Provincial supervisor Jessie Suarez of the Commission on Elections yesterday said he is summoning the four candidates whose disqualifications are being sought to hearings to air their positions before he forwards evidence presented to the COMELEC Legal Department for action.

The legitimacy of one's bid to run will be based on a candidate's capacity to launch a credible campaign, Suarez said. Among those who are the subject of petitions for disqualification are candidates for mayor Evello Valencia (NPC) in Toboso, Crisanto Mondia (Independent) in Pulupandan and Alice Gatuslao (Independent) in Himamaylan, and vice mayoralty bet Willymer Perez (Independent) in Cauayan.

Mayoralty candidate Albino de la Cruz (Lakas NUCD) is seeking the disqualification of his opponent, Valencia, for allegedly being an American citizen.

Mike wiggles toes,
writes notes: Iggy
GMA MAY POSTPONE NEGROS VISIT
BY CARLA GOMEZ

First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo wiggled his toes, could recognize people and was writing notes to his family yesterday, his brother Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5th district) said yesterday.

"He's doing very well," said the solon who had spent the night at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the rest of their family as his brother underwent a risky 10-hour triple bypass operation and open heart surgery for aneurysm that ended 5 a.m. yesterday.

The first gentleman has a tube in his mouth so he can only mumble and convey what he wants to say through notes, the solon said of his brother.

Libel raps readied
versus black propa
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The Bacolod City Legal Office is readying libel charges against a person identified to have been distributing black propaganda materials against three Bacolod City officials during the Holy Week.

Based on a police blotter report dated April 3, Jun Bustamante, a trisikad driver and a member of a militant group, was found distributing the materials on April 3 inside the SM City Mall at about 2 p.m.

The materials that were also distributed at Robinson's Place Bacolod portrayed Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Renecito Novero and City Legal Officer Allan Zamora in despicable sketches.