Mayor orders Ramos
removed from Baciwa
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

“SO ORDERED.”

That was how Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella ended his letter ordering  the removal of director Marichi Fong-Ramos as representative of the professional sector in the Bacolod City Water District Board when the Local Water Utilities Administration denied her confirmation.

In his letter dated October17,  Puentevella said "As the appointing authority in consonance with the law, I hereby order you removed as Director of Baciwa effective immediately."

The LWUA, through an officer-in-charge, Manuel Yoingco, denied the confirmation of Ramos appointment on the ground of "material misrepresentation" with respect to her claim as a professional, and the alleged string of pending criminal cases against her which was taken as a gauge of her moral fitness to be in public service.

Comelec distributes
Oct. 28 ballots
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The ballots for the October 28 barangay elections were delivered yesterday to the 13 cities of Negros Occidental, and those  for the 19 towns of the province will be released today, Provincial Elections Supervisor Jessie Suarez said.

Suarez said the ballots for the towns are now at the Negros Occidental Provincial Treasurer’s Office at the Capitol in Bacolod City, and will be picked up by the municipal treasurers who will be accompanied by police escorts today.

With the deployment of ballots to the towns and cities a week ahead of the elections, he said there will be enough time to ask for additional supply should a shortage be noted.

14 out of 20 Pulupandan
brgys contested
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Barangay posts in 14 out of 20 barangays in Pulupandan town are being contested, Teresa Parroco, the town’s election officer, said yesterday.

She said close to 350 bets are running for barangay posts in Pulupandan, there is freedom in the town for opposing candidates to run, she said.

In some areas, there are four contenders for barangay captain, she said.

Parroco said that while she has heard that some bets may withdraw from the race, no withdrawals have been made so far, and she has not received any reports of threats against candidates.