ARMY SAYS
NPA biggest threat
to polls in Negros
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

KABANKALAN CITY - The New People’s Army is the biggest security threat to the May 13 elections in Negros Occidental, Army Col. Oscar Lactao said, citing the recent ambush of civilians and policemen in La Castellana town.

Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, also said that the NPA did not spare civilians and non-combatants in the ambush, that he described as a very serious crime.

The La Castellana ambush claimed the lives of eight civilians and a policemen, and caused injuries to 12 others.

BMs slam guv on pay increase;
Too late to play hero – Valencia
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The fourth tranche of the salary increases of the Negros Occidental provincial government employees may be paid retroactively to January 1 this year even if the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approves the 2013 budget at a later date, an official of the Department of Budget and Management said.

In a letter to Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, copies of which he furnished the media yesterday, DBM Director IV Myrna Chua said that, notwithstanding the date of approval of the 2013 budget of the province of Negros Occidental, the fourth tranche salary adjustments of its employees may take effect Jan. 1, 2013.

Section 10 of DBM Circular No. 99 regarding the implementation of the salary increase later than January 1 cannot be invoked because such amount is already included in the 2013 budget, aside from the fact that the SP is desirous to implement it, Chua said.

After all the fireworks over the imported Damara and Dorper sheep from Australia, it turns out that the Negros Occidental provincial government acquired its breeder stocks at a much lower price, Jose Ma. Valencia, Gov. Alfredo Marañon’s chief of staff and spokesman, said yesterday.

Valencia, said in a press release, that even the selling price of the sheep the provincial government offered to local buyers, who included respected businessmen, sugar planters and big farm owners, was much lower, comparative data reveals.

Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña had charged that the provincial government bought the sheep at an overprice of about P50 million. He called on the Negros Occidental Provincial Government to investigate the matter and take the necessary legal action.