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UNIFED President Manuel Lamata*The United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) strongly supports the call of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for schools to be more vigilant in monitoring their students amidst allegations that “recruitment” to join the insurgency movement is happening on campuses.UNIFED President Manuel Lamata said on Saturday, May 23, that the presence of student leaders in the Toboso encounter is evidence enough that the insurgency group has a strong presence in academic institutions.“Sadly, many of them are even ‘iskolar ng bayan,’ attending top-notch, government-funded universities,” Lamata said in a press statement.It is also incumbent upon the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod to investigate how one of their supposed student leaders e...

The police arrested alias “Torag” in Hinigaran on Saturday.*Police seized more than P1.02 million worth of suspected shabu in separate buy-bust operations in Negros Occidental Friday and Saturday, May 22 and 23.In Hinigaran, a provincial-level high-value individual was arrested after authorities seized about 110 grams of suspected shabu worth P748,000 during a buy-bust in Sitio Ubay, Brgy. Pilar at around 4:30 p.m. on  Saturday.The suspect, identified only as alias “Torag,” 47, was listed as the No. 3 high-value individual at the provincial level.Police said surveillance showed the suspect was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities in Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan, and parts of Himamaylan.Authorities said the suspect had been the subject of prev...

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. (second from left) with Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District), Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, former Manapla mayor Manuel Escalante and Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Saturday.* Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental is now  in a period of continuing rehabilitation   because Kanlaon Volcano has not stopped  degassing, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said  on Saturday, May 23.There were nine ash emissions at Kanlaon Volcano on Saturday and Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported.The major effort is to look for permanent relocation sites  for those  affected  by Kanlaon’s  ...

A local government employee tagged as a high-value drug personality was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Valencia, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, May 23.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspect as alias “Mark,” 36, single, a resident of Brgy. Balugo, Valencia.He is an employee of the Valencia local government, the police also said.Police said the operation was conducted in Purok 3, Brgy. Balugo after authorities received information from a confidential informant that the suspect was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.Operatives of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit-Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office conducted the operation in coordination with the Valencia Municipal Police Station.Au...

Youth advocacy group Kabataan Partylist Negros on Sunday, May 24,  again  condemned statements by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson that encourage school administrators to monitor student campus activities, calling the move an advancement toward state surveillance and profiling in academic institutions.Lacson on Thursday said “there is nothing wrong with school officials knowing the activities going on among the youth on their campuses”.The governor said his call for vigilance was directed at school administrations following reports of  rebel recruitment on campuses. While he noted the recruitment is not immediately to join the New People’s Army (NPA), he maintained that campus activities could lead in that direction.Kabataan Partylist Negros in its ...

Cadiz City held a road safety training for its 180 government-employed drivers at Balay Cadizonon on Friday, May 22.It was spearheaded by the city's General Services Office (GSO) in coordination with Land Transportation Office (LTO), a press release from Cadiz City said.The training was held to remind the  drivers of their responsibilities  in transporting employees, responding to field operations, delivering services, and carrying out the work that keeps the city running, the press release said.The training also underscored the importance of proper vehicle management, accountability, and safety practices among personnel entrusted with government vehicles, noting that public trust is carried not only inside offices, but also on the road, it added. said.Cadiz Mayor...

A former militia member of the dismantled communist rebel group voluntarily surrendered to the police  in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental on Saturday, May 23, police said.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said the former Yunit Militia member surrendered at around 2:04 p.m. at the headquarters of the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company in Sitio San Roque, Brgy. Gargato.Police said the surrenderee was formerly affiliated with the dismantled Central Negros 2 under the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor.The surrender was facilitated by the 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company, in coordination with the Hinigaran Municipal Police Station and the Regional Intelligence Unit-NIR.As part of government reintegration effort...

The Bacolod police seized ₱14.2 million worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation at Purok Camonsil, Barangay 3, Bacolod City, at 2:59 a.m. today, May 23.Operatives recovered 2,100 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of ₱14,280,000, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) reported.The arrested suspects were identified as alias "John", 29, a painter and resident of Purok Camonsil, and alias "Mark", 34, a construction worker from Purok GK, Barangay Cabug, Bacolod City.The operation was conducted by Police Station 2 operatives with support from the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office.The suspects are currently detained at Bacolod Police Station 2.The Bacolod police also seized 4.2 kilos of shabu valued ...