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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, NOLITC Administrator Dr. Ma. Christina Orbecido and Executive Assistant to the Governor Marie June Castro (l-r) at the Negros Occidental Provincial Robotics Competition opening.*Richard Malihan photoThe Negros Occidental Provincial Robotics Competition dubbed the 3rd Battle of Bots 2023 officially opened at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City on Thursday, September 7, with most of the day one winners coming from Bago City.The participants are the 80 winners from the district competitions that were held in San Carlos City and Bago City earlier, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said, adding that he would like to see Negrense students eventually competing internationally.The robotics competition, spearheaded by the Negros Occidental Language and IT Center (NOLI...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has dismissed another employee of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist for “two counts of grave misconduct based on substantial evidence”, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Thursday, September 7.Dismissed was Engineer IV Jimbo Garsula of the OPA.He was also meted the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility,perpetual disqualification from holding public office, barring from taking civil service examinations, and forfeiture of retirement benefits, the dismissal order states.Nellas said Garsula was found guilty of grave misconduct for the misuse of a government vehicle and for uttering derogatory remarks to the head of the Capitol Cab Service.On July 15, 2022, Garsula utilized the Capitol Cab’s Toyota I...

Police officers led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) -Negros Occidental Field Unit arrested a man for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in Purok Candiacap B, Brgy. Tapi, Kabankalan City, Wednesday morning, September 6.Jovy Garol, 58, was arrested after the CIDG, armed with a search warrant, discovered guns and various ammunition in his possession.The search warrant was issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 61 Judge Rodney Magbanua in Kabankalan City on August 29.The operation was conducted by operatives of the CIDG, Kabankalan Police Station, Regional Mobile Force Company, and Special Operations Unit of the Maritime Group.Garol and the confiscated evidence were brought to the CIDG-Negros Occidental provincial field un...

The police arrested seven Negrenses and seized suspected shabu worth P330,080 in buy-bust operations in four cities and a town in Negros Occidental on Wednesday and Thursday, September 6 and 7.Libra Dawn Villarante, 35, and Carlito Layagon, 45, were arrested in a buy-bust operation early Thursday morning in Brgy. 4, San Carlos City.Shabu weighing 26.1 grams and valued at P177,480 was seized from them, the police reported.Ranulfo Sayson, 57, a street level target, was arrested in Brgy. Poblacion 2, Sagay City, Wednesday, and 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000 was seized from him, the police said.Joebert Magallon, 42, and Joenel Enong, 38, were also arrested by the police in Purok Tar Apple, Brgy. 6, Kabankalan City on Wednesday.Seized from them was suspected shab...

A 60-year-old security guard was shot dead by an unidentified man while he was riding his bicycle in Sitio Bagacay, Brgy. Daan Banua, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Wednesday night, September 6.Police records showed that the victim was on his way to work in Sitio Comon, Brgy. Daan Banua.The unidentified male assailant blocked his way and suddenly shot him several times, the police said.The victim sustained two bullet wounds and was brought to the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The suspect fled after the incident.*

A farmer was killed by his son in Hacienda Quinaroyan, Brgy. San Pablo, Manapla, Negros Occidental, Tuesday night, September 5, the police reported Thursday.Florenccio Arquiz Sr., 58, alias “Puring”, was hacked by his son Mayo, 38, after he tried to enter the latter’s house, the police reported.When the victim entered the house, the suspect suddenly hit him with a sugarcane cutter on his upper right hand, the police said.The victim was brought to the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City but was declared dead on arrival.The suspect was endorsed to the police by barangay tanods and a witness on Wednesday morning.Maj. Jaynick Bermudez, Manapla police chief, told DIGICAST NEGROS the family has yet to decide whether to file charges against the suspect....

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez inspecting rice prices in Bacolod City.*City PIO photoThere are several retailers at the Bacolod City public markets now selling rice at P45 per kilo in compliance with the price ceiling mandated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Thursday, September 7.Benitez said he visited the Burgos and Libertad public markets to check on the rice prices on Wednesday.The city government is waiting for the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for EO 39 that mandates the price cap for regular milled rice at P41 per kilo and for well-milled rice at P45 per kilo.Based on EO 39 the city government has a basis to inspect and compel rice retailers to comply with the d...

Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos (right)*Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos are joining the “World Teacher’s Day" celebration at the Panaad Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Friday afternoon, September 8.The “Teacher Ikaw na 2023 GURUvanza” will be attended by 3,300 teachers from the Negros Occidental Schools Division.Duterte’s office will hold a raffle for the teachers during the pre-program activity, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Marcos is also bringing assistance for the teachers in recognition of their important role in the education of the youth, he said.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson will deliver the welcome remarks during the program where Marcos and Duterte will speak.*

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, September 6, approved the guidelines for the distribution of rice assistance to all registered residents of Bacolod City, which is now under a state of calamity.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Tuesday said that the entire Bacolod City was affected by the Typhoon “Goring” rains and floods so P40 million has been allocated to provide assistance.The SP on Wednesday okayed the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BCDRRMC) resolution for the distribution of emergency rice assistance of 2 kilos each to all registered residents on Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10.The BCDRRMC resolution sets the rules and guidelines for the distribution of the assistance, which are as follows:*All incumbent ba...

Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr.*The Negros Occidental provincial government did seek an exemption from the Commission on Elections ban on distribution of assistance from September 15 to October 30, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said on Wednesday, September 6.Nellas said a memorandum was sent to all provincial government departments heads to submit their list of projects for application for exemption from the election ban.However, they submitted their lists close to the September 1 deadline, he said.He also said that upon evaluation of the projects it was determined that the distribution can be scheduled before or after the ban.The dates for the provincial government’s distribution of aid to hog raisers whose animals died from various diseases h...