Mary Judaline Partlow

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, leads over the turnover of command of the 47th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on Friday.*Judy Flores Partlow photoAs the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army’s (CPP-NPA) strength continues to dwindle, its legal fronts are now sending reinforcements to the countryside, a key Army official said on Friday, June 30.Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, disclosed this in his message to troops during the turnover of command ceremony of the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Old Namangka in Mabinay, Negros Oriental.Sison noted a decline in numbers with only about 20 active NPA members monitored in central and northern Negros.After the recent Hi...

The participants in the Comelec hearing* Judy Flores Partlow/PNA photoThe Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday, June 29, wrapped up the three-day public hearings on the proposed deferment of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental.Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, acting director of Comelec 7 (Central Visayas), said there were no untoward incidents reported in what he described as a “successful” staging of the public hearings.“I am happy and satisfied that people from various sectors openly participated in the discussions and surprisingly, there were no unfriendly confrontations from opposing sides,” Castillano said.“The turnout was more than what I expected and what was interesting is that both sides were heard and people were not a...

Negros Oriental acting police provincial director Col. Alex Recinto (left) on Tuesday prepares his security briefing during a coordinating conference on the deferment of the Barangay and SK elections at the PNP Regional Office in Sibulan town.*Judy Flores Partlow/PNA photoThe Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental is keeping a close eye on an alleged private armed group (PAG) in the province as law enforcement authorities step up security for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).Acting police provincial director Col. Alex Recinto said on Wednesday, June 28, that the supposed private armed group is still active despite the arrest of its purported leader earlier this year.“Although this group has already been neutralized following the arrest of thei...

Complainants in the cases filed in relation to the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo leave for Manila on Monday.*PNA photoOnly complainants in the Pamplona, Negros Oriental, massacre where Gov. Roel Degamo was killed along with nine others will be attending the second preliminary investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday, June 27.The slain governor’s widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, and 28 others, left Dumaguete for Manila Monday on board a C-130 Philippine Air Force aircraft.DOJ will hold its second preliminary investigation in relation to the case for multiple murders, multiple frustrated murders, and multiple attempted murders under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, with respondents identified by the DOJ as suspended Rep. Arnolfo Te...

The scheduled public hearings on the proposed deferment of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental will proceed as scheduled from June 27 to 29.Acting Commission on Elections (Comelec) - Central Visayas director Lionel Marco Castillano said on Tuesday, June 20, that despite June 28 being a non-working holiday (Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice), the series of public hearings across the province will still be held as there is no more time to transfer these to other dates.“We already discussed this with Comelec chair (Erwin) Garcia that it would be difficult to move these publics hearings as we have already sent notices to all parties as required by law,” he said.The Comelec is hoping for a bigger turnout of people in the hearings, especially...

Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria*NegOr PIO photoNegros Oriental Gov. Manuel Sagarbarria is sourcing funds of about P50 million for hog growers who have been affected by the African swine fever (ASF).This comes as hog deaths due to ASF continue to rise, although the spread of the virus has been contained so far in only three areas.In a statement issued Thursday, the Capitol said that aside from the financial intervention, the governor has also approved the release of 150 bags of rice each for the municipalities of Dauin and Sibulan, where ASF cases have been reported over the past weeks.Sagarbarria also met recently with the mayors to discuss the province’s current situation on the ASF and how to ensure that containment measures are sustained to prevent the further sp...

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano (center), Comelec Central Visayas acting regional director, in a meeting with Army Col. Joey Escanillas of the 302nd Infantry Brigade and lawyer Eddie Aba, Negros Oriental provincial election supervisor, on Thursday.*The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the public hearings on the proposed deferment of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental is open to all but cautioned against politicizing it.Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, acting Comelec regional director of Central Visayas, wrapped up on Friday his three-day visit to the province in preparation for the series of public hearings on June 27-29 on the proposed BSKE postponement.Castillano said that he met with officials of the Philippine National Police, the ...

The Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in Dumaguete City.*PNA photoGovernor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria announced his plans to improve the delivery of health services in Negros Oriental on Thursday, June 8.In a press statement, Sagarbarria said he would implement a zero-bill policy at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital (NOPH) and in all district and community primary hospitals in the province.“I intend to implement a zero-balance billing. It is very hard to do but I will implement it,” Sagarbarria said, referring to a government policy that ensures that qualified members of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) shall not be charged or be forced to spend out of pocket for services rendered to them in government hospitals.The governor will also purchase new medi...

Newly-installed Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria said on Wednesday, June 7, that he is against the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental.But he quickly added that should President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. decide to defer the BSKE in the province, he would support it completely.“Whatever the President says, I will respect that one hundred and one percent with no questions asked. On a personal note, I would prefer that the barangay and Sangguninang Kabataan elections in the province be held simultaneously with the rest of the country,” Sagarbarria said during his first press briefing as governor.He said postponing it would require additional effort, time, and resources for the national government.There is also the risk tha...

Negros Oriental Capitol ready for the arrival of the remains of Governor Carlo Jorge Joan “Guido” Reyes.*NegOr PIO photoThe provincial government of Negros Oriental is in the thick of preparations to provide the highest possible honors for the late Governor Carlo Jorge Joan “Guido” Reyes during his wake and funeral rites.Newly concurred Provincial Administrator lawyer Fran Tolcidas said on Friday, June 2, that the remains of the 62-year-old Reyes will arrive Saturday morning.His remains will stay at the Capitol building for a few hours so that his colleagues, government officials and other private sector representatives could pay their last respects.Tolcidas said it is the wish of the family that the remains of Reyes be brought immediately to his hometown, Guihulngan City, ...