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Two House committees will convene Monday to look into the “illegal issuance” by the Sugar Regulatory Administration board of an order granting the importation of 300,00 MT of sugar, Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said Sunday, August 14.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revoked Sugar Order No .4 last week, saying it was issued without his knowledge or approval.Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian resigned on Friday amid an ongoing investigation of officials involved in the signing of Sugar Order No. 4.Benitez said the House committees on good governance and public accountability and agriculture will convene to seek clarifications.Meanwhile, eight sectoral groups in a joint statement Sunday called for non-political and proper representation of farmers ...

The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in December could be postponed to May 2023 or May 2024, Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said Sunday, August 14.Benitez said he expects the Lower House to pass a bill by early October or November postponing the BSKE.He said numerous bills have been filed seeking the postponement of the polls, it will have to be determined which proposal will be adopted by the Lower House.The proposed dates for the polls range from May 2023 to December 2024, he said.*

Part of the P2.72 billion in drugs seized.*PDEA photoThree Negrenses were among the suspects caught in separate drug bust operations in Pangasinan and La Union on Friday, August 12.The multi-agency operations headed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency led to the recovery of P2.72 billion worth of illegal drugs, which were packed in Chinese tea bags.Nabbed at Turquoise Street, Sunshine Village, Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, were  Rey Yago, 29, and  Ritchell Repuesto. 28,  of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, and their companions -  Chinese national Ke “James Dagale Galopo” Wujia, 49, of San Vicente Sur, Agoo, La Union, and  22-year-old Johnbert Yagong of San Agustin Norte, Agoo, La Union.At least 360 kilograms of suspected shabu worth P2.448 billion were seized from the su...

Victorias Mayor Javi Benitez and his girlfriend Sue Ramirez at the Gawahon Eco Park on Sunday.*Victorias Mayor Javier “Javi” Benitez said on Sunday, August 14, that he is pushing for the passage of an ordinance creating the Gawahon Development Authority to manage and further boost the protection of the Gawahon Eco Park in his city.Benitez, at the 17th anniversary of the Northern Negros Natural Park held at the Gawahon Eco Park, stressed the need to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic development.They are conserving the environment by having Bantay Bukid personnel  protect trees and birds at the  Gawahon Eco Park, which they will make as sustainable as possible, he said.They will go after those engaged in illegal logging and hunting, he s...

Police investigating the robbery incident at a 7-Eleven store.*Cauayan PNP photoTwo unidentified persons robbed a 7-Eleven store at Magsaysay Street in Brgy. Poblacion, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Saturday, August 13.Initial investigation showed that the two suspects entered the store and held the cashier at gunpoint and declared hold-up.The  suspects carted away at least P20,000, which they took from the cash drawer.The police are still investigating the incident.*

Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, Rep. Francisco Benitez and Victorias Mayor Javier Benitez (l-r) at the Inter-local Health Zone meeting on Friday.*Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) rallied the Third District Inter-local Health Zone (ILHZ) to continue the work of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of his District Office with the support of the provincial government and local government units on Friday, August 12.The EOC was created to coordinate and better manage the response to medical  needs of the populace at the start and at the height  of the COVID-19  pandemic in 2020 to 2021, a press release from his office said Sunday,  August 14.He convened the members of the North Central Negros ILHZ together with Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, Teresita Lopez...

A man was gunned down at Crossing Danao, Brgy. San Jose, Toboso, Negros Occidental, Saturday, August 13.Killed was 40-year-old Ryan Oland Julian.The victim was standing beside his motorcycle when he was shot to death by his assailants.Julian was shot on the chest causing his instantaneous death.Recovered from the scene was a fired cartridge of a .45 caliber pistol and a slug.The suspects fled  in an unknown direction after the incident.The motive of the killing has yet to be established.*

Officials of five Land Transportation Offices in Negros Occidental have been reshuffled.The reshuffling was done in the exigency and best interest of the service, LTO Regional Director Lenard Tabaldo said in his office order.Renato Novero, who was previously assigned at the Himamaylan District Office, has assumed the post of chief transportation regulation officer (TRO) of the LTO Bacolod City District Office.Reuben Tampos, who previously headed the Bacolod City District Office, is now supervising TRO of the EB Magalona District Office.Joseph Danoy Sr. of the Bacolod City District Office has been assigned as supervising TRO of the Cadiz City District Office.Marilyn Desuyo, who was assigned at the Cadiz City District Office, is now administrative officer III of the LTO P...

A “Tokhang” surrenderee who was caught with more than 621 grams of shabu in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, has been sentenced to life imprisonment on two counts and ordered to pay a fine of P2.5 million.Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Executive Judge, Raymond Joseph Javier, sentenced Sunny Delara Capa, alias Blut, to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000 on Friday, August 12, for the sale of .151 gram of shabu to a policeman in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.Capa was also sentenced to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P2 million for possession of 621.29 grams of shabu.His first cousin Ely Lorence Demadara Sazon was also found guilty of possession of 5.92 grams of shabu and sentenced to 20 years and one day imprisonment and to pa...