‘Ceasefire in Murcia’
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A word war ceasefire between the officials and the parish priests of Murcia town is on, following a meeting with Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod City yesterday, Mayor Andrew Montelibano said.

Murcia officials have been calling for the removal of Fr. Greg Patiño, Murcia parish priest, and Fr. Agustin Hinayan, parochial vicar, for allegedly inappropriately using the pulpit, sacraments and religious activities, and broadcast and print media almost daily, to create a false image of Murcia as a drug and illegal gambling haven.

Patiño, on the other hand, said they did not name specific persons, they were just exercising their moral duty as priests in calling for the eradication of illegal gambling and drugs in Murcia.

Negros officials set
island-region summit
BY CARLA GOMEZ

About 200 Negros Occidental and Oriental officials are joining a summit in Kabankalan City, Friday, to discuss the creation of a Negros Island region, and its outcome will be presented to President Benigno Aquino III.

Expected at the meeting are provincial officials, congressmen, and town and city officials of both provinces, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

Also to be presented to the President are resolutions in support of the proposed one-island region from local government units and non- government organizations, he said.

DepEd acts on congestion
at 2 relocation site schools
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Elementary schools in Bacolod City relocation sites are congested because of the increase in the number of informal settlers being transferred to those areas, Bacolod Schools superintendent Gemma Ledesma explained yesterday.

The overpopulated schools are the Vista Alegre-Granada Relocation Elementary School and the Handumanan Elementary School, she said.

To address the congestion at the Vista Alegre school, emergency classes are held – with one set of pupils using a classroom in the morning, and another set in the afternoon.