Honor holiday truce,
put Christ first - guv
BY CARLA GOMEZ & NIDA BUENAFE

Gov. Joseph Marañon called on government and rebel forces in Negros Occidental to honor the three-week holiday truce that began yesterday to enable everyone to celebrate the birth of Christ in an atmosphere of peace.

The truce in the fight against Communist rebels approved by President Gloria Arroyo is set until January 6.

Marañon issued call as the Misa de Gallo, the daily dawn masses leading to Christmas, also began yesterday.

‘NPA rebels can
celebrate with families'
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

Members of the New People's Army in Negros may re-unite and celebrate Christmas season with their families, without fear of arrest so long as they refrain from carrying firearms, and do not have pending arrest warrants, the military said.

Col. Honorato de los Reyes, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said this is line with the 21-day holiday truce, that took effect midnight yesterday, and will end Jan. 6 next year.

De los Reyes, however, said they will continue their regular patrols in the vicinity of military camps, but there will be no tactical offensives until Jan. 6 next year. .

IN BANAGO
New GK village to rise
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, GK provincial head Bobby Magalona, and International Care Ministries represented by its Board of Advisers, Malcolm Wood, broke ground yesterday for another Gawad Kalinga community in Purok Riverside, Barangay Banago, Bacolod City that will start early next year.

The project will provide permanent residence for about 100 families in the area.

Magalona, said the property was donated by Sta. Clara Subdivision to the city government during the Montelibano administration in compliance with the open space requirement. Because of the need of the times, Sta. Clara agreed to waive the area in an agreement with the city government and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board that the property will be developed into a GK community.