5 Negros officials deny
Comelec SOCE claim
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Commission on Elections has included five elected officials from Negros Occidental  on its list of  422 nationwide who must vacate their posts for failing to file their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures after the May 2013  elections.

The Comelec has written to House  Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas, asking them to  order the 20 representatives and over 400 local officials to step down.

COMELEC Commissioner Sixto Brillantes Jr. said that, under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 (An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections), every candidate  should file a true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures within 30 days after an election.

Jail warden relieved,
6 investigated
BY SHIELA GELERA

The six jail guards of the Negros Occidental District Jail in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, who were on-duty when two inmates escaped last week, are being investigated, while their warden was relieved by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology regional office-6, Wednesday.

Supt. Hilbert Flor, former NODJ officer-in-charge, was transferred to BJMPRO-6, as assistant regional director for operations, Chief Insp. Gilbert Peremne, the new BJMP regional chief of staff, and jail provincial administrator of Negros Occidental, said yesterday.

Peremne said inmates Jimmy Sablon, 35, of Brgy. Robles, La Castellana in Negros Occidental, and Charlie Duran, 25, of Brgy. Macasilao in Calatrava town, also in the province, who were nabbed in La Castellana, Saturday, are being held at the Bacolod City District Jail-Male Dormitory, while documents for their transfer to designated wards are being processed.

Garcia to refrain from
Baciwa duties
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The newly-appointed director of the Bacolod City Water District representing the professional sector, yesterday said he  will  temporarily refrain from discharging his duties until all legal issues over his appointment and that of Marichi Ramos are resolved.

Former Bacolod Vice Mayor Ramiro Garcia Jr., was appointed to the position by Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella.

Ramos filed a petition, with prayer for temporary restraining order, after  Local Water Utilities Administration officer-in-charge Manuel Yoingco had ordered her replacement. The petition was filed against Yoingco, Office of the Acting LWUA Administrator officer-in-charge Eduardo Santos, and Juliana Carbon,  BACIWA general manager, to prevent them from implementing the order of Yoingco  pending further orders from the Court.