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Photos from San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza FacebookSan Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza was ecstatic after the Catholic faithful from his diocese responded to his call to wear white during the mass on Christmas eve, December 24, and Christmas day, December 25, to amplify their call to end the killings.“We wear white as an act of solidarity and to express our desire for and commitment to peace, the sanctity of life, human dignity and human rights, and our collective call to end the killings, COVID pandemic and abuse of our common home,” he said.He thanked the faithful for their “clear support for our campaign to uphold the sanctity of life, human dignity and human rights.”“Thank you for your collective expression of solidarity with the victims and their grieving families, ...

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 ...

Photo from Justice for Prince Hit-and-Run Awareness Campaign Facebook pageThe family of hit-and-run victim Prince Joaquin Relatos is crying for justice as the suspect remains in hiding days after the fatal incident.Relatos, who graduated with a civil engineering degree from the University of Negros Occidental–Recoletos this year, died on the night of December 22 at Bangga Mt. Carmel, Circumferential Road in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, after the tricycle he was riding on was hit by an unidentified vehicle, whose driver fled from the scene.The impact of the accident caused the tricycle to swerve to the opposite lane where it was hit by an oncoming truck.Relatos died on the spot while the tricycle driver was brought to the hospital after he sustained injuries.Five days ...

Negros Oriental has eased restrictions on tourism-related activities to revive its local economy.Governor Roel Degamo, in an executive order dated December 18, said that Negros Oriental was one of the provinces in Central Visayas that was hardly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused economic disruptions, loss of livelihood, income, and employment in the province.The EO stressed that only those identified tourism activities in conjunction with the Department of Tourism (DOT)-mandated guidelines will be permitted under the new normal.The permitted tourism activities in the province include diving, snorkeling, resort pool swimming, dolphin watching, beach activities, boating, kayaking, river cruising, stand-up paddleboarding, caving, canyoneering, birdwatching, waterfall sigh...

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...

The Social Security Commission (SSC) said that the scheduled increase next year in the monthly contribution of members of the Social Security System (SSS) will ensure the long-term viability of their pension fund and increase the benefits to be enjoyed by them and their beneficiaries.The SSS, in a statement today, December 23, said the full implementation by 2025 of the restructured rates and other reforms set in Republic Act (RA) No. 11199 or the Social Security Act (SSA) of 2018 will offset the financial impact to the Fund of the P1,000 increase in the monthly pension of all member-pensioners that was implemented in 2017.This was stressed by Finance Secretary and SSC Chairman Carlos Dominguez as the SSS is set to hike beginning in January 2021 its monthly contribution rate by one...

Police Station 7 photoTwo people, including a fresh graduate, died in separate vehicular accidents in Bacolod City.The first incident happened Tuesday night, December 22, at Bangga Mt. Carmel, Circumferential Road in Barangay Alijis.Killed was Prince Joaqin Relatos, 22, of the barangay.Relatos graduated with a civil engineering degree from the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos in Bacolod City this year.The victim was on board a tricycle driven by 28-year-old Welmar De Asis when they were hit by an unidentified vehicle behind them, a police report said.The vehicle then sped away.The impact of the accident caused the tricycle to swerve to the opposite lane where it was hit by an oncoming truck.Relatos died on the spot while the tricycle driver was br...

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...