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The CPP has authorized the NPA to mount tactical offensives against the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.*The New People’s Army cannot launch tactical offensives in Negros Occidental because their capabilities have been greatly reduced, and they are now on the run, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said Monday, December 19.There will be no letup in the Philippine Army’s operations against the dwindling rebel forces in Negros so they will have no opportunity to regroup, he said.The Army is ensuring that there will be a peaceful yuletide season for the people of Negros, Pasaporte said.The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Monday announced that it is not declaring a ceasefire t...

The increase in crimes in Negros Occidental in 2022 can be attributed to the after effects of COVID-19 where people are now free to roam around, the police reported on Monday, December 19.The total crime incidents in Negros Occidental increased from 3,570 in 2021 to 4,132 this year of by 15.74 percent, the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office reported.Robbery cases were 91 this year or an increase by 97.38 percent and theft cases were 172 or a hike by 72 percent.But there was also a drop in rape cases from 193 to 157 or by 18.65 percent.The average monthly crime rate was 15.74 percent higher compared to last year, the police also reported during the joint Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council fourth quarter joint meeting at the Capi...

Fourteen former rebels (FRs) from Sagay and Escalante cities and Isabela town in Negros Occidental received livelihood settlement grants under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday, December 19.The awarding of financial assistance was led by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte - 303rd Brigade commander, Provincial Social Welfare and Development head Merle Garcia, and E-CLIP Focal Person Narciso Abad lll.Each former rebel received P20,000 and food packs from the provincial government.Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, 79IB commander, thanked the DSWD for the assistance.He also called on the remaining rebels to return to the folds of th...

The Social Security System said on Monday, December 19, that the 2023 SSS contribution increase would help fund higher benefit disbursements to its members.SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Michael G. Regino explained that the four-stage contribution rate hike readies the SSS fund for the future needs of its members.Starting Jan. 1, 2023, the new contribution rate will be pegged at 14 percent, up by one percentage point from the current 13 percent, the SSS said in a press release.“We have already expanded the benefits to our members such as the unemployment benefit, and maternity benefit under the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (EMLL). Both these benefits, however, have no particular source of funding but since 2019, we have continuously given these benefits to our member...

The body of a tractor driver who had been missing for four days was found with a severed right hand and wounds on the back at a sugarcane field in Purok Matinumanon, Brgy Alianza, Bago City, on Sunday, December 18.The victim was identified as Boddy Samulde Custodio, 42, of Purok Kalubihan Brgy Bacong Bago City, SSgt. Armando Arao Jr. of the Bago police said Monday.The victim had gone to the work place of his son, John Michael, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14.The victim and his son were threatened by two suspects, one of whom was armed with a bolo, who chased them.The victim and his son were separated in the chase and his family reported him missing.His decomposing body was found in a vacant sugarcane lot covered with soil on Sunday morning.The suspects identifie...

A 55-year-old father was stabbed and hacked to death by his son out of alleged hatred at Sayson Village in Brgy Felisa, Bacolod City, 8 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, the police said Monday.Killed was Jose Aleguin De Leon who was a farm laborer.He was allegedly killed by his son Joree De Leon, 22, who is said to be mentally incapacitated, a police report said.The suspect, who is detained at Police Station 10, hacked and stabbed his father using a hoe and a stainless steel knife, the report said.The victim sustained multiple hack and stab wounds on the different parts of his body which resulted to his instantaneous death.Maj. Richard Fajarito, Police Station 10 chief, said the victim returned home drunk and hurt his mother.The suspect got angry that his grandmother was...

The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) on Monday, December 19, thanked Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson for increasing the bonus of the Negros Occidental provincial government workers from P40,000 to P50,000.Lacson is asking the Sangguniang Palalawigan to allow the provincial government to give an additional P10,000 for the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) of the Capitol employees to bring its total amount to P20,000, during its regular session on Tuesday, December 20.The governor said he hopes the additional P10,000 can be released this week.The governor is seeking the increase following an order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. authorizing the grant of a one-time SRI at a uniform rate not exceeding P20,000.The other bonuses of the provincial government em...