Carla P. Gomez

Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog,*Five of the 19 alleged rebels killed in an encounter on Sunday were key officials of the New People’s Army Northern Negros Front (NNF), which has created a vacuum in leadership in the area, Brig. Gen. Ted Dumosmog, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said on Tuesday, April 21.“Their core leadership has been wiped out,” he said.The 19 rebels were killed in a series of encounters with 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso in Negros Occidental.So far the identities of only five of the 19 recovered bodies have been disclosed.Dumosmog said among those killed were Glenmar Bacosmo secretary of the NNF and his deputy secretary, alias Pat.Also killed were Rene Vilavencenio - vice squad leader of the NNF Squad 2, and Pedro B...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is saddened by the death of 19 alleged rebels in Toboso and is hoping members of the New People’s Army will lay down their arms so the killings will end.“The Philippine Army has openly declared that it was justice served but for me personally when incidents like this happen it really saddens me because its Filipinos fighting Filipinos,” Lacson said on Tuesday, April 21.“We continue to call on our brothers and sisters in the movement to lay down their arms and join government,” he said.For those who have already done so, the governor said the national and provincial governments have done their share to give them a fresh start.“We’re hoping that members of the NPA will just lay down their arms and join us, we are ...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Tuesday, April 21, that he is in favor of pushing through with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on November 2.“Personally, I think (we should) just go on with the barangay and SK elections,” he said.“The budget has already been allocated so we might as well push through with it”, he added.He also noted that the barangay officials have been holding their posts for some time already.Earlier, Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said there is a push in Congress for the postponement of the BSKE amid the economic crisis caused by the rise in oil prices.The funds for the BSKE could be used to aid vulnerable sectors for now, Benitez said.*

The Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will conduct the public hearing on the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Project at the Brgy Guimbalaon covered court in Silay City, 10 a.m. Monday, April 27, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.The hearing will be held to answer environment concerns of stakeholders, he said.Lacson said the provincial government is continuing to push for the project despite its initial rejection by Silay officials.“We have to be positive…we will continue to convince,” he said.The Silay City Council earlier refused to grant the project a Resolution of No Objection.*

Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, Commanding General of the Philippine Army*“There will be no let-up in our campaign to end the decades-long scourge of communist insurgency once and for all,” Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, Commanding General of the Philippine Army, said Monday, April 20.Nafarrete issued the assurance to the Filipino people after 19 alleged rebels were killed in an encounter with soldiers from the 79th Infantry Battalion in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.Nafarrete also said that the Philippine Army condoles with the families of the communist rebels who perished in the military operation.The slain rebels were themselves victims of lies and deception that exploit the vulnerable, he said.“Every life lured into the communist terrorist armed insurgency represent...

Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*“As early as now, PrimeWater and the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) must pull out all the stops to ensure that our water depletion will not reach crisis levels,” Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday, April 20.Benitez pointed out that water in Bacolod is dwindling.“Homes and communities, schools, offices, businesses, livelihoods, health, food—all of these and more will be affected by the lack of water,” he warned.Benitez told PrimeWater and BACIWA that whatever contingencies and strategies that must be employed should be employed now.“It is your responsibility to ensure that Bacolodnons who pay for your service do not run out of water,” he said.Benitez also called on Bacolodnons to be more careful in using...

The evacuees in Toboso Sunday night.* photo courtesy of Mayor Richard Jaojoco   An encounter between 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers and remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, triggered the mass evacuation of 653 residents on Sunday, April 19.Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco said the exact number of reported casualties was being verified."We are still awaiting the official reports from both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army," Jaojoco said at 11 p.m. Sunday.While the local police were preparing body bags no specific details on the casualties were available yet, he said.The encounter in Sitio Sinugmawan, Barangay Salamanca, forced 168 families — totaling 653 individuals — to flee their homes. Disp...

The Silay City Best of Festival Dances winners with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson during the awarding rites on Sunday.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe 30th Panaad sa Negros Festival ended on Sunday, April 19, with sales topping that of three other previous festivals.“As we conclude our 30th Panaad sa Negros Festival, let us cherish the peaceful and successful celebration we had this year,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said at the closing rites at the Panaad Stadium.Sales hit P23.7 million on day six of the festival, with the amount for Sunday yet to be included, Provincial Administrator Rayfrado Diaz said.The day six amount is higher than the seven-day sales during the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Panaad sa Negros Festivals, Diaz said.The top grosser in the city category was Cadiz, ...