commission on Elections from further activities and disbursement of funds in connection with the special election in the fifth district of Negros Occidental on June 2.

Macalintal maintained that the holding of the special election on June 2 is beyond the period allowed by law.

“The TRO is also intended to warn all potential candidates in the special election that they run at their own risk with full knowledge of the pendency of my petition questioning the legality of the election and that their candidacies may be affected should the Supreme Court decide in favor of my petition,” he told the DAILY STAR.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Police in Negros Occidental yesterday adopted security plans for the June 2 special election in the 5th district of Negros Occidental, for submission to the Commission on Elections.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who presided over the Joint Peace Security Coordinating Council meeting at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, said they will aim for zero election-related violent incidents during the entire campaign period.

Military records show that four upland barangays in Moises Padilla, Binalbagan and Himamaylan City, have been classified as rebel-influenced areas, and 16 others categorized as less-influenced.