Escalante City recommended

for ‘Orange’ designation

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the recent murder of an Escalante City councilor, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental is recommending the city be placed under the “Orange” category, which signifies the presence of armed groups.

Comelec-Negros Occidental supervisor, Atty. Salud Milagros Villanueva, said the recommendation was made following the Provincial Joint Security Control Center Command Conference, which was attended by Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office director, Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, and Philippines Army 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo.

If moved into “orange status,” the city joins Toboso, Isabela, Hinoba-an, and Kabankakan City.

Last Monday, Escalante City Councilor Bernardino Patigas was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman as he was heading home in the city’s Barangay Alimango.

Patigas is the second local official killed in recent days following the murder of Moises Padilla Municipal Councilor Jolomar Hilario./DGB, WDJ