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Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, August 11, that it seems that the New People’s Army rebels had the intelligence upper hand in what he called the “ambush” of policemen in Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava in Negros Occidental on Wednesday.PMaj. Ronald Santillan, Calatrava police chief, said the policemen had been given the go signal to proceed to Minapasok to serve warrants of arrest on members of the NPA.Philippine Army soldiers were already in the area, he said.Along the way the Calatrava policemen spotted armed men and disembarked from their vehicle to engage them in a firefight, Santillan said.There were about 20 to 30 rebels armed with a M203 grenade launcher and some had maneuvered to higher ground placing the policemen at a disadvantage, Santillan ...

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) stressed the need for the bayanihan spirit (communal unity) among all stakeholders at the launching of the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela at the Talisay Elementary School in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, August 11.The theme of this year’s Brigada Eskwela is "Bayanihan para sa Matatag na Paaralan."“We in EDCOM (Education Commission), and you in DepEd, cannot do this alone. Policymakers at national and local levels, teachers, parents, the business sector, and civil society…all of us need to help each other for the education of our children”, said Benitez, who was the keynote speaker at the launching rites.Benitez, Second Congressional Commission on Education commissioner, also encouraged the teachers...

Public History Outreach “Bibliotikal” will hold a gathering called “Pagtilipon kag Pagtuon sang Hiligaynon” in celebration of National History Month and Buwan ng Wika where local artists and researchers will share their works related to Hiligaynon at Sea Breeze Hotel in Bacolod City on Saturday, August 12.This is the third “Tikalanay” event of Bibliotikal that aims to focus on the Hiligaynon language.The event will be divided into “Sugilanon” where the researchers will discuss their works on Hiligaynon history, culture, and language, among others, “Ambahanon” where local musicians will be playing old Hiligaynon songs and original compositions, and “Binalaybay” where local poets will be rendering an oral recitation of their original poetry.Bibliotikal is a Visayan history projec...

Four of the 39 employees of the Silay City government in Negros Occidental who tested positive for the use of illegal drugs have contested the results, Mayor Joedith Gallego said Friday, August 11.He said the four who insisted they are not illegal drug users subjected themselves to separate tests and tested negative.Confirmatory tests have been conducted, the mayor said.Of the 39 who tested positive as of August 8, two were regular employees while the rest were job order and casual workers, Lt. Col. Mark Darroca, Silay City police chief, said.Gallego said the two regular employees resigned while those who are waiting for the confirmatory tests results are still reporting for work.The rest have been dismissed from the service.As of August 8 there were 1,010 Silay Cit...

Three suspects were arrested for allegedly engaging in the illegal drugs trade in Silay City and Binalbagan town, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday and Thursday, the police said Friday.The police recovered 27 grams of shabu estimated to cost P183,600 in the two buy-bust operations.The Drug Enforcement Unit of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office arrested Francis Tomona, 40, and a teenager in Brgy. San Teodoro, Binalabagan, on Thursday night.Recovered from them were 15 grams of suspected shabu valued at P102,000, the police said.They are now under the custody of Binalabagan Police Station.Neri Antonette Bermejo, 38, was also arrested in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Mambulac, Silay City, Wednesday afternoon.Recovered were 12 grams of suspected shabu valued at...

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office awarded 25 police officers and stations in the province for outstanding work during the celebration of the 122nd Police Service Anniversary at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City on Friday, August 11.The three best unit awards went to the Silay City Component Police Station as Best CCPS, E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station as Best MPS, and 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company as Best PMFC.Sixteen police officers were also given special awards.The awardees are Silay police chief Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Darroca , E.B. Magalona police chief Maj. Kenneth Jay Gratones, and Hinigaran police chief Maj. Clifford Batadhay for Most Number of Planned Operations on Illegal Drugs;Bago police chief Lt. Col. Jay ...

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has approved the resumption of the plebiscite for the Joint Venture Agreement between Central Negros Electric Cooperative and Primelectric Holdings Incorporated.The six-day plebiscite is set August 19, 20, 26 and 27 and September 2 and 3, CENECO acting general manager Arnel Lapore said Thursday, August10.The plebiscite was halted to give the NEA time to cleanse the CENECO member-consumers’ list.Lapore said from 192,000 member-consumers the number is now 177,000.Most of the names removed from the master list were double entries and those who have died, he said.Lapore expects a big turnout during the plebiscite.*

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, August 10, that Love Negros fully supports Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez amid accusations hurled by suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District).“As leader of the Love Negros we fully support Mayor Albee Benitez. We believe in his integrity and we totally believe him when he said he will never break the law,” Lacson said.Lacson said he believes even the United Negros Alliance members are in total support of Benitez.Benitez said on Monday that he will never break the law and will leave the claims hurled by Teves against him to the proper authorities to handle.Teves, in a video circulating on social media, said since he along with his friends and children are bei...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (3rd from left) led the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Project Investors Conference.*Richard Malihan photoRepresentatives of 43 firms and financing institutions joined the Negros Occidental Bulk Water Project Investors Conference at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, Thursday morning, August 10.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson urged the prospective investors, some of whom joined the conference online, to invest in the P1.2 billion project.“This invitation to be a part of our Bulk Water Project will create value not just for your enterprise but also for our people and province,“ Lacson said, as he assured that the provincial government is committed to creating a business-friendly environment.The Negros Occidental Bulk Water Project Investors Con...

The retrieval of the bodies of the slain civilians.*79th IB photoThe number of policemen injured in an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava in Negros Occidental on Wednesday morning, increased to three.The police on Wednesday reported that PCpl. Jaime Nunez was killed and PCapt. Jesus Alba and PCpl. Dennis Nasis of the Calatrava police station were injured.However, another policeman discovered that he had small wounds on his back that he did not notice the day before and was brought to a hospital on Thursday, August 10, PMaj. Ronald Santillan, Calatrava police chief, said.He identified the third injured policeman as PSSgt Frank Caballero.The wounds appear to have been caused by shrapnel from an M-203 grenade fired by the rebels, he...