By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Around 80 residents fleeing conflict-stricken Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, are now with relatives in Dumaguete City and Tanjay City, according to Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo. In an interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod over the weekend, Degamo said the families residing in the province visited his office seeking assistance, requesting …
HEADLINE
Migz to fight for P5/liter sugar tax
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Senator Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri yesterday promised to fight for the reduction of the P10 per liter excise tax on sugar-sweetened products. Zubiri said he will push for a tax around P5 per liter on products using locally-produced sugar, while maintaining the P20 per liter excise tax on products using …
Islamic State is a clear and present danger –3IB Commander
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) commander, Major General Jon Aying, who was in Bacolod City yesterday for an inter-agency workshop, called the Islamic State (IS) a “clear and present danger,” however, noted there is currently no intelligence suggesting they are targeting the Visayas. “It is very clear that IS …
El Cid doubts ‘car bomb’ report
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran expressed skepticism in response to a report by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) claiming “car bombs” are allegedly being transported to Metro Manila from Mindanao. “I think the report is false,” he said during yesterday’s press conference at the Bacolod City Government Center …
On Maute group’s plunder of cathedral Faith ‘trampled on’ –Marawi Bishop
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) slammed the Maute terror group after a video showing the group destroying religious icons inside the St. Mary’s Cathedral before burning down the building recently surfaced online. Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña said, in a statement, the destruction of religious symbols revealed …
Transport strike fails to paralyze city
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Following the first day of the planned two-day transport strike, local transport group United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC), through its Secretary-General Diego Malacad, announced they were calling off their demonstration after Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said he would raise their concerns before Congress. Malacad had earlier …
Negrenses buck additional taxes Lito: Hope Senate has better plan
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Negrenses expressed their opposition to a fresh round of excise taxes recently passed by the House of Representatives, which would levy P10 per liter on sugar-sweetened beverages. Former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela described the measure as “anti-poor” and “counter-productive.” “The poor will not benefit from reduced income tax …
Casino attack not enough for Martial Law –Guv
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga In light of yesterday’s deadly incident at Resorts World Manila, which killed 36 people, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. said it is “not enough” for President Rodrigo Duterte to declare Martial Law throughout the rest of the country. “[The suspect] was a ‘high roller’ and probably suffered huge losses,” …
Visayan Bloc lobby fails House approves P10/liter sugar excise tax
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The House of Representatives passed yesterday the tax reform package introduced by Malacañang, which includes a P10 per liter excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, despite a critical amendment proposed by the Visayan Bloc to reduce the charge by half to P5 per liter. The bloc, led by Negros Occidental Rep. …
On statement vs. SC, Congress Duterte is ‘not the Messiah’ –Bishop
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bishop of Bacolod Patricio Buzon yesterday slammed President Rodrigo R. Duterte for saying he will not honor whatever decisions made by the Supreme Court or Congress on the state of Martial Law he recently declared over the island of Mindanao. “I think he is in trouble if he talks like …