Abalos: No guidelines for verification needed.*

The Commission on Elections yesterday began verification of signatures of voters supporting a people's initiative for Charter change in some areas in Western Visayas, Elections Regional Director Dennis Ausan said.

Ausan said all election officers must proceed immediately with the validation of signatures submitted to their offices for a people's initiative as soon as they receive them.

He said the signatures submitted should be accompanied by an official request for verification with the name of the person spearheading the move.

Ilongga killed in Bahrain
BY NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.

ILOILO CITY-"Si Mama nagkadto sa heaven. Gindala ni Papa Jesus (Mother is in heaven. She was brought by Papa Jesus)," 3-year-old Jules Archangel Dunca kept saying to his grandmother Edna Aboboto.

The boy was oblivious to the grief in their household and said he hopes his mother will bring many toys when she comes home.

He is excited to show her his achievement ribbons in nursery school, including those for best in Math, honesty, being active and well-groomed.

AFP: Children of slain soldiers in
Region 6 to get scholarships
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Good news for children and dependents of soldiers in Western Visayas who died in the line of duty.

Maj. Lyndon Sollesta, Army regional spokesman, yesterday said a memorandum of agreement will be signed today between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and representative of seven colleges and universities in Panay, that will provide scholarships, tuition fee discounts and other incentives to dependents of Army soldiers who died in combat duty.

Sollesta said similar arrangements will also be initiated by the AFP with colleges in Negros Occidental.