Ronnie Baldonado photo

Lin-ay sang Negros 2013 Samyah Al-Dossary of Bacolod City flanked by first runner-up Recelle Nuyad of Sagay City and second runner up Riah Angelica De Ocampo of Silay City after the coronation at about 2 a.m. today.*

Negros police will stay
neutral, de la Paz says
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, who took over as officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office yesterday, received marching orders from Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. to keep the elections in the province peaceful and fair.

The governor also directed him to go after illegal gambling and drug operations in the province, de la Paz said.

De la Paz, who replaced Senior Supt. Celestino Guara, assured that the Negros Occidental police will be apolitical, neutral, and non partisan in the May 13 polls.

Military eyes ‘goons'
in M-203 attack
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

If the military is to be believed, the firing of 40mm high explosive projectiles from an M-203 grenade launcher into the residential compound of Mayor Lourdes Escalante in Brgy. Punta Mesa, Manapla, Wednesday night may have been done by “goons”.

Col. Jon Aying, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, said yesterday that they have not received reports that the New People's Army was behind the attack. “We don't believe it was them. These are goons,” Aying said.

While nobody was hurt in the successive explosions, Inspector Julius Ceasar Colado, Manapla police officer-in-charge, said yesterday that it had traumatized the family of the mayor, and their workers living in the hacienda.

Gubernatorial bets finally debate
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. finally faced off in a debate yesterday morning.

The two former allies-turned-opponents for governor, in the debate over Bombo Radyo, tackled issues ranging from their platforms of government, the non-passage of the 2013 annual budget of the provincial government, taxes, sheep purchase, illegal campaign posters, their chances of winning, and the behavior of Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña, to the future of the sugar industry.

Alvarez said his platform of government, titled “Love Negros”, was copied from his “Love CHICKS” program that he has been implementing in southern Negros Occidental to improve the lives of the people for 24 years.