By CESAR JOLITO Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. reiterated the government’s refusal to engage in peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (NPA) in the aftermath of the deadly encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town that left 19 suspected rebel remnants dead. “They’re the ones disturbing the peace. Why …
Monthly Archives: May 2026
32 groups call for justice in Toboso clash deaths
By CESAR JOLITO III A coalition composed of 32 civil society and church organizations has called for justice, transparency and lasting peace following the deaths of 19 individuals in a violent encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on April 19, as the national government maintains a firm stance against reopening peace negotiations with insurgents. In …
Anti-corruption bodies must be protected from politicians
By Ade S. Fajardo In August 2018, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang was ordered dismissed from the service. It was the Office of the President that issued the dismissal order despite prevailing jurisprudence at the time that the president has no power to dismiss a deputy ombudsman. The ombudsman, and by extension his or her …
Ending what they never admitted
By Herman M. Lagon It is one thing to name a problem. It is another to remove it from a system that has quietly learned to live with it. When EDCOM II Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee spoke about ending “mass promotion,” he was not just pointing to a flaw. He was opening a …
Trump ‘not satisfied’ with new Iran proposal
US President Donald Trump said he was “not satisfied” with a new Iranian negotiating proposal, as peace talks remain frozen despite a weeks-long ceasefire. Iran delivered the proposal text to mediator Pakistan on April 30, the IRNA news agency reported, without detailing its contents. “At this moment I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering,” …
Bacolod council eyes end to Baciwa-PrimeWater JVA
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City council has approved a resolution urging the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) board of directors to terminate its joint venture agreement (JVA) with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., citing alleged material breaches in service delivery, investment commitments and operational performance. Authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., the resolution seeks the …
No ‘ayuda’ for minimum wage earners slammed
By CESAR JOLITO III A labor group has strongly criticized the national government for excluding private minimum wage earners from cash assistance programs, calling for their immediate inclusion amid rising living costs. In a Labor Day protest statement dated May 1, Wennie Sancho, secretary general of the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), urged the …
Benitez denies ‘payoffs’ linked to VP impeach vote
By CESAR JOLITO III House Deputy Speaker and Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has firmly denied allegations that lawmakers were offered financial incentives in exchange for supporting the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. Benitez issued the statement following claims by Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte, who alleged that certain members of …
Neighbor ‘suspect’ in killing of 13 y/o girl
By CESAR JOLITO III Police have arrested a 41-year-old neighbor tagged as the primary suspect in the killing of a 13-year-old girl whose body was found in a sugarcane field in Negros Occidental’s Candoni town. Candoni police chief Police Captain Leonel Adolacion said the suspect, identified only by the alias “Kadong,” allegedly confessed to the …
Toboso mayor calls for unity amid security concerns after deadly clash
By CESAR JOLITO III Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco has urged residents to remain united and resilient as the municipality continues to recover from recent violent incidents that drew national and international attention. Jaojoco acknowledged concerns over the possible impact of recent events on local business activity and investor confidence but said the local government remains …