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A Bacolod resident was sentenced to two counts of life imprisonment for possession and sale of shabu to a policeman.Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Judge Raymond Joseph Javier on Friday, July 28, found Nestor Besiata Barneso, alias Ban-Ban, guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.His co-accused Juliet Bolivar Jagonob, on re-arraignment on August 19, pleaded guilty to the offense filed against her and the trial ensued against Barneso, the judge said.Barneso sold .253 gram of shabu to a police poseur buyer for P1,000 at Purok Tangigue, Barangay 1, Bacolod, on March 8, 2023, and on his arrest 24.199 grams were recovered from him, court records stated.He vehemently denied the charges but the judge ruled t...

Crops in Negros Occidental were flooded.*OPA photoHeavy rain and strong wind brought on by Typhoon “Egay” caused P43,686,232 in damage to agriculture in Negros Occidental this week, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist reported on Friday, July 28.Damage to rice was P35,223,842, high value commercial crops – P3,336,490, corn - P3,725,700, fisheries – P1,000,000 and irrigation P400,200.The areas affected were San Carlos City, Cadiz City, EB Magalona, La Carlota City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, Pontevedra, San Enrique, Bago City, La Castellana, Binalbagan, Sipalay City, Candoni and Cauayan.The Office of Civil Defense 6 reported on Friday that affected by flooding in Negros Occidental were 15,219 families with 58,829 members.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday said ...

Bivalent vaccines offer protection against the original COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variant and its subvariants.*PNA photoThe next recipients of the bivalent COVID-19 shots after the Negros Occidental provincial government hospital workers will be the personnel of the provincial, city and municipal health offices.The national government sent Negros Occidental 352 vials of bivalent vaccines that are equivalent to 2,112 doses, Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Office OIC, said Friday, July 28.There are 692 hospital workers eligible for the bivalent vaccines so the rest will be used for the personnel of the health offices, she said.Bivalent vaccines offer protection against the original COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variant and its subvariants.Healthcare workers w...

Six job order workers of the Don Salvador Benedicto municipal government in Negros Occidental who tested positive for the use of illegal drugs have been dismissed from the service, Mayor Marxlen dela Cruz said on Friday, July 28.The six tested positive during surprise drug tests conducted after the municipal government’s flag ceremony on Monday, he said.He said about 250 employees, including the town’s officials, were tested.“I had the surprise drug tests conducted because of rumors that some employees are using illegal drugs,” de la Cruz said.It is important to ensure a drug free workplace, he said.Three of the six who tested positive were already suspected of drug use because of their erratic behavior and appearance, he said.The six were JO workers assigned to the...

Residents wade through floodwaters in Bacolod City.*BFP photoThe Provincial Health Office on Friday, July 28, warned the public against diseases that may have been acquired during the recent flooding in Negros Occidental.Dr. Girlie Pinongan, PHO officer-in-charge, warned against water-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, and leptospirosis, and vector-borne diseases, such as dengue.Pinongan reminded the public to boil their drinking water to ensure that it is safe.She also warned against respiratory diseases that could have been acquired at evacuation centers.The Typhoon “Egay” induced rains caused flooding that affected 14,325 families or 56,988 individuals in Negros Occidental this week, the Provincial Disaster Management Program reported Friday.Almost a...

The blue heart human monogram during World Day Against Trafficking at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon Park on Friday, July 28.*Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called for collective vigilance to eradicate human trafficking during the observance of World Day Against Trafficking at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon Park on Friday, July 28.Lacson, in his speech, urged everyone to be more aware of this issue as it is through “united and collective vigilance that we can effectively help eradicate this menace in our midst”.The Negros Occidental provincial government through the Provincial Committee Against Trafficking, Child Pornography, and Violence Against Women and Children (PCAT-CP-VAWC) observed the World Day Against Trafficking this month.“Trafficki...

Kuh Ledesma sings and spreads the word of God at the Metro Bacolod District Jail – Female Dormitory*Pop diva Kuh Ledesma brought a ray of hope and inspiration to persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the Metro Bacolod District Jail – Female Dormitory this week.The Metro Bacolod District Jail – Female Dormitory headed by Senior Inspector Reinyrose Joaquin, in a Facebook post, thanked Ledesma for her kindness and generosity during her visit on Wednesday, July 26.“Ms. Kuh Ledesma's sharing of the word of God and her act of kindness touched the hearts of the PDL. She reminded them the importance of the pursuing a morally upright life and fostering a stronger spiritual relationship with God. Her soulful songs uplifted their spirits, and she encouraged them to find the silver lining...

The SIDA law states that P2 billion should be allocated annually for the sugar industry.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is pushing for the restoration of the P2 billion Sugar Industry Development Program fund for 2024, its acting administrator Pablo Azcona said Friday, July 28.The approved allocation in the proposed 2024 budget is P1 billion and the SRA is hoping the amount will be increased, he said.Republic Act Act 10659 or the Sugarcane Industry Development Act of 2015 states that the Department of Budget and Management should allocate P2 billion a year to promote the competitiveness of the sugarcane industry and improve the incomes of farmers and farm workers through improved productivity, product diversification, job generation, and increas...

The Bacolod police seized shabu worth P16.7 million in the first 100 days since Col. Noel Aliño was installed as city police director.The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) reported that from April 18 to July 27, P16,658,805.7 worth of suspected shabu weighing 2.45 kilograms were seized in 138 anti-illegal drugs operations.This resulted in the arrest of 166 individuals, the BCPO added.In the same period the Bacolod police also arrested 51 most wanted individuals and 109 other wanted persons, the BCPO reported.The Bacolod police also arrested 258 individuals for illegal gambling in 77 operations and seized P18,665 in bet money, the BCPO said.The police also confiscated 61 loose firearms, it reported.*

Five suspects were arrested in buy-bust operations and P129,336 worth of suspected shabu was seized in three cities in Negros Occidental this week, the police reported Friday, July 28.Three suspects were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Su-ay, Himamaylan City, early Friday morning, July 28.The police said Daven Gavile, 38, Elezer Pamisara, 48, and Lorence Urbanozo, 40, all from Brgy. Su-ay, Himamaylan, were arrested with 12 grams of suspected shabu worth P81,600.The police also recovered various drug paraphernalia from them.In Sagay City, Micheal Atienza, 25, from Brgy. Poblacion 2, was also arrested in a buy-bust operation on Wednesday, July 26.Confiscated from him were four grams of suspected shabu worth P27,200, the police said.Christopher Leduna, 33, a ...