Manapla
Local News: ‘Grande is lying’
The administrator of the Schnitman property in Moises Padilla town claimed that Agustin Grande, a barangay kagawad in Barangay 1 Moises Padilla is allegedly lying in his claim that there are 500 residents affected by what he questioned as the narrowing of the road right of way in the area.
Nennette Teope Caga-anan, the administrator of the Scnitman property dared Grande to show the 500 people he claimed are complaining against the construction of the concrete fencing of said property.
Local News: Albee Working on Master Plan for Road Network in 3rd District
Re-electionist 3rd District Rep. Alfredo "Albee" Benitez yesterday said he is coming up with a masterplan for road network that will interconnect the "mountain communities" in his district.
Benitez disclosed that he is regularly meeting with local officials and planning officers of Victorias City, E. B. Magalona, Silay City, Talisay City, Murcia, and Victorias City for the said road network plan.
In conjunction with the national government and the local government, the committee is assessing where exactly the roads will be built so the 3rd District will be accessed evenly, he said.
Local News: AFP, PNP, Comelec Conference Set Next Week
The Regional Joint Security Coordinating Center composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will convene for a conference next week, Major General Jose Mabanta, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz, said in a press statement yesterday.
The conference is expected to resolve election-related issues and updates in preparation for the forthcoming May 2013 elections, Mabanta added.
He said the AFP and the PNP will remain apolitical and non-partisan in their roles in the May 2013 elections.
Local News: Grenade Launcher Empty Shell Found
Manapla Mayor Lourdes "Uding" Escalante, wife of provincial government Executive Assistant IV, Manuel Escalante, sought to allay fears that the grenade launching incident which almost killed or maimed scores of residents in the two officials’ two-hectare compound, was intended to scare off supporters, saying that she was unsure whether it was politically-motivated or not.
But she said since years ago, under her administration, the town has been in peaceful co-existence and nothing of the sort has disturbed the peace and order in the said town.
"We were caught unaware by the loud explosion as we never expected this would happen because relatively-speaking, we have no known enemies," said the slender, soft-spoken municipal chief executive.
Local News: Sectoral Leader Nabbed by Combat Policemen Here
A sugar workers’ organizer was arrested yesterday morning at their family house in the Central Manapla area, his nephew, Christian Tuayon, Bayan Muna-Negros Secretary-general, said.
Greg Tuayon was immediately taken to the Manapla Police Station. Like many other activists slapped with various kinds of trumped-up charges and issued warrants of arrest, Tuayon likewise was accused of participating in the burning of transloading stations, participation in ambuscades and other criminal acts, although he is a mere organizer of sugar workers and not an armed guerilla.
Local News: Grenade-Launching Incident in Manapla Compound No Soap Opera
The grenade launcher incident in the compound of Executive Assistant and former Mayor Manuel Escalante and incumbent Manapla Mayor Lourdes Escalante’s residence, a large hacienda compound in the outskirts of Manapla town, cannot be a soap opera concocted by the couple and their loyal work force, an ocular inspection by a large group of Negros mediamen were told during a visit to the residence yesterday.
Nor did the former mayor neglect to attend to an unfortunate victim of a vehicular incident which killed a rider in Talisay City the other day.
Local News: Ex-Mayor’s Car Kills Talisaynon
A 56-year-old man was killed after he was hit by the car of former Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, in front of a state college in Talisay City Saturday around 6 a.m., police said.
Talisay City police chief, Supt. Joseph Thomas Martir, said the victim, Danilo Sotoyosil, died on arrival at a hospital in Bacolod due to internal hemorrhage after he was thrown out of his motorcycle that was hit by the Ford Ranger vehicle of Escalante, in front of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College.
Due to the strong impact, Sotoyosil’s motorcycle careened into the highway’s gutter and hit a store. The impact also sent the victim 20 feet away that caused his internal hemorrhage.
Local News: Alvarez Denies Involvement in ‘Attack’ on Mayor’s House
Negros Occ. Vice Gov. Genaro Alvarez denied reports he is involved in the alleged attack on the house of incumbent and reelectionist Manapla town Mayor Lourdes Escalante.
Alvarez called as black propaganda by his political opponents reports impli-cating him to the grenade attacks on the Escalante households.
"They have no issues against me that is why they are resorting to black propaganda," said the vice governor who is running as governor in the May election.
Local News: Manapla Mayor, Household Cheat Death in Politically-Motivated Grenade Launch Lobbing
Manapla town Mayor Lourdes "Uding" Escalante, her children, numerous household helpers narrowly escaped death or even serious harm or injuries when still unidentified gunmen, lobbed two M203 grenades inside their two-hectare compound Thursday evening, narrowly missing them, but causing damage to the house, and causing frayed nerves with close to 20 children brought to the hospital afterwards suffering from psychological trauma.
The grenade launcher used by the suspects whom Escalante said, cannot be identified yet, although they could only speculate on the possible culprits, left immediately on board what sounded like a big car.
Local News: Gov. Marañon Denounces Grenade-Lobbing Incident in the Strongest Terms
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has denounced in the strongest terms possible the lobbing of two grenades from a grenade launcher of what he and Provincial Government Executive Assistant Manuel Escalante, said was a politically-motivated attempt which accompanied the lobbing of the grenades in the two-hectare compound they own in Manapla town Wednesday evening.
In an interview by NNF/NDB in Tabunan Village, Bago City where Marañon along with other provincial government executives held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a modern rice-processing center, the Negros Occidental Chief Executive said, those who are contending for the various elective positions in the province, should never use violence in their intention to prevail over one or the other, but through clean and honest elections and through the ballot on election day.
