Armed clashes erupted anew between government soldiers and New People’s Army fighters in the hinterlands of Calatrava and Toboso, Negros Occidental, which resulted in the killing of an alleged rebel squad leader, Saturday.

Lt. Col. Isabelo de los Reyes, 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations officer, yesterday identified the slain rebel as Eliseo Gabriel, 42, who was reported as a squad leader of the Komiteng Larangan Northern Negros headed by a certain Ka Russel.

De los Reyes said the cadaver of Gabriel of Brgy. Bandila, Toboso, was claimed yesterday by his 20-year-old son, Julius, and sister, Janet Malinao, 33, from the Calatrava police.

President Benigno Aquino  has named a leader of the Federation of Urban Poor in Negros Occidental a member of the Philippine Commission on Women, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced Saturday.

Ma. Joy Jarabelo will represent the urban poor sector on the Philippine Commission on Women.

PCW, formerly the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women, was established in 1975, to promote and protect the rights of women in the Philippines.

James and Phil Younghusbands arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport  on board a 5:41 a.m.  Philippine Airlines flight  from Manila yesterday to join the training of the Philippine men’s football team in preparation for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying play-off match against Mongolia on Feb. 9 at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

The brothers joined their Azkals’ teammates, along with team captain Alexander Borromeo, a Fil-American player who flew in Saturday, in their practice at the Univeristy of Negros Occidental-Recoletos field yesterday.

“It’s great to be back in Bacolod to join our Azkals’ teammates. Me and my brother (Phil) miss them,” James said in an interview with local reporters after their practice.