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A rebel surrendered to the police and turned over a rifle grenade in Isabela town, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, October 10.The member of the New People’s Army-Squad 3 Central Negros surrendered to the Isabela Police Station on Tuesday afternoon, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office reported.The former rebel expressed his desire to live a peaceful life, the police added.He will undergo validation for his eventual enrollment in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration (E-CLIP) of the government, NOCCPO added.*

La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Mangilumutan said on Wednesday, October 11, that she is forwarding the Sangguniang Bayan’s report on a councilor’s absences from six consecutive SB sessions to the Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office for appropriate sanctions.The SB sent Councilor Donato “Natnat” Dumaguit notices to sign resolutions and ordinances but he has not returned, she said.The SB cited Dumaguit for consecutive unjustified absences and dereliction of duty, Mangilimutan said.The mayor said she will send a letter to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on the matter.Dumaguit is facing multiple complaints for large scale estafa before the Negros Occidental Prosecutor’s Office for alleged involvement in a police recruitment scam.*

Three unidentified suspects shot a farmer to death in Sitio Gabi-Gabi in Brgy. Tambad, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, October 8.The 37-year-old farmer, whose name was withheld, was shot by three suspects outside his residence, the police said.The suspects went to the farmer’s house and asked him to go out, the police said.The victim sustained gunshot wounds on the back of his head and left leg.*

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod adopted the committee report on the proposed SM Prime Holdings Inc. lease of 16,875 square meters of property owned by the Bacolod City government where the Manokan Country, Vendors Plaza and Bacolod Arts Youth and Sports Center are located during its regular session on Wednesday, October 11.Councilor Al Victor Espino, SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government chairman, said a resolution seeking the granting of authority for the mayor to sign the lease agreement will be submitted in the next SP session on October 18.SM Prime Holdings presented its about P4 billion development plan for the Manokan Country and adjacent properties at a joint hearing of the SP committees on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, Transportation and Traffic, a...

A Sagaynon died after he was hacked to death in Brgy. Rafaela Barrera, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, October 8.The 44-year-old man was hacked multiple times by a 54-year-old man, the police said, but withheld their names.The victim was drunk and created a disturbance by entering the property of the suspect, the police said.The victim smashed the window of the suspect’s house prompting the suspect to grab a bolo and hack him several times, the police addedThe victim was brought to Alfredo Marañon District Memorial Hospital where he was declared dead.The police arrested the suspect with the weapon used in the crime.*

The BTAO seized motorcycles on Wednesday*Romeo Subaldo photoThe Bacolod Traffic Authority (BTAO) towed nine more vehicles and clamped 21 others for illegal parking along Lacson Street in Bacolod City on Wednesday, October 11, Maj. Junjie Liba, BTAO head, saidTowed were six motorcycles, two tricycles and one Carry multicab, he said.The 21 others that were clamped were not towed since they paid the P300 fine for illegal parking and P600 clamping fee, Liba said.The owners of the vehicles towed will have to pay the P300 illegal parking fine, P600 clamping fee and the towing fee of P1,500 for the first 4 kilometers or a total of P2,400 to recover their vehicles, he said.Liba said their enforcement of the clamping and towing ordinance along Lacson Street has greatly helped in...

Loreta Villarin Alacre, the missing caregiver*A Negrense caregiver working in Tel Aviv, Israel, who attended a music festival near the Gaza Strip that was attacked by Hamas militants has been missing since Saturday, her sister said Wednesday, October 11.Loreta Villarin Alacre, 49, of Sitio Camay-an, Brgy Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City, was reported missing by her sister Annabella Alacre after they could not reach her by phone since Saturday.Loreta’s employer in Tel Aviv, Noam Solomon, in a Facebook post, said her devoted caregiver for six years was missing. "Please help find my Lori," she appealed.The Facebook post of her employer.*The employer said the companion of Loreta was shot and was found in a hospital.Loreta was last seen near Netivot and Ashkelon, she said.A...

Negros Occidental is the eight wealthiest province in the Philippines, the Commission on Audit (COA) 2022 annual financial report shows.Bacolod City was not in the COA list of top 10 wealthiest city’s in the country, which was topped by Quezon City with total assets of P443.406 billion.Cebu topped the list of richest provinces with total assets of P235.738 billion, Iloilo was in seventh place with 19.977 billion and Negros Occidental in eight place with P19.419 billion.*

Col. Noel Aliño (left), police city director, looks on as Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez checks out one of the three all-terrain vehicles.*PNA photoThe Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is using three all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to enhance mobility, improve response time and increase visibility operations for the ongoing 44th MassKara Festival.Col. Noel Aliño, police city director, said on Wednesday, October 11, that the ATVs have been deployed in areas needing increased police presence, among these are the seven main festival sites.“By utilizing the ATVs for mobile patrol during the MassKara Festival, we aim to enhance public safety, ensure effective law enforcement and provide a secure environment for the festival participants and spectators,” he said.The ATVs were donate...

The Commission on Elections show cause orders served to candidates facing complaints for premature campaigning in Negros Occidental have breached the 100 mark.The number of show cause orders issued to candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) reached 107 with 34 new ones served, Comelec Negros Occidental data showed on Wednesday, October 11.The new show cause orders include 15 in Manapla, 16 in EB Magalona, two in Cauayan and one in Sagay City.The most number of show cause orders were served in EB Magalona with 56.Sixteen candidates in EB Magalona were served two show cause orders each.The show cause orders are served to enable candidates to explain their sides to determine whether or not the poll body should file complaints against them, Pro...