Day: April 19, 2024

DUMAGUETE CITY: Three members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in southern Negros Oriental have surrendered to authorities to be reunited with their families.

One of the rebels has an infanticipating wife while another is a new father.

Both wives were also former NPA members, 1Lt. Bernadith Campeon, acting Civil-Military Operations chief of the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion, said in a report Friday.

Campeon identified the three as alias Ann, the platoon medical officer of the dismantled South East Front (SEF); alias Ensoy/Renzo, vice squad leader of Squad 2 of SEF; and alias Clifford, the platoon finance logistic officer of SEF.

Ensoy/Renzo turned over an M-16 rifle, a magazine, and 12 rounds of ammunition while Clifford handed over a caliber .45 handgun with seven rounds of ammunition.

The wives of Ensoy/Renzo and Clifford, identified only by their aliases, Maine and Aubrey, surrendered in December 2023 and January 2024, respectively.

One of the wives ga
ve birth earlier this year at Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital in this capital city.

Campeon told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that the husbands were convinced to surrender peacefully through repeated appeals by their wives via social media.

After debriefing, they were presented to Governor Manuel Sagarbarria, head of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, on Friday afternoon.

Campeon said they are now processing the enrolment of the former rebels to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) so they can receive assistance.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BACOLOD CITY: Victorias City opened on Thursday the Dairy Box, the first one-stop shop for carabao dairy products in Negros Occidental.

Located in Barangay I Satellite Market, Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez and Senator Mark Villar, representing his mother, Senator Cynthia Villar who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, led the inauguration of the site.

‘The Dairy Box will serve as support infrastructure for processing and marketing of carabao milk. We are looking forward that it will provide additional income for our carabao farmers,’ Mark Villar said.

The facility is a component of the PHP10-million Carabao-Based Business Improvement Network (CBIN) Project implemented by the DA-Philippine Carabao Center and funded by Cynthia Villar’s office.

Also unveiled was the Carabao Pen, a sustainable and eco-friendly facility for animals and livestock raisers of the San Antonio Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SAFMPC) funded by the city government.

The communal pen situated in Hacienda San Antonio,
Barangay XIV is geared towards optimizing the potential and reducing the setbacks of the CBIN.

‘It stands as a testament to our dedication to improving livestock management and agricultural practices. It will enhance the livelihoods of our local farmers, providing them with the resources and training they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market,’ Benitez said.

The two projects were turned over to the SAFMPC, an organization of agrarian reform beneficiaries, which serves as the conduit partner of the local government unit that will manage and operate the Dairy Box.

The SAFMPC will develop and distribute carabao dairy products under the brand name Victorias Dairy or ViDa.

During the ceremony, SAFMPC members headed by chairperson Rey Barreto received the Dairy Box certificate from PCC Deputy Executive Director Caro Salces.

Benitez and Villar led the carabao milk toasting before the unveiling of the marker and blessing of the Carabao Pen.

Source: Philippines News Agency