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The man (right) who was arrested in Escalante City Saturday, July 30.*NOCPPO photoA man was arrested after he and his companions chased and fired a gun at a moving Ceres bus at the national highway of Crossing Cristobal, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City in Negros Occidental Saturday, July 30.Nabbed was Joefel Sante, 19, of Purok Makiangayon 2, Echarri Street, Barangay Balintawak, Escalante.Police said the conductor of the bus had sought the help of the police after they were chased by motorcycle-riding suspects.Responding policemen chased the suspects, but were only able to catch Sante.The driver reportedly didn’t stop the bus to pick up the suspects after one of them was seen with a pipe, and  there was also a previous incident of a hold-up in the area, a police re...

A farmer was shot to death at Purok 10, Barangay Inayawan, Cauayan in Negros Occidental on Friday, July 29.The fatality was identified as Panpelo Maban, 61.Police said that the victim and his wife were in their nipa hut in their farm when four unidentified men arrived to talk to him.When his wife left, the suspects shot Maban several times with an M-16 rifle. He died instantly.Police have yet to establish the motive of the incident.*

Vice President Sara Duterte*Vice President Sara Duterte will be the keynote speaker at the 25th Charter Day  Anniversary of Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, August 2, Mayor Benjie Miranda said Sunday.She has confirmed her attendance, he said.The charter day program to be held at the Kabakalan City Freedom Park will also be attended by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District), a program of the event showed.However, Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, who is  supposed to deliver the closing remarks at the program, said on Sunday that the  visit of the vice president had not been confirmed as of Saturday.*

Former president Fidel Ramos during a visit to Bacolod City flanked by then governors Emilio Osmeña of Cebu and Rafael Coscolluela of Negros Occidental (right).*Negros Occidental and Bacolod City officials lauded former president Fidel Ramos who passed away on Sunday, July 31, for bringing renewed economic growth and political stability to the Philippines.Ramos, who was 94, was the 12th president of the Philippines serving from 1992 to 1998.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Negros Occidental, together with the entire country, is saddened by the passing of the former president.“He will be remembered for his peace agreements, for encouraging family planning practices, bringing about economic reforms which led to the deregulation of major industries and renewed investor confidence...

No additional local government unit in Negros Occidental has been de-escalated to COVID-19 Alert Level 1.Bacolod City and 12 local government units of Negros Occidental will remain under Alert Level 1, while the rest of the province will stay under Alert Level 2 for the period August 1 to 15, the Department of Health (DOH) that chairs the  Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) announced Sunday, July 31.The Negros Occidental LGUs under Alert Level 1 are the cities of Sagay, Victorias, La Carlota, Cadiz and Talisay, and the municipalities of Ilog, EB Magalona, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Candoni, Pontevedra and Valladolid.Other areas in Western Visayas that will remain under Alert Level 1 are Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo Provinc...

A man who was allegedly involved in gunrunning activities in northern  Negros Occidental was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Hda. Dagingding, Brgy Rizal, Silay City, Thursday, July 28.Nabbed was  Stephen Superal, 42, of Prk. Cagaycay, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City. He was a newly identified member of “Kilas Group” that was allegedly involved in gunrunning activities in the cities of Silay and Talisay and adjacent localities.During an entrapment operation, the suspect yielded a  .45 caliber pistol with one magazine and six live ammunition, the P19,950 boodle money, the P50 marked money, and a paper bag.The suspect is now in the  custody of the Silay police.*

Alleged NPA member Adrian Omilig*PRO-6 photoAn alleged member of the New People’s Army in Negros Occidental was arrested by the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army at his home at Purok 6, Maote, Bulwagan, Hinoba-an on Thursday, July 28.Nabbed was Adrian “Tortor/Niko” Omilig, who was said to be a squad leader of  the Sentro de Gravidad Platoon of the  South West Front that operates in Southern Negros, Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, Police Regional Office-6 information officer, said Friday.Omilig was allegedly involved in an armed encounter with government troopers in April 2021 at Sitio Yuring, Barangay Bulwagan, Hinoba-an, he said.His apprehension stemmed from an arrest warrant for attempted murder issued by Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Rodney Magbanua....

The body of the 19-year-old was found in this sugarcane field.*NORPPO photoA 19-year-old was beaten  to death by his minor girlfriend's step brother in Pamplona, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday, July 27.Killed was Reymark Torres, who was visiting his 16-year-old girlfriend when the latter received a call from her father that his son Rotchel Andaya was going to kill her boyfriend.Torres then went home, but the suspect waylaid and killed him.The victim tried to escape but the suspect came after him.The suspect is currently at large.*

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez*The creative industries development bill co-authored by Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) lapsed into law on Thursday, July 28 without the signature of former president Rodrigo Duterte.It is now known as Republic Act 11904, an act providing for the development and promotion of creative industries and appropriating funds for it. Republic Act No. 11904 will strengthen creative industries and provide support to artists, artisans, creative professionals and entrepreneurs, Benitez said on Friday.Benitez, co-principal author and co-sponsor of RA No. 11904, said it mandates the creation of roadmaps to cultivate Filipino talent, creativity, innovation and promote Philippine cultural heritage and artistic traditions to produce...