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Protestors calling for the dropping of the charges against the three in this file photo*The dismissal of terrorism financing charges against three Negrenses is a damning indictment of the state’s use of fabricated cases, red-tagging, and terrorist-tagging to attack development workers, Bayan Muna said  on Friday, March 21.A court in Iloilo City dismissed terrorism financing charges against   Federico Salvilla, Perla Pavillar, and Dharyl Albañez of  the Paghidaet sa Kauswagan Development Inc. on March 14, it said.The charges were dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and failure to constitute an offense.They were accused of financing terrorism based on complaints filed by the Department of Justice on Dec. 3, 2024.This ruling proves what we have long asserted:...

The Toboso evacuees were allowed to return home Thursday afternoon.*photo courtesy of Councilor Richard JaojocoThe 412 residents of Toboso, Negros Occidental, who evacuated following an encounter between the 79th Infantry Battalion soldiers and New People’s Army rebels went home Thursday afternoon, March 20, Councilor Richard Jaojoco said.The displaced residents left their homes on Tuesday following the encounter that left three 79IB soldiers injured in Sitio Bairan, Brgy General Luna in Toboso.Jaojoco said they received a call from the commander of the 79th Infantry Battalion that the area had been cleared and it was safe for the displaced residents to return home.The suspension of classes at all levels in Barangay General Luna and Tabun-ac Elementary School in Barangay Ta...

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza*The Diocese of San Carlos welcomes the initial steps towards accountability with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest order and detention of former president Rodrigo Duterte at The Hague, Netherlands, to answer for charges of murder as a crime against humanity, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said in a statement on Thursday, March 20.Alminaza said he hopes that other perpetrators of Duterte's drug war will also be brought to justice.From the harrowing era of state-sponsored killings that plagued our nation, a glimmer of hope has emerged with the arrest of Duterte, Alminaza said.“This development brings a measure of hope and solace to the thousands of families who lost their loved ones during the Duterte regime's war-on-drugs and war-on-...

Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, TEDSA director general, at a press conference in Bacolod City on Thursday.*The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will establish two Regional Training and Innovation Centers in every region of the Philippines, including the Negros Island Region (NIR), Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez, TEDSA director general, said on Thursday, March 20.“NIR as a new region is in search of where the regional training and innovation centers should be,” Benitez said at a press conference at the Seda Hotel in Bacolod City.One training center will be funded by the Asian Development Bank and the other by the Department of Budget and Management as a counterpart, he said.“That’s another thing maybe that Negros Island Region can, in fact, ...

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) head office has kept two areas in Negros Oriental under the red category and downgraded two towns in Negros Occidental to green.The Comelec retained the red category status of Guihulngan City and La Libertad in Negros Oriental.Areas under the red category are those with a history of election-related violence and the presence of serious armed threats.The Comelec downgraded the status of Isabela and San Enrique towns in Negros Occidental from yellow to green, which means they are now considered generally peaceful.The Comelec Negros Island Region is still waiting for official communication from the COMELEC head office on its areas of concern recommendations.COMELEC NIR Director Lionel Marco Castillano said their recommendation to the ...

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Emergency Operations Center is on blue alert for the Panaad sa Negros Festival that kicks off next week.It will be on Blue Alert status starting 8 a.m. Friday, March 21, to 8 a.m. March 31.Blue alert requires all emergency responders to be on standby and prepared to respond to any incident.The 29th Panaad sa Negros Festival will be held at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, from March 24 to 30.*

Two persons were apprehended for transporting illegally cut coconut timber along the highway in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, March 20.Bacolod Maritime Police Station operatives arrested them for transporting the timber with expired documents in violation of Republic Act 10593 or an Act Providing for the Regulation of the Cutting of Coconut Trees.The operation was conducted by MARPSTA-Bacolod and Philippine Coconut Authority (PSA) operatives.Seized were 600 pieces of coconut lumber hauled in a 6-wheeler truck with an estimated volume of 3,345 board feet valued at P69,000.The case was referred to the PCA-Southern Negros for administrative penalty.*

Former vice president Leni Robredo (5th from left) with Candy Nagrampa, Charlie Co and other artists at the Orange Project.*Reyanna Lizares photoFormer vice president Leni Robredo visited the Orange Project at the Art District in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, on Thursday, March 19.Robredo was given a tour of the Orange Project exhibits by artists Charlie Co and Candy Nagrampa .The Orange Project is celebrating its 20th anniversary and "Gahum kag Pagtubo (Power and Growth)” is the current exhibit at its main gallery.Robredo, during her visit, viewed the works of seven women artists — Elwah Gonzales, Erika Mayo, Faye Abantao, Karina Broce-Gonzaga, Moreen Austria, Vincent Sarnate, and Zabiel Nemenzo.“The exhibition showcases the unique narratives of seven women — expl...

Children join their elders in prayers at a mosque*PNA/Joan Bondoc photoPresident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday declared April 1 as a regular holiday throughout the country in observance of Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan.Marcos signed Proclamation 839 following the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos’ (NCMF) recommendation to declare the date a national holiday.Under the proclamation, Marcos said it is necessary to declare April 1 a regular holiday “to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness.”Marcos said the observance would also “allow the entire Filipino nation to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr.”Eid'l Fitr, one of the ...

A fetus in a plastic bag was found by the river in Purok 3, Brgy. 9, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, March 19.A group of children were fishing by the river when they noticed the plastic bag, the police said.When they opened it, they discovered a fetus, estimated to be around four to five months old and immediately sought help from their neighbors and the police.The police are now in coordination with the local barangay officials to identify women who were pregnant in the area.*