SOLDIERS TOLD
Remain united, avoid
military adventurism

Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano challenged soldiers to remain united and do away with military adventurism.

Yano who visited the 3 rd Infantry Division headquarters in Capiz on Friday last week, rallied on soldiers to focus on their mission and continue to perform their mandate of protecting the Filipino people.

The visit of Yano to various Army units all over the country is believed to have been made because of reports of continued attempts to destabilize the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The military arrested last week four dismissed Scout Ranger troopers, one on still in active duty, and a Marine corporal, for illegal possession of firearms. Recovered from them were two M-16 assault rifles and an AK-47 automatic rifle.

Col. Homorato de los Reyes, 303 rd Infantry Brigade commander, however, said he has not monitored any reports of attempt to recruit soldiers in Negros , to join the destabilization effort against the government. He said the 303 rd Infantry Brigade soldiers strictly adhere to the chain of command and duly-constituted authorities.

In a recent dialog with soldiers and officers of the 3 rd ID at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, attended by 303 rd IB commanders, Yano stressed the role of an individual soldier in the total effort of the “Team Army”.

Yano, who is being groomed to replace AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon who will retire on Feb. 9, also thanked the 3ID troopers for their continued support to the peace and development efforts in the Visayas.

The 3ID claims to have dissolved or downgraded two New People's Army guerilla fronts in Panay and Cebu in 2007, and is targeting to dismantle four other guerilla fronts in Negros island this year.

Lt. Col. Erwin de Asis, 3ID Public Information Officer, said their anti-insurgency campaign in Negros, Panay, Bohol and Cebu last year led to the capture of 18 rebels, surrender of 29 others and the recovery of 51 high and low-powered firearms.

“Such accomplishments have contributed to the attainment of the mission not only for the Philippine Army but the whole AFP as well,” Yano told the 3ID soldiers.*GPB

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Bacolod farm
worker shot dead

A 21-year-old farm worker was shot dead allegedly by the administrator of the land his family is working on in Bacolod City Sunday, the police said yesterday.

Elbert Gotas was declared dead on arrival at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center . He was shot allegedly by Nolan Lopez in Hacidenda Dacudaw, Brgy. Mansilingan, in Bacolod , at about 5 p.m. Sunday, PO1 Mario Siaton of Police Station 7, said.

Gotas of Purok Busay, Brgy. Vista Alegre, in the city, was reportedly riding a bicycle when Lopez, who was in a white car, shot him and fled.

Siaton said that before the attack, there had been a misunderstanding between Lopez and Gotas' family.

Police Station 7 commander, Senior Inspector Danilo Francisco, meanwhile, said Lopez was looking for Gotas' brother, who had reportedly become unruly after drinking session, when he passed the victim.

The police, meanwhile, said murder charges could be filed against Lopez.*PP

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