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Board Member Andrew Montelibano meets with the media on Friday*Board Member Andrew Montelibano said his being falsely linked to illegal online cockfighting (e-sabong) operations will not derail his plan to run for mayor of Murcia in 2028.During a press conference on Friday morning, July 10, Montelibano also announced that his running mate will be Murcia Councilor JR Gravino.Asked if he has the support of the third district congressman, Montelibano said, “For now, I cannot say yes, I cannot say no… As of today, I have the support of myself.”Montelibano held the press conference to air his side after police named him a "person of interest" following the discovery of an alleged multi-million peso illegal e-sabong operation on his property in Hacienda Pilar, Barangay Alicante, ...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (center) with Dr. Remia Aparri and Dr. Rene Parreño of BFAR at the stakeholders meeting on Friday.* Ronnie Baldonado photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said they were informed that the national government is negotiating with the United States to reopen its market to blue swimming crabs from the Philippines.A blue swimming crab stakeholders' consultative meeting was held at the Social Hall of the Capitol in Bacolod City on Friday, July 10. Representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) promised to continue helping stakeholders regain access to the US market, Lacson also said.Lacson, in his speech at the stakeholders' meeting, said that the recent restriction on Philippine blue swimming crab exports to the...

The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment urged the Bacolod City government to fully implement the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and adopt a zero-waste system following Victorias City’s withdrawal of its request to dispose of residual waste in Bacolod.In a statement issued Thursday, July 9, NICE called on the city government to strengthen waste reduction, segregation at source, recycling, and composting under Republic Act 9003.The group also urged Bacolod to reject waste incineration, which it described as a false solution to the city’s garbage problem.NICE said the withdrawal of Victorias City’s request should not end discussions on the condition and management of Bacolod’s sanitary landfill in Brgy. Felisa.It cited complaints from residents regardi...

Police arrested a 38-year-old construction worker and seized P136,000 worth of suspected shabu and an improvised firearm during a buy-bust operation in Victorias City on Thursday night, July 9.The suspect was identified as alias “Wally,” a resident of Canetown Subdivision, Brgy. 19-A.Personnel of the Victorias City Police Station’s drug enforcement team conducted the operation at around 10:05 p.m. along Salome Street.Police said the suspect was arrested after allegedly selling a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover officer in exchange for P500.Authorities recovered nine sachets containing about 20 grams of suspected shabu, including the buy-bust item.Also seized were an improvised .45 caliber  pistol, five rounds of ammunition, a black belt bag, a brown coin ...

A 29-year-old farmer was shot dead by five unidentified armed men in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, police said Friday, July 10.The victim was identified as alias “Irus,” a resident of Purok 4, Sitio Gut-ac, Brgy. Abaca.The shooting happened at around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8.Initial investigation showed that the victim was inside his house when the suspects arrived and called him to go outside.Police said one of the armed men fired several shots at the victim using a long firearm.The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.The incident was reported to the Cauayan Municipal Police Station by the barangay chairman at around 11:05 a.m. Thursday, July 9.Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered seven fired 5.56mm cartridge cases from the area. ...

Part of the 106 dead fighting cocks found at the e-sabong site*PRO NIR photoNegros Occidental Board Member Andrew Montelibano has been named a “person of interest” following the discovery of a multi-million peso illegal online cockfighting (e-sabong) operation located on his alleged property in E.B. Magalona town, Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, Negros Island Region (NIR) police regional director, said Thursday, July 9.A police manhunt operation against Ronnel Garde, who is wanted for murder and frustrated murder, led to the discovery of the alleged e-sabong operations and the arrest of four individuals in Hacienda Pilar, Barangay Alicante, E.B. Magalona on Wednesday evening, Cardiño said at a press conference.The police are investigating Montelibano’s alleged ownership of the prope...

The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region served a show cause order to Vallacar Transit Inc. after a viral video allegedly showed one of its buses counterflowing at an intersection in Bacolod City.Personnel of the LTO-NIR Intelligence and Investigation Unit served the order at the Ceres South Terminal on Thursday, July 9.The video reportedly showed the bus entering the opposite lane, while turning left against a red traffic signal.LTO-NIR said the maneuver placed motorists and other road users at risk.The company’s management received the show cause order and was informed of its contents.Vallacar Transit Inc. also told the agency that the driver involved had already been summoned over the incident.The order requires the bus operator to explain the circumst...