Organizations of public school teachers in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are asking the Commission on Election to resolve the case of election offense filed against the 27 Inspectors of the Board of Election in the 2004 election.

The members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Negros and the Association of Classroom Teachers of Bacolod are asking the Comelec for a dialog in order to resolve before May 14, the case filed against the 27 BEI's by former Mayor Luzviminda Valdez, which has been pending for three years now. The 27 teachers have been barred from serving in the May 2007 election. The group will also launch a Teacher's Election Hotline on May 14 that will serve as a quick response center against harassments and threats against teachers serving in the election.

They are also asking the Comelec if it is willing to shoulder the expenses if cases are filed against the teachers.

Security up over
Bacolod ballot boxes
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Members of the Public Order and Safety Office assigned to secure the Bays Center in Bacolod City yesterday reported to the police that several unidentified men have been seen conducting surveillance in the area where the ballot boxes are being kept by the Comelec.

Juno Rejemino and Arsenio Apelido reported to Police Precinct 1 that at about 6 p.m. Wednesday, they noticed four to six unidentified men, believed to be supporters of Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, taking turns in observing the activities at the Bay Center. They were also seen in the area at about 12:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. yesterday, they said.

The complainants said that, based on information they gathered, the suspects were monitoring the time that the Bays Center opens and closes. They said the suspects were riding on a Green Suzuki van with plate number FDN-926.

Landmark law bans
GMOs in Neg. Occ
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Wednesday a landmark legislation that bans the entry of genetically modified plants and animals in the province and imposes penalties for its violation.

Provincial Ordinance No. 07, Series of 2007, or "The Safeguard Against Living Genetically-Modified Organisms", was sponsored by Board Member Adolfo Mangao Sr., chairman of the SP Committee on Agriculture.

The ordinance helps bring Negros Island a step closer to its goal of becoming the organic food bowl of Asia, Patrick Belisario, executive director of the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation Inc., said yesterday. In Aug. 24, 2005, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon and Oriental Negros Gov. George Arnaiz signed a memorandum of agreement committing to 10 percent organic production islandwide by the year 2010 and to the banning of GMOs.