Carla P. Gomez

Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an executive order creating the Bacolod City COVID-19 Vaccination (CoVac) Council to set up a roadmap for providing Bacolodnons access to coronavirus vaccines “at the soonest possible time with the widest and most realistic coverage possible.”Leonardia, in Executive Order No. 83, Series of 2020, said the American drug company Pfizer reported that its new COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90 percent effective, and shortly after, Moderna reported similar positive news regarding its own vaccine.There are also other COVID-19 vaccines in advanced stages of development in other countries that may later on be authorized for Philippine use by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), including vaccines from the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and China, he saidIt...

3ID photoThe Philippine Army identified the two New People’s Army rebels killed in a clash with government forces in Siaton, Negros Oriental, on Christmas Eve, and denied the NPA claim that four government soldiers were also slain.The slain NPA rebels were Ricardo “Ka George” Sabinan, 45, from Barangay Mantiquil, Siaton, and Ebit “Ka MJ” Fuentes, 24, of Barangay San Vicente, Trinidad, Bohol, Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Division Public Affairs Office chief, said today, Decemeber 27.Soldiers of the Army’s 11th Infantry (Lapu-Lapu) Battalion encountered remnants of the Southeast Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (SEF, KR–NCBS) at Sitio Libjo, Barangay Napacao, Siaton, at about 7:25 p.m. of December 24, Pancito said.The encounter resulted in the recovery of ...

3ID photoTwo alleged New People’s Army rebels were killed and firearms were seized in a clash with government forces in Siaton, Negros Oriental, on Christmas Eve, the Army said today, December 25.Soldiers of the Army’s 11th Infantry (Lapu-Lapu) Battalion encountered remnants of the Southeast Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (SEF,KR–NCBS) at Sitio Libjo, Barangay Napacao, Siaton, at about 7:25 p.m. of December 24, Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Division Public Affairs Office chief, said.The encounter occurred after the government forces received reports from residents and officials of Barangay Napacao of their presence, Pancito added.The encounter resulted in the recovery of the two bodies of the alleged rebels, a 5.56mm M653 Baby Armalite, and a .45 calibe...

CBCP photosThere is Christmas hope even in this time of great distress, two Negros bishops assured the faithful today, December 23.Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon and San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza in their Christmas messages rallied the people to turn to Christ as the world celebrates His birth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and numerous killings.“Jesus is the reason for the Holy-days’ celebration. Let us recover the ‘Holy’, that is Christ in our holidays,” Buzon said.During Christmas we recognize God’s gift of life and salvation, Buzon reminded the faithful.In this time of great distress brought about by COVID-19 and by the disasters that struck our people, we continue to hope and face all these, he said.“We believe in Christ, who is our sure hope and light amidst...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson reminded Negrenses today, December 23, that as they celebrate the holidays amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they must be responsible for each other.“Let us call to mind that we are each other’s keeper, that we are responsible for one another,” he said, amid repeated reminders to observe COVID-19 health protocols and to stay safe.The governor also stressed the need to remember the frontliners, including the men and women in uniform, who may not be home for the holidays as they tirelessly work for the welfare of everyone.“It is my fervent hope that we Negrenses remain joyful, that our smiles this season, although behind masks, are real, heartfelt and truly hopeful because our Savior has come and our Savior reigns,” Lacson said.“Let us not...

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is asking the Department of Budget and Management if the Negros Occidental provincial government can grant its employees an additional bonus without counting it as part of personal services.If it is counted as personal services, the province will exceed the cap set by the DBM, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said today, December 23.“The provincial government has the money to grant an additional P10,000 bonus for its 3,200 employees. We can give it, we just need to ensure that we do not violate DBM rules,” Diaz said.President Rodrigo Duterte has issued Administrative Order No. 37 authorizing local government units to grant a one-time SRI to government employees at a uniform rate of not exceeding P10,000 this December.The provincial govern...

Curfew in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, will be suspended for two days to allow residents to observe Christmas and New Year’s eve traditions.Mayor Pedro Zayco, in Executive Order 54-2020, cancelled curfew in Kabankalan on December 24 and 31.However, he said the liquor ban in the city will remain in place.Zayco stressed the need for the continued observance of COVID-19 health protocols during the holidays.Kabankalan, as of today, December 23, had 13 active COVID-19 cases, its City Health Office reported.There have been 512 persons hit by the virus in Kabankalan, 492 of whom have recovered and seven have died, the CHO added.*

Pontevedra PNP photoA police intelligence officer who was walking behind Mayor Jose Maria Alonso at the reclamation area in Barangay 1-Poblacion in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, was shot to death by a lone gunman at 6 a.m. today, December 22.SSgt. Ildefonso Rivera Casugod, 37, was shot in the head and was declared dead on arrival at the Bago City District Hospital, Capt. Hancel Lumandaz, Pontevedra police chief, said.Casugod, a resident of Barangay Recreo, Pontevedra, was shot in the head with a .45 caliber pistol by his assassin who was wearing a face mask, hooded jacket and black jogging pants, Lumandaz said.The suspect walked up to the policeman from behind and shot him, then walked towards a waiting scooter and escaped, the mayor said.Alonso and his companions Ramo...

Bishop Gerardo Alminaza after the funeral mass of the Sancelans with their family.*Alminaza photosThe 85-year-old mother of Edwin Sancelan went to Guihulngan thinking it was for her grandson’s birthday.*Colleagues of Dr. Sancelan release white balloons at the funeral.*The Guilhulngan City health officer and her husband who were mercilessly shot to death on December 15 were buried in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, this afternoon, December 22, amid cries for justice and an end to red-tagging.Dr. Mary Rose Genisan Sancelan, and husband Edwin Sancelan, a local government employee, were on their way home when an unidentified suspect shot them outside Carmen Ville Subdivision in Barangay Poblacion, Guihulngan City, on December 15.The senseless killing of the Sancelans is among the 106 ...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson refused today (December 22) to comment on a complaint filed against him by a dismissed provincial government lawyer, saying he is leaving the decision to the Office of the President.Ernie Magaspag, a dismissed lawyer of the Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office, has filed a complaint against Lacson before the Office of the President through the Department of the Interior and Local Government and is seeking his immediate preventive suspension.Magaspag, in a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte dated December 9, said he was filing a formal complaint against the governor for alleged abuse of authority, misconduct in office, gross negligence or dereliction of duty, and other administrative cases as his evidence may warrant.This is p...