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The scene where the two victims were attacked by riding-in-tandem suspects in Sipalay City on Wednesday.*Sipalay PNP photoA man was killed while another was injured in a shooting incident at Barangay Mambaroto in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, December 14.Killed was 40-year-old Jomel Espora while his rider, 23-year-old Rogie Fajardo, was injured.The police said the two victims were on board a motorcycle when they were stopped by riding-in-tandem suspects and shot several times.Espora was dead on arrival, while Fajardo is being treated at a hospital in Bacolod.The police are still investigating the motive for the killing.*

A bullet at the crime scene*Isabela PNP photoIt may have been a case of mistaken identity that caused the killing of a 74-year-old man in Barangay 5, Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, December 14, the police said Thursday.Killed was Narciso David.Police said unidentified men went to victim’s house and searched for his son-in-law.But because it was dark, they immediately shot the victim several times which resulted in his death.The son-in-law of the victim said he may have been the target of the armed men because he had received threats, the police said.A police investigation is ongoing.*

The two sugarcane trucks that were burned in Toboso on Wednesday.*Toboso PNP photoTwo sugarcane trucks were burned at Barangay Tabun-ac in Toboso, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, December 14.Maj. Jun Ray Batadlan, Toboso police chief, said eight armed men entered the property and gathered its workers.They then poured gasoline and set the engines of the two trucks on fire.It is possible that members of the New People’s Army did it, Batadlan said.The police identified the owner of the trucks as Teotimo Ballesteros Jr. of Bacolod City.Police have yet to establish the motive for the incident.*

The Ford Everest that was hit by a bullet at the SM City Bacolod parking lot.*Mel Sarona photoA Bacolod businessman’s vehicle was shot at as he was about to open its door at the south parking lot of SM City Bacolod at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, December 15, Maj. Ramel Sarona, Police Station 1 chief, said.Businessman Cesar Ledesma, 72, of Barangay Alijis, Bacolod, heard gun fire as he was about to enter his Ford Everest and when he looked the door on the driver’s side had been hit by a bullet, Sarona said.The police are investigating if the shooting is related to a land dispute. Ledesma is engaged in the real estate business.The Toyota HiAce Grandia parked beside the vehicle of Ledesma was also hit by a bullet, Sarona said.Sarona said the Grandia was not owned by Valladolid Vic...

Mayor Alfredo Benitez holds a dialog with the affected families at Purok Katilingban in Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, Wednesday afternoon.* Bacolod PIO photoMayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez defused mounting tension that could have turned violent at Purok Katilingban in Barangay Punta Taytay, Bacolod City, where a Supreme Court order for the demolition of eight houses of informal settlers was set to be enforced on Wednesday, December 14.Benitez and City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. went to the area to hold a dialog with the barangay officials, implementing sheriff Ariane Magallanes, the families whose houses were to be demolished, and the authorized representative of the possessor of the land for the temporarily halt of the demolition.Pancho Arizala, one of the resid...

The registration of voters in the towns and cities of Negros Occidental for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections has been higher than usual, Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Wednesday, December 14.The average registrants in the town and city Comelec offices have been from 50 to 70 a day, he said.The registration of voters resumed on Monday, December 12, and will end on January 31.Ananoria is encouraging residents who wish to vote in the Oct. 30, 2023 polls to register early, he said.During the previous registration period there were long lines of registrants in the last four days and some were unable to register, he said.The Comelec has also set the following satellite registration schedule:

The drug recoveries from the fisherman.*PDEA photoAround 50 grams of suspected shabu were confiscated from a fisherman during a buy-bust operation at Purok Miracle, Brgy. 6 in Bacolod City on Wednesday, December 14.Arrested during the operation was Benny Balasabas Buenaventura, alias James, 21, of Purok Kagaykay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City.Items confiscated from him were eight sachets containing illegal drugs worth P340,000, a black pouch, and the buy bust money.Drug cases are being readied against the suspect.*