Comelec still confident
SC will rule in its favor
ON TEAM PATAY TARPAULIN
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Provincial Elections Officer Wil Arceño yesterday said he is confident that, despite its issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order, the Supreme Court will uphold the Commission on Elections position that the “Conscience Vote Team Patay/Team Buhay” tarpaulin in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City is an oversized campaign material.

In an en banc resolution Wednesday the SC issued a TRO stopping the COMELEC from removing the tarpaulin pending hearing of the urgent petition for certiorari and prohibition, with application for preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order, filed by the Diocese of Bacolod represented by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra.

The SC has set the case for oral arguments at its Session Hall at 2 p.m. on March 19.

Cop dismissed,
another suspended
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

Bacolod City Police officer-in-charge, Senior Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel, yesterday reported the dismissal of a policeman for grave misconduct and the suspension of another for serious neglect of duty.

Ordaniel said the dismissal of Police Officer 1 Bernardo Beneras is based on Special Order number 497 dated Feb. 14, 2013 and signed by Police Regional Office-6 Director Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz.

The dismissal of Beneras, who used to be assigned at Police Station 2, stemmed from the escape of an inmate identified as Rhodora Castillo, 40, of Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City, who was facing theft charges on Dec. 20, 2011, a police report said.

A festive atmosphere pervaded at the Carmel of St. Joseph in Bacolod City as thousands of devotees venerated the pilgrim relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus on the second day of its third visit to the Diocese of Bacolod yesterday.

Sergei Tan, of the National Organizing Committee representing the Visayas, said that the outpouring of love is overwhelming as the faithful welcome the pilgrim relics as if a living St. Therese herself has come to visit.

The cloistered nuns at Carmel welcomed the relics with a shower of rose petals and expressed their gratitude to everyone who came , Tan said.