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Aug92022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Alleged NPA tax collector falls

The alleged NPA tax collector.*NORPPO photoAn alleged tax collector of the New People’s Army was arrested in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Monday, August 8.Nabbed was 32-year-old Roldan Villareco Baydal, who was said to be a tax collector of NPA’s Central Negros 1 of the Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.His arrest was by virtue of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms issued by Guihulngan Regional Trial Court Judge Ma. Anna Priscila Pareja on August 3.During the arrest, the suspect yielded a rifle grenade, and a .38-caliber revolver with three rounds of live ammunition.The suspect is now in the custody of the Guihulngan police.*

Aug92022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Javi orders probe on ‘drinking incident’

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Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez on Tuesday, August 9, said he ordered the City Human Resource Office to investigate the employees who allegedly took part in a “drinking spree” with personnel from the Office of the Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) on July 15.He said they have already discussed the matter with the concerned employees from the Victorias Agriculture Office to get their side and maintain impartiality.“We have also asked our HR to look into the matter…. We do not tolerate unprofessional acts especially during official business," Benitez said.The Provincial Legal Office has issued show cause orders to five employees of the OPA for allegedly taking part in a “drinking session” in Victorias...

Aug92022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

P.5M worth of drugs seized in Bacolod, 2 suspects nabbed

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Two suspects yielded P550,800 worth of drugs in a buy-bust operation at Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City Tuesday, August 9.*BCPO photoMore than P500,000 worth of drugs were seized and two suspects, including a high-value target, were arrested in a police buy-bust operation at Purok Kawayan, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, August 9.Nabbed were high-value individual Rodmar “Zan” Abada, 37, and Aunice “Denice” Latuna, 28.Recovered from their possession were the P1,000 marked money, 21 sachets of suspected shabu worth P550,800, a sling bag, and the P250 cash proceeds.The suspects are now detained at Police Station 3 and are facing drug charges.*

Aug92022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Guv leads commemoration of International Day of IPs

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The participants in the celebration of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Bago City*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Lacson led the commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (IPs) at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center in Bago City, Tuesday, August 9.Lacson said that globalization, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic worsened pre-existing inequalities and vulnerabilities faced by indigenous peoples."For national unity and development, we have to ensure that our Indigenous Peoples are not left behind, and should be able to participate on all matters affecting them," he said.The governor assured the IP communities in the province that they can count on the support of the provincial government ...

Aug92022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Farmer shot, hacked to death

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The body of the farmer who was killed in Kabankalan City on Sunday, August 7.*Kabankalan PNP photoA farmer was shot and hacked to death at Barangay Tampalon in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 7.Killed was Romeo Juanico, 38, of Barangay Camingawan.Police investigation showed that the three suspects - two brothers and their uncle - chanced upon the victim and attacked him.One of the suspects shot the victim several times. When he fell to the ground, the two other suspects hacked and stabbed him to death, the police added.Police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.*

Aug92022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

PHO – Dengue deaths hit 17; Covid fatalities reported, too

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Dengue deaths in Negros Occidental hit 17, with three new fatalities in week 31 of 2022, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer, said Tuesday, August 9.He stressed the need for those hit with dengue to seek early medical help to prevent deaths.Negros Occidental had 2,948 dengue cases as of July 30, which is 956.63 percent higher than those in the same period last year.Meanwhile, Negros Occidental had 27 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday for a total of 140 active cases, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported. The province also had two new COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday and one on Monday, it added.The province also had one COVID-19 death on Monday, it added.Negros Occidental has fully vaccinated 76.62 percent of its target population against COVID-19, and 60.49...

Aug92022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Trekkers caught entering Kanlaon danger zone will be jailed: PENRO

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Kanlaon Volcano straddles Negros Occidental and Oriental.*Ronnie Baldonado photoPersons caught entering the Kanlaon Volcano 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) will be jailed, Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, Negros Occidental Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said Tuesday, August 9.Gerangaya said he has received reports of trekkers climbing to the volcano’s crater and of some guides helping them.Despite strict monitoring there are trekkers who slip through, he said.They reportedly pass through the Guintubdan-Wasay trail at night so they are not easily detected, he said.Those caught entering the danger zone can immediately be imprisoned for violating a government regulation, Gerangaya said.Kanlaon is under Alert Level 1 and the Philippine Ins...

Aug92022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Sugar stakeholders meet set on SRP to curb rising prices

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A sugar stakeholders meeting is set Wednesday, August 10, to discuss the suggested retail price for sugar, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica said Tuesday, August 9.He said the online meeting will be held with Agriculture Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista. The meeting has been called by the DA as retail prices of refined sugar breached the P100 mark per kilo.President Ferdinand Marcos, who is also concurrent agriculture secretary, has approved the importation of at least 300,000 metric tons of sugar to prevent a shortage in supply and to help bring down retail prices.Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said there is a shortage of sugar and the retail price has gone up so the importation is a good move before the milling season goes full b...

Aug92022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod tourist arrivals expected to hit 600,000

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More tourists are expected during the MassKara Festival in October.*Ronnie Baldonado photoBacolod tourist arrivals are expected to hit 600,000 by the end of 2022, or a 284 percent increase from last year, City Tourism Officer Tere Quebrar Manalili said on Tuesday, August 9.Manalili, who spoke at a Tourism Stakeholders Meeting at Acacia Hotel in Bacolod, said in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic the city had about 803,000 visitors.In 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the number dropped to 143,000 visitors or by 82 percent. In 2021 there was slight increase by 3.12 percent with 147,000 arrivals in Bacolod, she added.“Slowly, we’re picking up the pieces with increasing visitor arrivals at 19,000 in January, 24,000 in February, 35,000 in March, 38,000 in April, 46,000 in May ...

Aug92022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Ferrer: I was provoked, I’m lobbying for removal of Valderrama, Serafica

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Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer wants Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr. and Hermenegildo Serafica (l-r) removed*Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer on Tuesday, August 9, said he is lobbying for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to revoke the appointment of Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama Jr. as acting member of the Sugar Board representing the planters.He is also pushing for the removal of Hermenegildo Serafica as administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) "to protect the sugar industry", Ferrer said. There have been numerous complaints against Serafica, someone more qualified should be appointed in his place, he said.The vice governor said he has recommended to the president that former Murcia mayor Esteban “Sonny” Coscolluela, who ac...