NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) — World War II veterans gathered here last Sept. 9 to mark the 67th Negros Island Liberation Day and receive financial assistance and gift packs from the Negros Occidental government. Rites included a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of Negros WWII Veterans in the Provincial Capitol Lagoon and Park followed by a 21-gun salute from the 303rd Infantry Brigade. On behalf of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines-Negros Occidental Command, Bacolod City Post Commander Veteran Pio Rodrigo received the check from Anna Marie Lucasan of the Provincial Affairs Division, and, 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander, Col. Oscar Lactao.

COP HOSPITALIZED 

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — (PNA)- Police officer, PO1 Henry Mangana, 35, of Murcia, Negros Occ. was hospitalized after being mauled by five intoxicated bystanders on Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan recently.  Mangana, 35, who is with the Iloilo City Police Office, was rushed to Boracay District Hospital for hematomas and injuries in his body after he tried to intervene in the same group’s beating up of 21-year-old fisherman, Ricky Almio. As Mangana did so, the group started beating him up. Another cop, PO1 Fred Umilag of the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center who was passing by the altercation site at Sitio Bulabog,  Brgy. Balabag, held off Mangana’s attackers, arresting them even as he called for help for Mangana.

CAPIZ FLOODED

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PNA)— Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) action officer Espiridion Perez has confirmed that flash floods affected barangays Mansakul, Pagbunitan, Parian, Pinamalatican, Bangun-Bangon and Mianay in Sigma, Capiz, after heavy rainfall in the area since Friday, Aug. 31. No evacuation of residents from those areas, however, were yet reported. Also being monitored are Dumarao, Jamindan, Sigma, Dumalag and Mambusao towns after reports on the rise of water level in the areas reached the PDRRMC.

P.W.D. REGISTRATION 

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Negros Oriental’s Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisor Eddie Aba has directed election officers in the province to “make everyday a registration day” for persons with disabilities (PWD) here. "I told them everyday should always be treated as PWD registration day," Aba said in his speech at the Fully Abled Nation (FAN) day national roadshow at Silliman University Hall, this city last Sept. 6. Following his directive, some Comelec offices in local government units here located on the second floor of buildings were transferred to the ground floor to make it easier for PWDs wanting to register.

MAINSTREAM REINTEGRATION

KANANGA, Leyte (PIA) — Seventeen former rebels attended a three-day livelihood skills training, conducted by the provincial government of Leyte to prepare them for re-entering the social mainstream. They were trained on animal husbandry and farming methods even as values development was also highlighted during the training activity, a pre-requisite before they can get livelihood financial assistance of P50,000 each from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), informed Gwyndalynn Malate, focal person for the Former Rebel Program (FRP) in Leyte.