Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group yesterday arrested a mayoralty candidate in the May 2004 synchronized elections, and his son, and confiscated eight guns and hundreds of ammunition during a raid at their residence in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.

Arrested and detained at the CIDG lock-up cell were businessman Francisco "Frank" Nazareno and his son, Jocko, for violation of RA 8294, or illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Ombudsman backs
perjury case vs. dad
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Ombudsman for Visayas has approved the findings of the Office of the Cadiz City Prosecutor of probable cause to hold a city councilor liable for three counts of perjury committed while filing his certificates of candidacy.

Cadiz councilor, Dr. Ramon Nemenzo Jr., was accused of filing certificates of candidacy before the Commission on Elections on March 26, 1998, Feb. 26, 2001 and March 17, 2004 with alleged deliberate misrepresentations by declaring that he was eligible to run for public office when, in truth, he had been disqualified.

Complainant Morito Villa Jr. contended that Nemenzo was ineligible to run for any local public position because of an earlier administrative case where he was found guilty of "dishonesty and disgraceful and immoral conduct" by the Civil Service Commission in Resolution No. 963068 dated May 2, 1996.

Mayor acts on
clogged waterways
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said the city will create a composite team to study the clogged waterways in Bacolod City in order to find ways of addressing the flooding problems brought by heavy rains.

The team will be composed of representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Bacolod City Engineer's Office.

The Mayor also appealed to the public to dispose of their garbage properly, especially plastic materials which are the causes of flooding. Leonardia said they had originally planned to borrow the equipment of the Negros Occidental provincial government to clear the waterways in the city but it is being used in Kabanklan and Ilog.