Marchel P. Espina

Sixty employees of the Bacolod City Water District were terminated at the end of December following a joint venture agreement (JVA) between BACIWA and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. (PrimeWater).PrimeWater took over the operations of BACIWA on November 16.On December 29, BACIWA acting general manager Michael Soliva issued an office order that the 60 employees have been declared “redundant” by the Board, in a resolution on December 23, and will be terminated effective December 31.The terminated employees were also instructed to turn over their respective accountability and are prohibited from occupying and loitering in Baciwa offices except to process their clearances in relation to their separation from the service.The BACIWA Employees Union, in a statement, said: “We are ...

The Community Pharmacists Association of the Philippines Negros Occidental Chapter (CPAP Negros) is calling on local government units (LGUs), drugstore owners, distributors, pharmacies, and pharmacists not to acquire vaccines from Chinese state-owned drugmaker China National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. (Sinopharm) for the protection and safety of the public.John Paul Domasian, president of CPAP Negros and assistant professor of the College of Health and Allied Professions in Colegio San Agustin Bacolod, in a statement sent to DIGICAST NEGROS, said the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine is unregistered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as he called on the public to be vigilant against this “smuggled vaccine and illegal drugs.”The Chinese-owned pharmaceutical firm recently ma...

BCPO photoA 14-year-old boy died on the spot while his two other friends sustained injuries after they figured in an accident at Araneta Street in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City, on New Year’s day.Killed was Francis Batac of Green Plains Subdivision in Barangay Singcang-Airport.Police MSgt Randy Abello, investigator of the case, said the victim went for a joy ride with his two other minor friends, a 17-year-old and a 13-year-old, on the first hour of 2021.He said the pickup truck that was driven by the 17-year-old boy, who was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, hit the center island along the highway. The impact caused the vehicle to turn turtle.Abello said the vehicle was owned by the employer of the 17-year-old, who had no idea that his pickup was taken.Th...

BCPO photoThree people were killed in separate shooting incidents on New Year’s eve and day.In the first few hours of 2021, a 27-year-old man was killed by motorcycle-riding suspects at Barangay 2 in Bacolod City.Killed was drug surrenderer Jomar Pahamutang of Barangay 3.Based on a police report, the victim sustained several gunshot wounds to his chest and stomach and was brought to Riverside Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.Recovered from the scene was six empty bullets of a .45 caliber pistol and a slug.In San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, 56-year-old Mercidito Pique was also shot dead at Barangay Quezon past 6 p.m. of January 1.Prior to the incident the victim had a heated argument with 45-year-old Noel Geopano, a farmer, who shot Pique ...

BCPO photoAn elderly woman was found dead by her neighbor in an open field of a township being developed in Barangay 41, Bacolod City, this morning, December 30.Police identified the victim as 81-year-old Amparo Leyte of Barangay 27.The victim’s neighbor Ronnie Pesalbo passed by the area to get some vegetables when he saw her body, which was already in an advanced state of decomposition, a police report said.The victim, who had been missing since December 24, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension.Police have ruled out foul play since the area was well-lighted at night and guards were patrolling the site.The elderly woman may have been relieving herself when she suffered a stroke, as she had no underwear on when she was discovered, the police said.*...

Moises Padilla LGU photosThe municipal government of Moises Padilla inaugurated its newly-built COVID-19 Healing Center at Barangay 6 on Monday, December 28.Leading the rites was Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, along with the other town officials.The two-storey facility, worth P4 million, can accommodate up to 16 beds, with two bathrooms on each floor, and has a total floor area of 223 square meters.The budget of the facility was sourced from the P11 million Bayanihan grant given to the town by the national government.The national government has earlier allocated funds to cities and municipalities for its coronavirus response.Construction began in July and was supposed to be completed in November but was delayed due to the typhoons that hit the country, Yulo said....

Candoni PNP photoA senior citizen was stabbed to death during a drinking session at Barangay Banga in Candoni town, Negros Occidental, Monday night, December 28.Killed was Francisco Dodria, 60, of Barangay Banga.Based on the police report, the victim was having a drinking session at the house of the suspect identified as 60-year-old Samson Baladhay.The two senior citizens had an argument due to drunkenness, which led the suspect to stab the victim several times, the police said.The victim was rushed to the town’s rural health unit but was declared dead by the attending physician.The elderly suspect, who surrendered to the authorities, is now detained at the custodial facility of Candoni police station.*

BCPO photoTwo women and a curfew violator, who was a high-value individual, were arrested for drugs in separate police operations in Bacolod City.Nabbed during a buy-bust operation in Purok Paghidaet at Barangay 29 early today, December 29, were Julie Anne Cuyoca, 35, of Barangay Taculing, and Rachel Sarroza, 31, of Barangay 32.Recovered from their possession were nine sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P18,400, drug paraphernalia, and P500 in cash.In another police operation, just before midnight Monday, December 28, 54-year-old John Lucasan of Barangay 4 was arrested at Barangay 3 for violating the curfew.BCPO photoDuring the arrest, the police also recovered a sachet of shabu worth P34,000 from the possession of the suspect, who was said...