Carla P. Gomez

BIR Regional Director Antonio Jaminola holds up some of the seized cigarettes.*The Bureau of Internal Revenue and the National Bureau of Investigation seized P544 million in fake tax stamps and materials for the manufacture of fake cigarettes at a warehouse in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, Tuesday, May 4, BIR Regional Director Antonio Jaminola said.The BIR was acting on a tip that fake cigarettes were being manufactured at the facility, but when they broke into the area no one was present, he said.They discovered the fake BIR stamps, fake cigarettes including raw materials for their manufacture.Jaminola said those responsible for the manufacture of the fake stamps are liable for tax evasion.It is a violation of Section 265 of the National Internal Revenue Code, he sai...

The Victorias and Talisay city halls have been temporarily closed for disinfection after several employees tested positive for COVID-19.On Monday, Victorias City recorded 37 new COVID-19 cases, its highest in a single day.Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca said 21 of those who tested positive on Monday were Victorias city government employees -- the city engineer and 14 others at her office and six from the General Services Offices.The 21 have been quarantined and contact tracing is ongoing, he added.To prevent the further spread of the virus, Palanca issued an executive order temporarily closing the Victorias City Hall , including annexed buildings and officers, for disinfection and contact tracing from Tuesday to Friday, May 4 to 7.All Victorias City government officials...

There are 19 more Negros Occidental provincial government employees who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, May 4, including Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino.This brings to 31 the total number of provincial government employees currently positive for COVID-19, with 12 others reported earlier, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.“It’s like walking in a minefield reporting for work every day because you never know if the person beside you may have the virus,” he said.Of the 19 new cases the Procurement Services Depot has eight, Provincial Health Office - three, Security and Safety Division – three, Provincial Administrator’s Office – two, Department of Health nurse – one, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist – one and Negros Occidental Comprehensive Healt...

The number of Bacolod City policemen who have tested positive for COVID-19 is quite high, this has further reduced our personnel doing regular police work, PCol. Manuel Placido, Bacolod police director, said Tuesday, May 3.There are 85 Bacolod policemen who have tested positive for COVID-19 who are in quarantine.“We will continue to perform our mandate despite of such predicament. This is what we are sworn into, as our job, and we have to do it,” Placido said.The task of the police is not only crime prevention and maintenance of peace and order, but also to contain the spread of COVID-19, he said.“I implore the cooperation of everyone in this challenging times,” he said.Those who feel entitled and do not care about staying safe at the expense of others is not good in th...

The Bacolod City councilor who tested positive for COVID-19 is improving, City Administrator Em Ang said Tuesday, May 4.The councilor and his wife, whose names are being withheld, both tested positive for COVID-19 and were hospitalized Friday.The councilor had been working from home and the Sangguniang Panlungsod sessions are held via Zoom so there is no danger of his colleagues having been in close contact with him, said Ang, who is also executive director of the Emergency Operations Center.Bacolod City has 128 new COVID-19 cases , 48 recoveries and two deaths, the Department of Health reported Tuesday.The city now has 949 active COVID-19 cases, the DOH report added. It had 871 active cases on Monday.724 VACCINATEDMeanwhile, Ang reiterated her call for Bacolod resi...

NOCPPO photoThe National Bureau of Investigation has recovered fragments of the bullet that killed Negros Occidental provincial consultant Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III, NBI Bacolod chief Renoir Baldovino said Tuesday, May 4.The bullet fragments recovered during an autopsy of the exhumed remains of Cui on Monday will be submitted for ballistics examination to possibly determine the type of gun used in his assassination.If the firearm used was registered, a cross match with its bullet samples could help them trace the owner of the weapon, Baldovino said.Baldovino is waiting for the autopsy report of Dr. Nicasio Butin, NBI 6 medico-legal officer, that will indicate how many bullets hit Cui.President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the NBI to investigate the killing of Cui...

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the killing of Negros Occidental provincial consultant Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing Monday, May 3.Cui, provincial consultant on hospital operations, was shot dead as he was leaving his office at Emerald Arcade in San Carlos City, on April 12.Duterte, who condemned the killing of Cui, ordered the NBI to investigate the case and give his family justice, Roque said.Cui, who was the chief of staff of then Rep. Julio Ledesma, was an influential political player in the first district of Negros Occidental.The body of Cui that was buried at the San Carlos City Memorial Park on April 20 was exhumed Monday morning for autopsy...

The secretary of Barangay Bata in Bacolod City who tested positive for COVID-19 died, while a city councilor and his wife who have been hit by the virus have been hospitalized.Bacolod City remains a high risk area for COVID-19, the Department of Health reported Monday, May 3.Bacolod City had 26 new COVID-hit residents for a total of 871 active cases, and one new death on Monday, the DOH also reported.Meanwhile, the names of the councilor and his wife who tested positive for COVID-19 are being withheld on the request of their family.A DIGICAST NEGROS source said the condition of the councilor was not good, while his wife had mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.The councilor who was coughing and had difficulty breathing was hospitalized Friday.The Barangay Bata secreta...

The Philippine Military Academy Masaligan Class of 2021 top graduate is a 25-year-old Negrense from Barangay Guintorilan, San Enrique town.Cadet First Class Janrey Cabanero Artus is the class summa cum laude and valedictorian, the PMA announced Monday, May 3.He is the son of retired Technical Sgt Florencio Artus who spent 10 of his 20 years as a soldier in Marawi City, and Jocelyn Artus, a retired Guintorilan Elementary School mathematics and music teacher.The Negrense cadet will lead 162 members of his class who will graduate from the academy on May 10.“Today is a proud moment for the province of Negros Occidental”, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said of Janrey Artus’ achievement.Lacson, who congratulated Artus, said “graduating from the Philippine Military Academy is remark...

Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz tested negative for COVID-19, but two more of his staff were positive for the virus Monday, May 3.There are now seven employees at the Provincial Administrator’s Office, two at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital and one each from the Provincial Legal Office and Provincial Health Office who have tested positive for COVID-19.Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said one employee at the Provincial Administrator’s Office went on a night out with friends, was hit by the virus and infected his officemates.Random testing of employees from various provincial government departments is being eyed to prevent the spread of the virus, Diaz said.Employees tasked with field work should also explore holding virt...