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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has unanimously approved the resetting of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to August 28 to September 2.Being a COMELEC that listens and hears the clamor of the country’s senators and representatives as well as that of other interest groups and stakeholders, the commission opted to move the election period and the period for filing COCs closer to the October 30 elections, it announced on Wednesday, March 22.The election period and the imposition of the gun ban has been reset to August 28 to November 14. It was previously set from July 3 to November 14.Campaigning is prohibited from August 28 to October 18.The campaign period will be from October 19 to 28.There ...

The seized marijuana plants*A flower vendor was arrested after he was caught planting marijuana at Prk Catugasan 1, Brgy. Minoyan in Murcia, Negros Occidental, 10:25 a.m. Wednesday, March 22.Nabbed was Khieno Landero Rubaton, 34, for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the police said.Recovered were seven fully grown and seven newly grown marijuana plants, and a sack containing suspected dried marijuana leaves, the police said.Estimated weight of the suspected dried marijuana leaves was about 125 grams valued at P15,000.Rubaton was detained at the Murcia police station.*

The founder of Federico’s Island Organic Wine, Federico Barredo, was named Victorias City’s first-ever Sidlak Awardee during the Sidlak and Malihaw Awards Night, at the City Public Plaza, on Monday, March 20.Federico’s Island Organic Wine has been called the wonder wine from the Philippines’ sugar capital, Victorias City. It is made from “bignay” or “bugnay”, a Philippine fruit that tastes like cranberry, a press release from the Victorias City government said Wednesday.The city also recognized this year’s Malihaw awardees, Dr. Ma. Lorline Ortillo for the field of Education, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Nisol for Environment and Agriculture, and Punong Barangay Anna Mae Claro for Public Service, Community Development, and Human and Social Services.It was the first time that...

The photo posted by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez of the employees watching television during office hours*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has called the attention of about five to six employees of the City Treasurer’s Office whom he caught watching an entertainment program on TV during office hours.He reminded the city employees of their pledge to serve the people honestly and efficiently, which should be their topmost priority while at work, on Wedenesday, March 22.City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said a notice to explain has been sent to the employees involved. They are being asked to explain in 48 hours to accord them due process after which the City Legal Office will act on the matter, he said.A memorandum has also been issued for the removal of ...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson (left) presides over the Regional Peace and Order Council 6 first quarter meeting in Iloilo City on Tuesday, March 21.* NegOcc PIO photoNegros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson, the newly-appointed chairperson of the Western Visayas Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), has enjoined the local councils to continue supporting the peace advocacies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).Lacson, who thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for choosing him to lead the council, made the call as he convened the RPOC-6 for its first quarter meeting at the District 21 Hotel in Iloilo City on Tuesday, M...

A sceenshot of the CCTV footage of the assault on the Degamo compound on March 4.*Nearly all members of the assault team responsible for the attack on the compound of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on March 4 have been accounted for, with four more suspects surrendering as of Tuesday, March 21.Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters the four gave themselves up to military officials in Negros Oriental."They’re on the way here (Manila) and we hope they’ll be here by tonight and turned over to us in the morning," he said.Prior to the latest surrender, five were already in custody while another one was killed during pursuit operations the morning after the attack in Pamplona town, where Degamo and eight others were killed.All six, in...

Senator Risa Hontiveros at her press conference at the Senate on Tuesday.*Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, March 21, said three sugar traders “handpicked” by Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban to import 440,000 metric tons of sugar into the country may “outrageously” rake in billions of pesos in “super profits”.As this developed DIGICAST NEGROS sources said Administrator David John Thaddeus Alba of the Sugar Regulatory Administration submitted his resignation but President Ferdinand Marcos, concurrent agriculture secretary, has yet to act on it. Alba, who is from Negros Occidental, could not be reached for comment.Hontiveros, at a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on Tuesday, said “what we may be witnessing is the unfolding of a crime. Nothing ...

Dr. Ernell Tumimbang is retiring on June 9.*A transition team at the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) will begin work in April, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Tuesday, March 21.Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, in a letter to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson dated March 14 said because of his mandatory retirement effective June 9, he is recommending that a transition team start working at the PHO by April.“They will be oriented of the different programs as well as with our different lined up health activities. There are also lots of concerns that need to be tackled with them like the Universal Health Care implementation,” Tumimbang said.“I will start processing my retirement papers soon but nevertheless, I will still be available anytime...

A dumptruck driver died in Bacolod City, and seven persons were injured when the vehicle they were riding on fell into a ravine in Brgy Pandanon, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, on Monday, March 20.The seven injured were onboard a truck loaded with seven tons of onions when its brakes failed causing it to fall 25 meters down a ravine at 3:40 p.m. on Monday.Injured were Rowel Barrientos, 44, Diego Trinidad, 20, Marilyn Cosme, Mark Anthony Trinidad, 23, and Junjun Cruz, 23, all of Occidental Mindoro, and Third and Sarbal Moncatar of Bacolod City.The truck was travelling from Bacolod City on its way to San Carlos City.The driver and two passengers were seriously injured, while the rest had minor injuries.In Bacolod City, dumptruck driver Emie Alitao Alegia, 46, of M...

Beaches like this one in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, will be an escape for many during the summer months.*Andrew Altarejos photoThe country could expect warmer days until May as the northeast monsoon or "amihan" season ends, the weather bureau said Tuesday, March 21.Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) administrator Vicente Malano said warmer temperatures are likely in the coming months.Rainfall across the country will be influenced mostly by the easterlies and localized thunderstorms, he added."Recent analyses indicate a retreat of the high pressure area over Siberia, which resulted in the weakening of northeasterly winds and an increase in the air temperature over most parts of the country. Furthermore, the strengtheni...