Senator Franklin Drilon yesterday said if the Arroyo administration wants to regain some credibility in Western Visayas it should immediately relieve Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Dulay Sr. as police regional director of Western Visayas, and order the transfer of other police officers who took part in the siege of the Iloilo Capitol on Jan. 17.

It is up to Malacañang to take strong affirmative action, especially before the May polls, if it does not want to suffer the backlash of public opinion in Western Visayas, Drilon told the DAILY STAR.

Dulay said he welcomed the report of the Senate committees on public order and local government that recommended his prosecution and reshuffling from assignment along with members of the PNP 6th Regional Mobile Group.

CLO sees dismissal
of gov't center case
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Regional Trial Court Branch 44 Judge Rodney Bolunia yesterday ordered the parties involved in the case concerning the government center project to simultaneously file their respective memoranda and position papers after 10 days.

A civil case seeking the declaration of nullity of the contract between the city and Hilmarc's Construction Corp, was filed by the group called KABALAKA against the Mayor, the members of the Bids and Awards Committee, the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and the City of Bacolod.

The group questioned the bidding process, alleged overpricing and claimed there were provisions in the law that were not complied with by the city. Bacolod City Legal Officer Allan Zamora yesterday said he believes the judge will grant the dismissal they sought on the complaint filed by the KABALAKA group, based on the issues they have raised.

Rapiz wants PMG men
to stay in Pulupandan
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Senior Inspector Santiago Rapiz yesterday said he will request Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia to facilitate the retention of 15 troopers of the 612nd Provincial Mobile Group who are helping them in the maintenance of peace and order, until the election period is over.

Rapiz who assumed the Pulupandan police command on Wednesday, said yesterday that the PMG troopers are presently deployed in Pulupandan, in connection with weeklong celebration of the town fiesta.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, identified Pulupandan among the towns and cities in Negros Occidental to receive additional policemen from the 6th Regional Mobile Group. The appointment of Rapiz as Pulupandan police chief, as recommended by Mondia, was recently approved by the Commission on Election.