Marchel P. Espina

Another encounter between the government and rebel forces transpired in Brgy.Calupaan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental Thursday, October 13.The gun battle between the 62nd Infantry “Unifier” Battalion, and the New People’s Army lasted for two minutes.There was no casualty on the government side.The Army in a press statement claimed that there was at least one casualty from the enemy side, which was based recovery of one .45 mm pistol with one fully loaded magazine with live ammunition and one backpack with personal belongings.The Army is calling on the rebels, especially those who were wounded, to lay down their arms and go back to the fold of the law.*

Evacuees at the Barangay Carabalan gym in Himamaylan City.Some evacuees at Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City in Negros Occidental have expressed concern over their safety.Barangay Carabalan chief Mildred Titular said only tanods are securing the area.She said that 192 families or 451 individuals are currently staying at the open village gym in the upland area.She also said that other residents don’t stay at the gym because it’s too hot.Sitio Sig-ang leader Melvin Parcon aid he was worried as they left their livelihood when they sought refuge, as he lamented what will happen to them if the situation continues. “Indi na ka trespaser (it could not sustain us),” he added.He said they initially thought that the gunfire was fireworks, but when the burst continued, they ...

Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital is the third private hospital tapped for BacCHP.*BQMC photoThe Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved the proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the City of Bacolod and a private hospital during its 15th session on Wednesday, October 12.Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital will soon sign a memorandum of agreement with the city to underpin the Bacolod City Comprehensive Care Program (BacCHP), which is a flagship project of Mayor Alfredo Benitez in his response to mitigate hospitalization conflicts he witnessed in public hospitals.It would be the third private hospital to strengthen the curative service of BacCHP for free hospitalization after the MOA signing with the Metro Bacolod Hospital and Medical Center and South Bacolod Gener...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has submitted the proposed P3.25 billion Bacolod City annual budget for 2023 to the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.The proposed budget was calendered in the council’s regular session Wednesday, October 12, and was accepted by the SP committee on appropriations and finance chaired by Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson.Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said that the committee is expected to call for committee hearings, adding that the SP still has two months to approve the proposed budget.He added that the proposed allocation for next year is the same as the current year.The bulk of the proposed budget was allocated to Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures at P1.413 billion, or 43.51 percent of the fund, followed by Personal Services at P91...

Real estate tycoon Kevin Tan*Kevin Tan Facebook page photoReal estate tycoon Kevin Tan was declared an “adopted son” of Bacolod City by members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, October 12.The resolution, authored by Councilor Jason Villarosa, SP Committee on Tourism head, was unanimously passed by the council members during their regular session.The resolution said that Tan is the chief executive officer and vice chairman of Alliance Global Inc., a holding company that includes real estate through Megaworld Corporation, hospitality and property management through Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., and liquor through Emperador Inc., as well as the chief strategy officer of Megaworld Corporation where he spearheads the masterplanning and design of townships, in...

A 31-year-old man was found dead in a gated subdivision in Brgy. Zone 15, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, early Tuesday, October 11.Police identified the fatality as Kevin Edwin Mijares of Town and Country Subdivision.Police said that the victim’s 67-year-old father, Edwin Mijares, went out looking for his son and found him lifeless at the grassy part of the subdivision.The victim had an injury on the forehead and a firearm was found beside him, the police said.According to the father the victim left their house the night before and needed to take his medication, which prompted him to look for his son, the police said.The victim was brought to the Talisay City Health Center, where he was declared dead on arrival.*

Top ranking NPA leader Romeo Nanta, alias Juanito Magbanua, who was killed in an encounter in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Monday, October 10.*30rd IB photoA ranking New People’s Army (NPA) leader was killed in the fifth encounter between government and rebel forces in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, 5:25 p.m. Monday, October 10.Killed was Romeo Nanta, alias Juanito Magbanua/Juaning/Jack, who was the commanding officer of the NPA’s Regional Operational Command of the Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros and the spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command.Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, in a statement released Tuesday, October 11, said that Nanta was previously arrested in 2011 for murder, frustrated murder, robbery and dam...

Mayor Ella Garcia Yulo inspecting the area in Sitio Manaol, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, in August.*Moises Padilla LGU photoThe Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has recommended that the areas in sitios Manaol and Santos-Santos in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, that were affected by slow moving landslides be declared high risk/danger zones and no build zones.The MGB submitted their findings and recommendations to Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo on Monday, October 10.Yulo had asked Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. to send a geologist to the area to assess the extent of the danger posed by new fissures or cracks on the ground to guide them in their plans to ensure the safety of residents.In the recommendation submitted by Leilanie Suerte, MGB supe...

The Bacolod City Police Office welcomes the additional policemen to secure the MassKara festivities.*BCPO photoMore policemen have been deployed to augment the security at the ongoing MassKara Festival in Bacolod City.The 189 policemen from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 arrived in the city Monday, October 10.Of the additional personnel, three were commissioned officers while 186 were non-commissioned officers.They have already been deployed to provide security and police presence at all MassKara-related venues and activities.More than 1,400 uniformed men and force multipliers were also deployed at the start of the festivities on October 1.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family are expected to join the festival highlight on October 23.*

Soldiers assisting evacuees in Himamaylan City.*CSWDO photoHimamaylan City in Negros Occidental declared a state of calamity Monday, October 10, amid the series of encounters between government soldiers and rebels in one of its hinterland barangays.An encounter on Saturday left two government soldiers dead and six others injured, while a rebel was killed in a fifth clash between the 94th IB and about 10 New People Army rebels in Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan, at about 5:30 p.m. Monday, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade commander, said.It was the fifth clash in Carabalan since Thursday.The Army is continuing its pursuit operations of the rebels who have split up into small groups and have sought cover in sugarcane fields, Pasaporte said.On the recommendation...