Not easy to ‘phase out’ a sidekick

Posted by watchmen
April 5, 2018
Posted in OPINION

“You have a lot more freedom when you’re the sidekick – you can bring a lot more of your own flavor to the role, and you can get away with a lot more.” –Bree Turner   When critics did not like the way the late Ilonggo, former Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez, Sr., ran the Department …

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Saving tourism in the Western Visayas

Posted by watchmen
April 5, 2018
Posted in OPINION

In terms of resort tourism, the Western Visayas has provided a sizeable contribution to national coffers. Negros Occidental boasts resorts in Sipalay City, Cadiz City, along with smaller ones throughout the province. In Panay, there is no arguing Boracay, located in Aklan, has brought much recognition to the region by bringing in tourists from around …

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Mt. Kanlaon belches smoke

Posted by watchmen
April 4, 2018
Posted in HEADLINE

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported seeing Mt. Kanlaon spewing smoke early yesterday morning. Based on Phivolcs monitoring, they recorded four volcanic quakes within the past 24 hours and noticed a plume of smoke rising 500 meters from the summit before drifting northwest to northeast. Volcanologists …

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PDEA still looking into Region 6 drug syndicates

Posted by watchmen
April 4, 2018
Posted in HEADLINE

Despite the death of two suspected drug lords operating in the Western Visayas, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI (PDEA-6) is still looking into the presence of drug syndicates. PDEA-6 Director Wardley Getalla said there are over 10 drug groups still operating in the region. He explained, the groups are “remnants” of the drug groups …

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Sugar workers union criticizes military for linking communal farms to communists

Posted by watchmen
April 4, 2018
Posted in HEADLINE

Tuayon: 303 IB officials are ‘sucking up’ to the ruling elite   By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   The National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) criticized the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) after the latter claimed some communal farms in Negros are reportedly being operated by communist rebels. In a statement released by NFSW …

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Provincial government promises updated release of casual employee salaries

Posted by watchmen
April 4, 2018
Posted in HEADLINE

Gelvolea: Hospital officers report no delayed salary complaints   By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   The Negros Occidental provincial government promised to update and hasten the release of salaries for casual employees, particularly those assigned to district hospitals. Acting Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator, Dr. Lucille Gelvolea, said the commitment comes after recent meeting with administrative …

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Calinog barangay captain killed in an ambush

Posted by watchmen
April 4, 2018
Posted in TOP STORIES

Barangay Lunoy Captain Eustacio Porras of Calinog, Iloilo was killed in an ambush yesterday. Calinog municipal police chief, Police Chief Inspector Jose Remias Pamplona, said the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m.. According to police, the barangay official was on his way home when two armed men, at the boundary of Barangays Carvasana and Tabucan, were …

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Escalante City resident hacked to death by neighbor

Posted by watchmen
April 4, 2018
Posted in TOP STORIES

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   A 35-year-old man was killed after he was allegedly hacked to death Monday morning by a neighbor at Sitio Guiwanon in Barangay Japitan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental. Police identified the fatality as “Tata Francisco,” a temporary resident of the said barangay. Based on records released by Escalante City police, …

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Workers’ group slams Malacañan over refusal to sign contractualization order

Posted by watchmen
April 4, 2018
Posted in TOP STORIES

  By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) yesterday criticized Malacañan Palace over its refusal to sign an executive order seeking to end labor contractualization. In a statement forwarded by GAWA Secretary-General Wennie Sancho to Watchmen Daily Journal, he said the reluctance by the palace to end job contractualization …

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Duterte to tackle ‘final action’ on Boracay issue today

Posted by watchmen
April 4, 2018
Posted in TOP STORIES

President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expected to discuss in the next Cabinet meeting today the “final action” on the recommendation to close Boracay for six months, a Palace official said yesterday. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said this comes after the inter-agency group tasked to come up with the blueprint finally submitted its “detailed” …

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