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The North and South Capitol roads in Bacolod City.*Ronnie Baldonado photoMembers of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved the traffic rerouting and road closures in Bacolod City for the MassKara Festival, which will kick off on October 1, during their regular session on Thursday, September 29.The supposed public hearing for the proposed traffic rerouting and road closure did not push through, which prompted the SP committee on transportation and traffic to adopt the traffic plan submitted by the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office.From October 1 to 23, the road closure will be implemented around the Bacolod Public Plaza from 3 p.m. to 5 a.m. This will include Rizal, Araneta-Luzuriaga, Gonzaga, San Juan and Gatuslao streets.There will also be road closures at Lacson Street, ...

The remains of the man who went missing.*Cauayan PNP photoThe remains of a man who went missing in July was found in Barangay Inayawan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, September 27.The bones belonged to 31-year-old Mark Anthony Cordova.His skull was found on Friday, September 23.Maj. Gary Allan Resuma, Cauayan police chief, said they have not yet determined who is responsible for the killing of the victim because he had no enemies according to his family.The police said it is possible there was foul play in his death because his body was hidden.*

Pryde Henry Teves and Roel Ragay Degamo (l-r)*The Commission on Elections en banc moved to annul the proclamation of Pryde Henry Teves as governor of Negros Oriental, and affirmed an earlier resolution declaring the near namesake of former governor Roel Ragay Degamo a nuisance candidate.The Comelec en banc issued a writ of execution on Tuesday, September 27, directing the Special Provincial Board of Canvasses (SPBOC) to convene on Monday October 3 to annul the proclamation of Teves as the winner of the May 9 polls.This came after it ruled with finality that Ruel Degamo was a nuisance candidate in the race for governor.The Comelec Second Division declared Ruel Degamo, whose real name is Grego Gaudia, a nuisance candidate in December 2021, but without a final Comelec en banc ...

The scene of the accident in San Carlos City on Wednesday, September 28.*San Carlos PNP photoA motorcycle driver was killed after he was hit by a police patrol car at Barangay Punaw, San Carlos City, Wednesday, September 28.Killed was Roy Valiente, 35, of Escalante City,Lt. Col. Jesus Mesajon, San Carlos City Police Station chief, said the police were on their way to the police station after patrolling the area when their vehicle overtook the tricycle it was tailing.The driver may not have noticed that there was an incoming motorcycle that caused the collision,Mesajon said.The patrol car driver hit the brakes, but the vehicle swerved and fell into the canal, he added.The victim was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.The driver of the patrol car, 37-year-ol...

Security troops during the send-off ceremony at the Bacolod City Police Office headquarters.*BCPO photoA total of 1,165 security personnel were deployed for the MassKara Festival, which will kick off on October 1.The Bacolod City Police Office, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP K9, Bureau of Fire Protection, Special Weapons and Tactics, Regional Mobile Force Battalion VI, and the Philippine Army were among the groups that were blessed during the send-off ceremony Thursday, September 29, at the BCPO headquarters.Guests of honor were Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) commander, and Pinky Mirano-Ocampo, MassKara Festival director.Also present were BCPO director, Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, and Bacolod Traffic Aut...

E. B. Magalona officials, led by Mayor Marvin Malacon, on Thursday visited residents of Sitio Tinapok in Barangay Batea where a cholera case was reported.*The cholera cases in Negros Occidental have increased to seven, with another case reported in Silay City, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, September 29.There are now five Silay City residents who have been hit with cholera, one of whom died. Victorias and EB Magalona have one cholera case each.The latest person confirmed to have been hit with cholera is a 51-year-old male from Barangay Guinhalaran, Silay City, who is in stable condition at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Lacson said the number of cholera cases in Silay can get alarming. “The numbers are...

The Bakunahang Bayan PinasLakas Special Vaccination Day at the Murcia Public Plaza on Thursday.*Richard Malihan photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is calling on all local government units to intensify their COVID-19 vaccination and booster drives as Negros Occidental is still lagging behind.“Let us find ways and think up innovative plans not just to reach the desired numbers, but to achieve our desired end to win this fight against COVID-19,” said Lacson in his speech at the launching of the Bakunahang Bayan PinasLakas Special Vaccination Day at the Murcia Public Plaza on Thursday, September 29.“This booster vaccination campaign, meant to increase the number of Filipinos who have been given the COVID-19 booster, should be taken as seriously and earnestly as the first vaccination dri...

Lawyer Reynaldo "Lolan" Novero Jr.*The city administrator of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental has resigned.Lawyer Reynaldo "Lolan" Novero Jr. submitted his irrevocable resignation to Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda on Wednesday, September 28.Novero, in his letter to Miranda, said “I am hereby tendering my irrevocable resignation as city administrator effective today”.“I believe this sacrificial act of resigning will operate for the good of the city and for all Kabankalanons which is the only thing foremost in my mind. For this reason, I pray that God will give you the wisdom in our dream to promote and protect the general welfare of our constituents,” he added.Novero could not be reached for further comment.Miranda said Novero’s resignation was sudden, he does not kn...