National News
Local News: Zubiri Thanks Supporters
Defeated senatorial candidate Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, who was No. 14 in the senatorial race, thanked all those who supported and voted for him in the May 2013 elections.
"I would like to thank all the 11.7 million people who voted for me and gave me their trust and confidence," Zubiri posted on his Facebook account.
Zubiri, a former senator, and with roots in Kabankalan and Bacolod cities, got 402,210 votes in Negros Occidental, and 93,666 votes in Bacolod. He ranked 5th among top senatorial candidates in Negros Occidental, and 8th in Bacolod.
"I owe you all a debt of gratitude that a lifetime would never be able to repay," he added.
Bayan Muna Pressconfab at Mely’s pamahaw
Bayan Muna Pressconfab at Mely’s pamahaw yesterday afternoon for an update on
the ongoing canvassing Comelec on the partylist - Bayan Muna is assured of 2
congressional seats and hoping to complete three representatives. The Makabayan
block will be able to have 7-8 congressional seats after the election.* (Owen S.
Bayog/NDB photo)
Local News: Army Dies in Clash with Rebels
Negros Oriental - A soldier died in action resulting from the encounter with rebels at about 11:00 A.M. yesterday at the height of the people’s exercise. As reported by 302nd Infantry Brigade in Negros Oriental, one section from the Alpha Company of the Army’s 79th IB led by 1Lt. Alexander Robillos while on combat operation encountered more or less 30 armed men of the NPA’s Southeast Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros at Sitio Bungabong, Brgy Milagrosa, Sta. Catalina town, 22 kilometers away from the town proper.
According to Colonel Francisco M. Patrimonio, Commanding Officer of the Brigade, "The encounter was not an election related incident. The Brigade’s concept of security operations for the election includes complementary combat operation against the local terrorists to prevent them from taking advantage to conduct atrocities against military or civilian targets or vital installations."
Local News: Cong. Doc Tony’s Dad Appointed as UNA Rep in Bacolod City
The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the duly accredited Dominant Minority Party by the COMELEC this May 2013 elections, appointed Mr. Rolando A. Golez to be its City Chairman for Bacolod City. Mr. Rolando A. Golez is the father of Bacolod City Lone District Representative, Congressman Anthony Rolando "Doc Tony T. Golez, Jr. and a known banker before he retired.
As Chairman for Bacolod City, Mr. Golez has the authority to issue the appointment papers to watchers, lawyers and paralegals on behalf of the UNA. Mr. Golez also can sign uniform identification cards that will be given and used by the said watchers, lawyers and paralegals of UNA in Bacolod City. Under existing rules, the dominant minority party is entitled to get Copy 5 of the elections returns and Mr. Golez and the individuals he will appoint will be the ones responsible for getting such copy on behalf of UNA. Aside from the election returns, Mr. Golez can also by himself or he can designate representatives of UNA to receive a copy of the Certificate of Canvassor Statement of Votes.
Local News: Sen. Pimentel Vows Support for Sugar Industry Dependents
Reelectionist Sen. Koko Pimentel vowed yesterday that he will support socio-economic programs for sugar industry dependents, particularly skills training for children of sugarcane farm workers.
He also stressed that, once he gets reelected, he will extend full support to measures which will benefit the sugar industry, in the same manner that he has been very strongly supporting the welfare of the coconut industry.
Sen. Koko Pimentel (seated, 3rd from right), poses with sugar industry
dependents who are scholars-trainees at the NFSP Livelihood Skills and Training
Center in NFSP Compound, Alijis, Bacolod City yesterday. With him are (seated
L-R) Training Director Silverio Navarro, NFSP manager Cresencio Abunda, 3rd
District Rep. Albee Benitez, Talisay Mayor Eric Saratan and NFSP President
Enrique D. Rojas.*
Pimentel, who was accompanied by 3rd District Rep. Albee Benitez and Talisay Mayor Eric Saratan, issued this commitment in his before the more than 100 trainees of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) Livelihood and Skills Training Center at the NFSP Compound in Alijis, Bacolod City.
Sports: Thunder, Pacers Take Game 1 of Conference Semis
While Oklahoma City was anticipated to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference
semifinals over Memphis despite the absence of Russell Westbrook, New York’s
setback suffered at the hands of Indiana at the Madison Square Garden wasn’t.
The Pacers, third seeds in the East, surprised everyone inside the Knicks’ home arena as Indiana won Game 1 over New York, 102-95, to take an early 1-0 edge in their best-of-seven duel for a seat in the conference finals.
Local News: Questions Raised by Pro-PNoy Group About Accusations, Canvassing Previously Answered
Bacolod COMELEC Officer, lawyer Milagros Salud Villanueva, has declared anew that questions about the budget of the election body, approved by the City government, need not be answered and be ignored by her, because she has, on several occasions, responded to these questions but that with election two weeks away, she has to attend to so many problems related to the local election and which needs her focus.
"These issues brought up by various groups earlier, have been answered and that there are other concerns which need attention," Villanueva said.
Local News: Zubiri: ‘Catholics Can Influence Voters’ Choice
Senatorial candidate Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri does not believe there’s a "Catholic vote" but he says influential lay groups can influence voters.
"I don’t believe there’s a Catholic vote to be able to elect, only through their vote, a candidate, but I believe there’s a Catholic vote that can sway - if you are on the edges of the Top 12 - if you’re between 12, 13, 14, 15...it can (include) you in the Top 5," Zubiri said in a press briefing in Bacolod yesterday.
Local News: Villar Thankful for No. 3 Ranking in SWS Survey, But Still Works Harder for the 3-Week Stretch
Senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar has ranked 3rd in the latest pre-election survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) but she is not feeling "too confident" yet and is, in fact, working harder everyday in the last stretch of the campaign.
Villar said she is happy and thankful for the support of the Filipinos for her candidacy, as shown by the SWS survey, but "that is just a survey."
Local News: Imbang River Quarrying in Talisay Resumes, City Gov’t Urged to Stand Firm on Its CDO
The quarry operations at Imbang River in Barangay San Fernando in Talisay City resumed despite a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) issued weeks ago by the Talisay government.
Hacienda Esmeralda owner Jerome "Bong" Ramos also told NDB that he was informed it was the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) that over-ruled the CDO of the Talisay City Hall.
