BACOLOD CITY - The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) has assured the public that Himamaylan City remains peaceful and orderly despite the series of clashes between government troops and communist rebels in its hinterland villages in the past several weeks. Lt. Abegael Donasco, the spokesperson of NOCPPO, said on Tuesday the encounters are just isolated cases and there is no need yet to deploy more police personnel to the area. "These do not mean that Himamaylan City is in danger or not safe. Rest assured, there is no peace and order threat in Himamaylan. It has not moved to the Red category," she said in a virtual press briefing. In the classification of election watchlist areas (EWAs), Himamaylan is listed under Category Orange, which refers to areas of immediate concern, where there is a serious armed threat. Category Red is tagged as an area of grave concern, with serious armed threats that may warrant the motu proprio (on its own) declaration of Commissi
RECOVERED. Items seized by troops of the Philippine Army's 94th Infantry Battalion after an encounter with Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army rebels in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday afternoon (April 1, 2022). The 20-minute firefight resulted in the death of two NPA rebels.(Photo courtesy of 94th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - The Philippine Army's continuing combat operations against the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in central Negros has neutralized two more rebels in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday afternoon. The latest casualties were identified as Elbert "Carding" Nicolas Quillano, platoon leader, and Jessa "Clea" Luiso Quillano, medical officer, both of Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of Central Negros Front 2. Their deaths were reporteda week after two of their comrades also died in a clash with the 94th Infan
DRUGS RECOVERED. Troops of the Philippine Army's 94th Infantry Battalion seize suspected shabu and a tooter tube from a New People's Army (NPA) hideout after a series of encounters in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on March 25, 2022. "It is alarming the CPP-NPA are starting to force their members to use illegal drugs," Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement on Tuesday (March 29, 2022).(Photo courtesy of 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - The Philippine Army has raised concern about the recovery of suspected shabu from the hideout of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last weekend. The 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) said based on the information they received, NPA leaders are using illegal drugs to "lure and psychologically control their members". As of Tuesday, the 303rd Infantr
FATALITIES.The cadavers of the two Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army rebels killed during a clash with troops of the Philippine Army's 94th Infantry Battalion in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on March 26, 2022. As of Monday (March 28), their bodies were already brought to a funeral parlor. (Photo courtesy of 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY -The identities of the two Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebels killed during a clash with troops of the Philippine Army's 94th Infantry Battalion (94IB) in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental over the weekend have been confirmed by the police. According to the progress report of Himamaylan City Police Station, Barangay Carabalan councilman Rochie Sabanal identified the fatalities as Arnulfo Sabanal, 41, and Jayson Sabanal, 30, both residents of Purok Lunoy in Sitio Cunalom. As of Monday, the remains of the two, who are believed to be siblings, were still in