Are journalists
being targeted?

The latest report point to the possibility that alleged hired guns were casing the residence and later the office of the Panay News publisher Danny Fajardo in Iloilo City.

The three were caught on a CCTV camera when they finally walked out of the residence of Danny Fajardo when they were confronted by a security guard.

While there are still things to be ironed out on the issue, police suspected that the gunmen were really targeting Fajardo for possible harm. Or so they think.

Police are still trying to dig into the incident including the death of the principal suspect a certain “Principe” who got killed by a hand grenade he was holding on to when chased by cops.

A warning to journalists in the province as well.

***

But despite the rising tensions with the political season, it seems that everyone in Bacolod have only eyes for the MassKara series of activities.

On Friday Bacolod will be electrified by the Electric MassKara that will transform the Tourism Strip of Lacson Street into a stage.

This will be climaxed by the participation of the giant puppets of the La Consolacion College as added attraction.

In short, according to Ely Tajanlangit, festival director, the new event is called “Pagkilita-ay, Pakita-ay,” which means – we meet and show off.

The Electric MassKara will transform the Tourism Strip into the longest street party ever where people will be dancing on the streets.

Actually, the 73 giant puppets of the La Consolacion College of Architecture and Fine Arts and Engineering departments will be the main features of the street dance which starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.

***

But that event will be drowned out the arrival here of sixty mayors from various parts of the country to attend the 50th National Executive Board Meeting of the League of Cities of the Philippines in Bacolod on Friday and Saturday.

That will mean a major gathering of local executives of cities of the country. Something that will be historic.

Insofar as Bacolod is concerned, October 19 remains an official holiday since the law officially proclaiming it the Charter Day anniversary still stands.

Although the city mayor had earlier reset it for some other time, still the Charter Day law stands as it is – October 19 is the official Anniversary of Bacolod City.

The big news. Insofar as Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson is concerned, his contender, Julius Saysons, was last reported withdrawing from the race for mayorship.

But Julius must have to submit his statement in person at the office where he had filed his certificate of candidacy, according to election officer Mavil Majarucon.

Majarucon stressed that his withdrawal remains a mere scrap of paper unless Julius comes to the office to file his certificate of withdrawal.

Sayson claimed that he has nothing against his family members who executed affidavits against his desire to run for office. He believedsthey were manipulated and coerced by some family members who are for Thaddy, the NPC bet for the Bacolod mayoralty race.

***

But while we have focused our attention on Mindanao and the preliminary peace agreement, it seems that the government panel is all set to accelerate its approval by the Congress.

For example, Congress will have to tackle the organic Act that created the Autonomous Regional in Muslim Mindanao. ARMM is the office body that delineates the territories in its area.

The Bangsamoro Region will have to be approved first if the ARMM is repealed.

Then, there are a lot of other delicate questions that need to be addressed by lawmakers such as the level of participation in the taxes paid by the local government as against that the of the National Government.

Another troubling question is the issue of disarmament. How do you assure that the MILF and other moro forces abandon their firearms? And who will handle the police work? If the AFP and the PNP will turn over their functions to the MILF or any Bangsamoro unit, who will call the shots and who will supervise the local police forces?

Meanwhile, just for the record, Maj. Gen. Ray C. Ardo, Mindanao commander, has agreed to be the speaker of the Fabricanians on December 1 at the Bacolod Pavillion of BREDCO.

Joy Sato, Fabricanian president, informed the Board that Gen. Ardo has agreed to attend the grand reunion of Fabricanians on December 1. That will be a chance for him to meet with former barrio mates.*

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