COMMEMORATION. The commemoration rites for the 37th year of the Escalante Massacre at the monument in the public plaza of Escalante City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday (Sept. 20, 2022). In his message, Vice Mayor Rogelio Prietos continued to call for healing. (Photo courtesy of 79th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - The city government of Escalante in Negros Occidental has paid tribute to the farmers who lost their lives during the Escalante Massacre in 1985 in rites held at the public plaza on Tuesday. The commemoration looked back at the event 37 years ago, where 20 people died and several others were injured after they were shot by paramilitary forces during a protest rally held a day before the 13th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law. In a statement on Wednesday, Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, commanding officer of the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion, said that since 2019, the event was commemorated in a new way after the community accepted the ap
IN MEMORY OF A SOLDIER. Lt. Col. J-jay Javines (2nd from right), commanding officer of the Army's 79th Infantry Battalion, unveils the marker of the Alada Hall together with Escalante City Vice Mayor Rogelio Prietos (2nd from left) and executive assistant Aladdin Lumayno while Rev. Fr. Aurelius Pepino of St. Roch Parish Church blesses the building on May 29, 2022. The structure is dedicated to the memory of Pfc. Christopher Alada, who died during an encounter with CPP-NPA rebels in Barangay Kapitan Ramon, Silay City on August 20, 2021. (Photo courtesy of 79th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - A soldier who sacrificed his own life to fight communist terrorists in northern Negros will be immortalized through the building named after him at the headquarters of the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. Dubbed the Alada Hall, the structure is dedicated to the memory of the Private First Class (Pfc) Christopher Alada, a n
ABANDONED. The four minors abandoned by their parents, who are members of the CPP-NPA, pose with Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, commanding officer of Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (2nd from left), municipal social welfare personnel, and village officials of Barangay Hilub-ang in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, during their meeting on Jan. 20, 2022. The children last saw their parents in October 2021 when they left them to a woman, an alleged NPA mass base supporter in the remote village.(Photo courtesy of 79IB, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - Four Negrense minors, who were abandoned by their parents who are members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA), have been assisted by the municipal government of Calatrava in Negros Occidental. The children's plight was reported by the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) based in northern Negros to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) on January 20 after troops patrolli
ABANDONED. The four minors abandoned by their parents, who are members of the CPP-NPA, pose with Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, commanding officer of Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (2nd from left), municipal social welfare personnel, and village officials of Barangay Hilub-ang in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, during their meeting on Jan. 20, 2022. The children last saw their parents in October 2021 when they left them to a woman, an alleged NPA mass base supporter in the remote village.(Photo courtesy of 79IB, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - Four Negrense minors, who were abandoned by their parents who are members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA), have been assisted by the municipal government of Calatrava in Negros Occidental. The children's plight was reported by the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) based in northern Negros to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) on January 20 after troops patrolli
PATH TO PEACE. Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte (left), commander of the Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade, and Lt. Col. J-jay Javines (right), commanding officer of 79th Infantry Battalion, with former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army rebels alias "Bruno", 30, and alias "Mary", 29, during a ceremony held at the battalion headquarters in Barangay Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Jan. 17, 2022. The two surrenderers, who turned themselves in on January 15, were cadres of the dismantled Northern Negros Front, Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor.(Photo courtesy of 79th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - Two guerrillas of thebCommunist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) surrendered to the Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) in Negros Occidental on January 15 after 10 years in the armed struggle. The 79IB identified the surrenderers as alias "Bruno", 30, and alias "M