BACOLOD CITY: Col. Michael Samson, the newly installed commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, is pushing for 'peace engagements' with local leaders of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in Negros Occidental.

Samson, who is also a Negrense, said his call for local peace engagements is based on the reality that 'the problem in Negros is local, such as agrarian reform, delivery of basic services, among others, which could be addressed in a dialogue with concerned government agencies, local government units, or landowners.'