PNP, Army on red alert
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Military troopers and policemen in Negros Occidental went on red alert status effective yesterday, as the Communist Party of the Philippines marks its 41 st founding anniversary on Dec. 26.

Traditionally, the New People's Army marks the CPP founding anniversary by staging tactical offensives against government and private installations, especially in remote areas, or by killing military spies and unwary soldiers or policemen, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, Col. Maximo Caro, said.

The CPP is the political arm of the NPA.

Not too many people trooped to the Commission on Elections offices in Negros Occidental when the registration of voters for the 2010 polls resumed yesterday, Provincial Election Officer Jessie Suarez said.

In some COMELEC offices in Negros Occidental, Suarez said only about 20 new registrants were seen.

In Bacolod City 160 new voters were registered yesterday, Election Officer Ryan Castro said.

SAGAY CITY – Mayor Alfredo Marañon Jr., of this city, who is running for governor in 2010, outlined his three-year strategic development plan for Negros Occidental at his 74 th birthday celebration at the Balay Kauswagan here yesterday.

Marañon, who is running under the United Negros Alliance ticket with Rep. Genaro Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) as his running mate, said his “Negros First” three-year plan is tried and tested, it has been implemented in Sagay City , and he aims to replicate it provincewide.

The three-year-plan aims to optimize the potential of Negros Occidental as an agricultural province, he said.