Pope declares new saints

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis yesterday proclaimed John Paul II and John XXIII as the newest saints of the Catholic Church at a ceremony joined by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims held for the two pontiffs who helped shape 20th century history.

"We declare and define as saints the blessed John XXIII and John Paul II," the Catholic leader said in a Latin prayer, as pilgrims and foreign dignitaries massed in St Peter's Square applauded and chanted: "Amen!"

In his homily, Francis praised them as "men of courage" who worked "in renewing and updating the Church".

Negros leaders hail historic event
Bacoleños celebrate at plaza
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra yesterday said he hopes and prays that the elevation to sainthood of popes John Paul II and John XXIII yesterday will serve to awaken the faithful to the cultures of greed and death, and the need for renewal of faith.

The bishop delivered the homily at a mass in honor of the two new saints at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City, where large portraits of the two popes were unveiled and blessed.

Navarra recalled that Saint John Paul II knelt at the altar of the San Sebastian Cathedral during his visit to Bacolod City in February 1981 and prayed for the people of Negros and Bacolod.

Alleged shabu supplier
in south Negros nabbed
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

One of the biggest alleged supplier of shabu in southern Negros Occidental was arrested in a buy bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Brgy. 4, Himamaylan City Saturday.

Christopher Tagamolilla, 38, of Roxas Extension, Bgy. 5, Kabankalan City, Ruffa Gavarran, 24, of Bgy. Enclaro, Binalbagan and Brian Granchoy Dingcong, 22, of Bgy.Aguisan, Himamaylan City were arrested at about 10 a.m. at the Mary Pauline Hotel in Himamaylan Saturday by the PDEA raiding team led by IA1 John Carlo Dacquiado and IO1 James Afuanghas.

Seized from Tagamolilla were three pieces of sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, an improvised tooter, three lighters and P500, the buy bust money.