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Ericson Legaspi Acosta, alias Raffy, in a photo released by the Army.*One of two rebels killed in an encounter with government soldiers in Kabankalan City was a top New People’s Army (NPA) leader in Negros Island, a 303rd Infantry Brigade spokesman said on Thursday, December 1.Ericson Legaspi Acosta, alias Raffy, of Ligao City, Albay, was the deputy secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon- Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor (KR-NCBS) and the head of Political Unified Committee of the NPA in the Visayas at the time of his death, Capt. Marvin Rosal, Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said.Ka Bayani Obrero, National Democratic Front - Negros spokesperson, earlier said Acosta is an NDF consultant.Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade commander, said the deat...

The confirmed cholera cases in Negros Occidental have hit 63, and Talisay City still has the most number of cases.So far only one water source in EB Magalona has tested positive for Vibrio cholerae so the sources of most of the cholera cases have not been determined, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Thursday, December 1.The cholera cases could be caused by unsanitary practices or food-borne, he said.Talisay City has 22 confirmed cholera cases, Silay City – 21 including one death, EB Magalona – 13 including one death, and Victorias City – three, all in the Third District of Negros Occidental, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported.In the Second District, Cadiz City has three cases and Manapla - one, it addedDr. Jessica Fama, PHO Medical Speciali...

Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III*The Negros Occidental provincial government has increased the reward for the arrest of the suspects behind the 2021 assassination of the provincial consultant on hospital operations from P1.5 million to P2 million, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson announced on Thursday, December 1.Mariano Antonio “Marton” Cui III was killed as he was leaving his office at Emerald Arcade in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, on April 12, 2021.Any information that would lead to the capture of a person, or individuals, behind Cui’s death, may be relayed to Renoir Baldovino, head of the National Bureau of Investigation- Bacolod District Office, who can be reached at (O34)703-2931, the governor said.Cui had also served as chief of staff of former Rep. Julio Ledesma IV o...

Policemen at the scene of the crime in Cadiz City on Wednesday.*Cadiz PNP photoA man was found dead at Purok Palo 5, Brgy. Magsaysay, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, November 29.Killed was Cornelio Solivio, 58.Police said the victim’s daughter, Mary Joy Solivio, found the lifeless body of her father, with gunshots to the body.The victim was hunting for river crabs when he was shot by an unidentified suspect, who fled after the shooting.The victim was brought to Cadiz City Emergency Clinic but was declared dead on arrival.Police have yet to determine the motive for the killing.*

Evidence found at the crime scene in Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City.*A 28-year-old man was shot to death at Prk. Kawayan, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, 12:10 a.m. Wednesday, November 30.Killed was resident Jerol Franco Marcellana.Police said the victim was sitting at the alley fronting a computer shop when he was suddenly attacked and shot at by an unidentified person.He sustained gunshot wounds on different parts of his body and was brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.The unidentified suspect and his companion fled after the incident on board a motorcycle.The police have yet to determine the motive for the killing.*

Ericson Acosta and his wife, Kerima Lorena Tariman, who was also killed in an encounter with the Army in Silay City in August 2021.* Keri Dalena photo courtesy of Pablo TarimanNational Democratic Front consultant Ericson Acosta was one of two persons killed by government soldiers in Sitio Makilo, Barangay Camansi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, 2 a.m. Wednesday, November 30, the NDF Negros said.Also killed was peasant organizer Joseph Jimenez.Two Communists New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists were killed in an encounter in Sitio Makilo Wednesday morning but have yet to be identified, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Brigade commander, said.“If the NDF identified Acosta well and good, we have a lead”, he said.They have no record that Acosta was an NDF consultant...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said all job order workers of the Bacolod City government starting Wednesday, November 30, are required to avail of official identification cards.The IDs that will contain the picture and name of the JO worker, will also have a QR code that will provide necessary information.It will state where the person is assigned and the period of assignment of the JO worker, he said.The ID system information will be included in a computerized list to solve the problem of delayed salaries.JO workers went to the Bacolod City Government Center on Wednesday despite its being a public holiday to apply for identification cards.The Bacolod City government has more than 3,000 JO workers and 1,500 volunteers.Benitez said the JO workers who have no official...

A scene of the accident in Binalbagan town Tuesday.*Binalbagan PNP photoA seven-month-old baby girl died after she was hit by a truck in Barangay Payao, Binalbagan town, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, November 29.The baby was onboard a motorcycle with her parents, the police said.The motorcycle driven by the baby’s father overtook the truck it was following but hit a pedestrian who was walking on the side of the road.The baby’s father lost control of the motorcycle, causing the baby to fall to the ground.The baby was then hit by the oncoming truck, which resulted to her immediate death.The father and mother of the baby, and the pedestrian suffered minor injuries.*

There were 389 acute gastroenteritis (AGE) cases, including 27 cholera cases, recorded in Bacolod City from September 1 to November 26, the City Health Office reported Wednesday, November 30.The barangays with 10 and above AGE cases from November 1 to 26 are Mansilingan, Tangub, Alijis, Bata, Taculing, Singcang, Pahanocoy, Vista Alegre, Estefania, Granada, Mandalagan, Sum- ag, Cabug, Banago, Villamonte and Handumanan.The CHO also said of the 276 water refiling stations inspected in Bacolod, 107 have no sanitary permits and six were non-operational prior to inspectionThe AGE cases were attributed to poor environmental sanitation, and inadequate supply of safe and clean waterTo address the problem water sources in Bacolod City are being tested and disinfected, the CHO said....