Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos yesterday warned policemen and barangay officials to prevent the illegal posting of campaign materials outside the COMELEC-identified common poster areas or face penalties.

Abalos told the DAILY STAR that the police and barangay officials who allow illegal postering in their areas will be charged administratively for dereliction of duty.

Since the Philippine National Police is under the COMELEC during the election period, he can also order the transfer of police chiefs and policemen who fail to act on the illegal posting of election materials, Abalos said.

NPC names
Carmona its official bet
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Nationalist People's Coalition has named Rep. Tranquilino Carmona its official candidate for congressman of the first district of Negros Occidental.

The nomination of Carmona was signed by NPC chairman Faustino Dy and party president Frisco San Juan. "Because of that nomination from Manila, I think the door has been closed as far as the NPC is concerned," Gov. Joseph Marañon said, in reference to the possibility of a dialog to resolve within the party the plan of former Rep. Julio Ledesma to also run for congressman of the first district of Negros Occidental.

It follows that Carmona will also be the official candidate of UNA, Marañon said.

Mayor studying filing of suit
vs. gov't center complainants
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The third district mayors of Negros Occidental did not join President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's political party, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, to put up a candidate against incumbent Rep. Jose Carlos "Kako" Lacson of the Lakas party, Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscolluela, KAMPI third district chairman, said.

KAMPI has an alliance with Lakas and other political parties and we will not do anything to break it, we will not field a candidate for congressman, he said.

Board Member Reynaldo Depasucat who has said he may run for congressman of the third district was not among the Negros officials who took their oaths before KAMPI Monday at the Manila Hotel. Aside from Coscolluela the third district mayors who joined KAMPI are Severo Palanca - Victorias, Silay - Carlo Gamban, EB Magalona - Alfonso Gamboa and Talisay - Eric Saratan.