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Three Bacolodnons were found guilty of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and two were sentenced to life imprisonment.Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Judge Raymond Joseph Javier on Friday, March 24, separately sentenced Ereneo Anlap Pranisa, alias Maymay, and Kurt Jumawan Gargalicano, alias Kurt Eric, to life imprisonment.Pranisa was sentenced to two counts of life imprisonment for the sale and possession of shabu.He was apprehended for the sale of .204 gram of shabu for P500 to a police poseur buyer at Rose Lawns in Barangay Bata, Bacolod, on July 2, 2022.On his arrest 57.948 grams of shabu and an improvised tooter were recovered from him, the court was told.Javier sentenced Pranisa to life imprisonment for the sale of shabu and to pay a fi...

The Bacolod City government has halted the construction of an alleged cockpit at Purok Paghidaet Zone 3 in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City.The person responsible for the construction has been issued a notice of violation for construction without a building permit, Engr. Isidro Sun, head of the Office of the Building Official, said.The structure is reportedly being built in an interior area and is surrounded by houses.OBO representatives delivered a notice of violation and fines will be imposed for construction without an OBO building permit, he said.If the owner does not present their construction plan to the OBO, the case will be referred to the City Legal Office, he said.*

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) has placed Western Visayas under blue alert starting g April 5 to 10 during the observance of Holy Week.“In observance of this year's Holy Week (Semana Santa), the blue alert status is raised at the RDRRM Operations Center starting 8 a.m. of April 5 to 8 a.m. of April 10”, Aletha Nogra, officer-in-charge of the Office of Civil Defense 6, said.All members of the RDRRMC and Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils are directed to closely monitor, consolidate and report all Holy Week related incidents and ensure prompt coordination with concerned agencies, she said.Preparedness measures, respective response action plans, and any untoward incidents monitored should be submitted to the RDRRMOC, Nogra added.*...

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police seized firearms and ammunition from a sugar mill compound reportedly owned by former Negros Oriental Gov. Henry Pryde Teves in Barangay Caranoche, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, Friday morning, March 24.The former governor is the brother of beleaguered Rep. Arnolfo Teves (Neg. Or., 3rd District) who has been linked to the murder of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.Henry Pryde Teves had been unseated as Negros Oriental governor in October last year and replaced by Degamo.Col. Thomas Valmonte, CIDG legal officer, told reporters they were implementing a search warrant for illegal possession firearms at the sugar compound owned by Henry Pryde Teves.The CIDG conducted the raid with the suppo...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared March 31 a special non- working day in Sipalay and Himamaylan cities in Negros Occidental.It is but fitting and proper that the people be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the 22nd Charter Anniversary ceremonies of Sipalay City, Proclamation 160 said.Himamaylan City is also celebrating its Charter Anniversary and Himaya Festival on March 31, Proclamation 165 said.Both proclamations were signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by authority of the president.*

Negrense David John Thaddeus Alba has resigned as administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Malacañang announced on Friday, March 24.“Upon the directive of the President, his resignation will be effective on April 15 to prepare the appointment of his replacement,” it said.Alba visited Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Wednesday informing him of his decision to resign, the announcement said.Bersamin tried to persuade him not to, but Alba cited his worsening health condition, it said.Alba could not be reached for comment but industry sources said he submitted his resignation letter earlier than Wednesday.He is the second SRA administrator to resign under the Marcos administration, the first being Hermenegildo Serafica who quit last year.The Marco...

The Bacolod City government launched on Friday, March 24, an online animal welfare concerns desk dubbed the Alaga.BCD as part of the observance of Rabies Awareness Month this March.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the initiative would be implemented by the City Veterinary Office together with various advocates in the city.“(This) is the perfect time to start Alaga.BCD. After our talks with various animal welfare groups, this project was born,” he said in a statement.Pet owners and concerned citizens can use the #IsugidKayMayor QR (quick response) code and link to report and seek assistance for their concerns.These include response to impounding of strays, aggressive and uncontrollable dogs or cats, rabid dogs, animal abuse, irresponsible pet ownership, and emergencies, s...

Nineteen barangays in Western Visayas, 18 of which are in Negros Occidental, were declared drug-cleared on Friday, March 24, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency announced.The 18 drug-cleared barangays in Negros Occidental are in Bago City, Cadiz City, EB Magalona, Hinoba-an, Isabela, La Carlota City, Manapla, Murcia, Silay City, Talisay City, Valladolid, and Victorias City.A barangay in Pontevedra, Capiz, was also declared drug-cleared.PDEA VI will continue to closely collaborate with its counterparts to increase the number of barangays to be cleared, as well as in the conduct of validation and verification to ensure that the drug-cleared status is maintained, a statement from the agency said.The PDEA-6 cleared three more barangays in E. B. Magalona, a press release from...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the official turnover and inauguration of the newly rehabilitated P162 million Hinicayan to Violeta Farm-to-Market Road and Napilas Bridge in Silay City, Wednesday, March 22.The development project will pave the way to boost the local economy with the ease and convenience of transportation, he said.It is a project of the Department of Agriculture-led Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) in collaboration with the Negros Occidental and Silay City governments.About 3,000 households will benefit from the project, with more than 14,000 people living within the area.Present at the ceremonial turnover were Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, Vice Mayor Thomas Maynard Ledesma, former Board Member and now Silay Councilor Rya...