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Negros Occidental’s active COVID-19 cases are nearing 100.The province had 12 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, July 2, bringing its total active cases to 99, the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) reported.Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, Negros Occidental has had 1,978 deaths and 39,685 recoveries, the PIMT said.Meanwhile, Bacolod City had 17 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday and 15 on Sunday, the Department of Health reported.*

Two men were arrested in a buy-bust operation for firearms at Prk 1, Brgy Laga-an, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Friday, July 29.Nabbed were furniture maker Renato Delima, 49, and businessman Danelson Amolo, 57, both of Calatrava.During the bust, the suspects yielded a 12-guage shotgun, two .45 caliber pistols with two magazines and six live ammunition, the P100 buy-bust money, the P69,900 boodle money, and a sling bag.The suspects are now in police custody, facing charges for illegal possession of firearms.*

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.*