DAILY STAR: Negros Oriental

The Commission on Elections in Negros Oriental and the Philippine National Police are coordinating on security measures for the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines expected to arrive in the province this week.

However, Dumaguete elections officer Jerome Brillantes said yesterday that the PCOS machines are already in Bacolod City and are arriving in Dumaguete today.

The machines will be stored in a holding area that 2GO, the official courier, had earlier identified, Brillantes said. He said the machines will be safe as the courier will provide its own security detail, with additional policemen deployed, as Dumaguete police chief, Supt. James Goforth, had promised.

SC issues TRO vs. airtime
limit for political ads

The Supreme Court yesterday granted a temporary restraining order against two resolutions of the Commission on Elections limiting the airtime of political advertisements for the May 13 polls, a government press release said.

Nine associate justices gave merit to the arguments of various petitioners, who claimed that, with limited airtime, many of the candidates could not reach the various areas of the archipelago of which they can at least reach through the radio and television.

Comelec resolutions 96-15 and 96-41 were intended to lessen the disadvantage of the candidates who cannot be financially capable to spend, or pay for the radio and television airtime..

All systems ready
for Palaro Sunday
BY MARICAR ARANAS

Negros Oriental is all set for the opening of Palarong Pambansa 2013 at 4:30 p.m. on April 21 at the Governor Mariano Perdices Coliseum in Dumaguete City.

Around 8,500 athletes from 17 regions will participate, with 4,000 officiating officials, Department of Education representatives and governors, mayors and leaders of various provinces expected to attend the opening rites.

This year's theme “Palarong Pambansa 2013 is Sports: Road to Peace and Progress” complement the commitment of DepEd to support the latest signing of the Bansangmoro peace agreement.

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