Governor asking PNoy:
Exempt bonus from tax
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday he is calling on President Benigno Aquino III to exempt employees in typhoon affected areas, like Negros Occidental, from paying withholding tax on their bonuses this Christmas.

The governor issued the call because of the clamor of Capitol employeees for help with the Bureau of Internal Revenue requirement for them to pay tax on their bonuses and 13th month pay.

The tax on bonuses and the 13th month pay is a provision that is being complied with only now, Provincial Budget Offficer Jose Percival Salado Jr. said.

Comelec hit for
embarassing officials
6 losers failed to file SOCEs – Suarez
BY CARLA GOMEZ & CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Disappointment was aired yesterday against the Commission on Elections for its alleged failure to verify its list of elected officials who must vacate their positions for not filing their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures after the May 2013 elections.

COMELEC Commissioner Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Thursday announced that 422 elected officials must step down for failure to file their SOCEs as required in Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 (An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections).

“No person elected to any public office shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures required,” the law states.

‘It’s up to judge to
inhibit in Baciwa case’
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella yesterday said he will assign the son of Judge Franklin Demonteverde to represent him in the legal team of the Bacolod City Water District upon learning that the hearing of the petition filed by director Marichi Ramos has been reset by the Judge to January 31.

Ramos filed a petition for a temporary restraining order, after LWUA officer-in-charge Manuel Yoingco ordered her replacement.

The petition was filed against Yoingco, Office of acting LWUA Administrator officer-in-charge Eduardo Santos, and Juliana Carbon, BACIWA general manger, to prevent them from implementing the order of Yoingco pending further orders from the Court.