NPA assassins kill 2 cops
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Two policemen were gunned down in Brgy, Mabini, Escalante City, Saturday bringing to four the number of law enforcers killed by New People's Army hit squads in Negros Occidental within a year.

PO1 Albert Escala, 27, and PO1 Melvin Villacampa, 23, members of the Escalante police and 602nd Regional Mobile Group, respectively, were assassinated by four suspected NPA hitmen, while they were securing a benefit dance in Brgy. Mabini, Escalante City, about 1 a.m. Saturday. The two policemen were also divested of their M-16 assault rifles by their assailants, described by witnesses to be in their 20's. The hitmen fired their guns while withdrawing from the crime scene, witnesses said.

The liquidation of Villacampa and Escala came almost two months after the NPA also raided a police outpost in Brgy. Malasibog, Escalante City, and carted away eight firearms, including an M-60 machine gun, without firing a single shot.

Take decisive action
vs. rebels - Bagasin
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Lt. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command, has ordered a "decisive operation" against the New People's Army in Negros, following the liquidation of two policemen in Escalante City.

The visit of Bagasin to various military units in Negros island on Saturday was greeted by the twin assassination of Police Officers 1 Albert Escala and Melvin Villacampa in Brgy, Mabini, Escalante City.

Bagasin, in his dialog with soldiers of the 303rd Infantry Brigade in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, reminded them for the nth time to be vigilant against the heightened NPA activities.

President of oil-rich nation
studies Negros agriculture
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, where the Philippine government hopes to get some oil concessions, was in Negros Occidental Saturday to learn from its agricultural plantations to boost the food needs of his country.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, accompanied by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, visited the vast agricultural plantations of business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco in Bago, Pontevedra, and La Carlota, and had lunch at his house in Hacienda Balbina. Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5th District), who was with de Venecia's party, said the Equatorial Guinea president is on a four-day state visit to the country that started Friday.