‘Negros is still peaceful’

DESPITE the recent killings in Negros Occidental, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the province is still peaceful.

“We abhor and we do not tolerate and encourage killings,” Marañon said when asked to comment about the killing of human rights lawyer Benjamin Ramos Jr. in Kabankalan City.

The governor said everyone should pray for peace and unity as he pointed out that killings are happening all over the world and that it is even happening in highly developed countries.

“There must be something wrong. We should pray that the culture of violence should stop,” the governor said.

Also recently, nine farm workers were massacred in Sagay City.

The governor said the provincial government and other law enforcement agencies including the Commission on Human Rights have been doing [its best] to solve the problem. “We even offer rewards and the Sagay City government for the immediate resolution of the case,” the governor emphasized.

Meanwhile, Marañon refused to comment on the death of Supt. Santiago Rapiz in Dipolog, who was killed by the police in a drug bust.

He said: “per the police report, he was deployed in Zamboanga and was given for renewal. We condole with the family and I would like to emphasize that we do not encourage killings.”/tde

BACOLOD CITY PIO ANTI- DRUGS. Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Representative Greg Gasataya attend the second day of DILG orientation-training for Barangay Anti-drug Abuse Councils on barangay drug-clearing program at the Middletown Inn in Bacolod Thursday. Leonardia, who also chairs the City Anti-drug Abuse Council (CADAC), challenged the barangay officials to make their respective localities free of drugs.