‘Bayanihan’ mission held

The Bayanihan medical outreach program of the 303rd Infantry Brigade and 11th Infantry Battalion in Murcia, Negros Occidental, and Guihulngan City, in Negros Oriental during the weekend, benefitted more than 2,500 indigent patients, the military said.

Lt. Col. Isabelo de los Reyes, 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations officer, said yesterday that 1,460 persons were benefitted by the joint medical outreach program of the Philippine Army, Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), the Betty Bantug Benitez Foundation, the Dr. Pablo Torre Memorial Foundation, Riverside College and Occidental Negros (Host) Lions Club and the Lt. Col. Nelson Gerona Crusade Foundation in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia.

De los Reyes said the outreach program was also in commemoration of the death anniversary of Gerona, after whom a military camp in Murcia was named, through the efforts of former Armed Forces chief General Victor Ibrado.

On Nov. 19, a similar activity was also held in Brgy. Mckinley, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, with 1,005 residents as beneficiaries, in line with the 40th founding anniversary of the 11th Infantry Battalion.

Lt. Col. Ramil Bitong, 11th IB commanding officer, said the bloodletting drive of the Philippine National Red Cross also resulted in the collection of 8,500 cc of blood from donors.

Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong and local government officials as well as representatives of various non-government and people’s organizations joined the activity.

The 11th IB is marking its 40th founding anniversary on Nov. 26.

This year’s anniversary theme is “11th IB Noon at Ngayon: Tapat na Paglilingkod at Bayanihan para sa Sambayanan”.*GPB

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NDF waiting for response
on release of consultants

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines still has not received an adequate response from President Benigno Aquino for its peace talks to resume on economic, socio-political, economic, and constitutional reforms, Rafael Baylosis, NDFP consultant and member of the Government of the Philippines-NDF Peace Panel since 1998, said at a press conference yesterday in Bacolod City.

Baylosis, who was in Bacolod as a guest speaker at the launching of the Pilgrims for Peace-Negros, said the offer was based on the truce and alliance ten-point program of NDFP expressing the fundamental aspirations of the Filipino people for land reform, national industrialization, genuine national independence, and democracy.

He also said the refusal of the government to release all or most of the 17 NDFP consultants is another major obstacle for the resumption of peace talks because, without compliance of Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees that was signed by both parties in 1995, the panelist and consultants cannot function.

Meanwhile, the Pilgrims for Peace also encouraged Aquino to resume peace talks with a comprehensive understanding of the root causes of the conflict.*LTG

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Gequillana follows
up appointment

Former Ilog Mayor Benigno Gequillana was at the Capitol yesterday to follow up his nomination as replacement for his nephew, slain councilor Antonio “Karem” Gequillana, at the Sangguniang Bayan of Ilog.

The recommendation for the appointment of Gequillana as councilor of Ilog in place of his nephew was made by former governor Rafael Coscolluela as head of the Aton Tandum Utod Negrosanon Party.

Gequillana and his nephew are ATON members.

The authority to appoint a replacement is vested in by the governor, Gequillana said.

Gerquillana, who had been the mayor of Ilog from 1988 to 1998, said he was informed that his nomination was with Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

The hearing on the petition for bail filed by Ryan Gatoc, the suspect in the killing of Antonio Gequillana, is set on December 6 before the Regional Trial Court of Bacolod.

Benigno Gequillana said they believe there was someone behind Gatoc who had his nephew killed and they want to know what the motive was.*CPG

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