Sipalay

The situation in the provincial government has returned to normal, with advancement in agriculture, sports, infrastructure, con-struction of medical facilities and tourism taking place, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., declared in an interview with radio station DYRL’s Tungkaron Ta Ini program yesterday morning.

Waxing enthusiastic, the Negros Occidental chief executive said there has been a perceptible increase in the production of rice, with the province now showing surpluses and which it has sold outside of the province. A ricemill in Tabunan Village in Bago City and costing millions has been built, three more are to be constructed in strategic areas of the province. The rice mills are vital factors in rice production because it is cost-efficient and could save thousands of sacks of grain once it starts operating.

Magdalo Para sa Pilipino or Magdalo, for short, the partylist group of ex-military men and former policemen, whose representative, former marine captain Gary Alejano, were among the leaders of the series of mutinies in Makati during the period former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in power, took his oath as proclaimed representative of his group in Congress and his oath-taking ceremony in Sipalay City before a barangay captain yesterday, signaling his ascendancy as legislator. As of the latest report, it said Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and an aide, Nonong Verdeflor arrived. Before the oath-taking ceremony in the public plaza of the city, Alejano and local Magdalo head, Max Magracia, led a motorcade from Mambaroto Village to the public plaza. There, the oath-taking ceremony took place. Administering the oath of office was Mambaroto barangay captain Eustaquio Duayan. Magracia declared in an interview over radio station DYRL, now heard all over Negros Island and nearby provinces including Palawan, Panay and parts of Mindanao, with its newly-installed transmitter. It can be heard as far as Hinobaan town in Southern Negros and San Carlos City in Northern Negros, hitherto not heard before. Also present was Hinobaan Mayor-elect Ernesto Esrao. Invited by Magdalo were local Sipalay City officials led by Mayor Oscar Montilla.

L-R: Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr., Mrs. G. Alejano, wife; Mrs. Angelica Alejano, mother; and their four children.*

A nine-year old girl was rushed to Cauayan District Hospital after she was accidentally hit by a Ceres Bus about 1PM, Wednesday while crossing the national highway at Purok 2, Brgy. Masaling in Cauayan town.

Traffic police identified the victim as Rogella Loise Fernandez, who sustained serious physical injuries when sideswiped by the bus with plate number FCW 988 driven by Hepte Villafuerte, 53, of Brgy. Cartagena, Sipalay City.

Rebels Burn Mine Facilities

By Arman P. Toga

It was a classic case of hitting two birds with one stone:

First, New People’s Army (NPA) operatives raided on Friday night Philex Mining Corp. facilities in Sitio Omas, Barangay Camindangan, Sipalay City and burned some equipment there.

Second, they rained on and exchanged bullets with responding soldiers for an hour, killing five and wounding two others, and taking away six government firearms on Saturday morning near the mine site.