Arroyo lifts 1017
Negrenses welcome move,
but call for vigilance
BY CARLA GOMEZ

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday lifted the state of national emergency saying the country's security situation is now back to normal a week after an attempt to overthrow government.

"We thank the good Lord who directs the destiny of our land for sparing us from the impending violence had Proclamation 1017 not been lifted," Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said.

The controversial proclamation drew numerous protests, especially for its infringement on civil liberties and press freedom, but Negros mayors yesterday supported the President's move saying it was necessary to prevent a coup attempt.

Media watch
still on: DOJ
BY CARLA GOMEZ

"Now is not the time to lower our guard," the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines said yesterday.

While we welcome the lifting of Proclamation 1017 by President Gloria Arroyo, we must continue to be vigilant, the NUJP said in a statement it issued.

The NUJP called on PNP chief Arturo Lomibao to withdraw all the threats he had made to media institutions, and the National Telecommunications Commission to withdraw all orders controlling the broadcasts industry and to restore programs suspended in connection with Proclamation 1017.

P599M set for
Negros local gov'ts
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A total of P599,682,246 is due to the provincial government, 22 towns and 10 cities of Negros Occidental, from the unreleased Internal Revenue Allotment for 2000-2001, Gov. Joseph Marañon said yesterday.

Marañon met with the city mayors yesterday to discuss the possibility of their collectively availing of a straight loan from the bank using their the IRA due them as guarantee of payment.

"If we go for a straight loan we can get the full value of our money," he said.