PNoy orders action
for direct int’l flights
At Bacolod-Silay, 6 others
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Bacolod-Silay Airport may be able to receive international flights at last.

This is because President Benigno Aquino III has directed the Departments of Transportation and Communication, Bureau of Immigration and other concerned agencies to install customs immigration andquarantine (CIQ) processing centers for the operation and handling of direct international flights of seven airports in the country. The Bacolod-Silay Airport is one of them.

In a memorandum dated January 14 Secretary Jose Rene Almendras of the Office of the President said that the President, in a meeting, also on January 14, instructed the agencies concerned to establish CIQ processing centers that will process new and incoming tourists in the Bacolod - Silay Airport and the airports of Puerto Princesa, Laguindingan, Tagbilaran, Legazpi, Iloilo and Kalibo.

11 Negros towns,
cities on poll watchlist
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Eleven of the 31 towns and cities in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City, have been included in the Election Watchlist Areas of the Philippine National Police.

Senior Supt. Celestino Guara, caretaker of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, yesterday said the city of Escalante falls under Category 1, where employment of private armed groups by candidates and intense political rivalry are likely to occur.

The cities of Cadiz, Victorias, Sipalay and Himamaylan, and towns of Manapla, Toboso, Calatrava, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan and Ilog fall under Category 2, where possible election-related incidents may take place due to the presence of armed rebels.

The governor and the congressmen of Negros Occidental may avail of government security personnel during the election period, Provincial Elections Officer Jessie Suarez said yesterday.

This is provided under COMELEC Resolution 9608 that amended Resolution No. 9561-A, which set the rules and regulations for the ban on carrying firearms and other deadly weapons, and the engagement of security personnel or bodyguards for the election period, he said.

Incumbent members of the House of Representatives and provincial governors whose regular security complement had been provided by officers or members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation or other government law enforcement agencies for at least one year at the time of the promulgation of the resolution on January 11, will be allowed to retain the services of such security personnel, Suarez added.