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The robbers took the cash from the van during a hold-up in Ilog, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, July 12.*Ilog PNP photoThree robbers carted away P120,163 in cash after they robbed a salesman and his driver at Sitio Bagroy, Barangay Deliciouso, Ilog, Negros Occidental, on  Tuesday, July 12.The police identified the salesman as 32-year-old Virgilio Gelera of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, and the driver as Marvie Magbanua, 40, of Brgy. Inayauan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, who work for a courier firm.The victims were collecting payment from a store when the three men, one of them armed with a gun, appeared and declared a hold-up, police said.The suspects then took the P120,163 from panel van and fled on board a motorcycle towards the north of Kabankalan City.One of the su...

Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer*Dengue cases in Negros Occidental are continuing to rise and are now 773.82 percent higher than last year, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Wednesday, July 13. He said from January 1 to July 9 Negros Occidental recorded 2,036 dengue cases compared to 233 in the same period last year.There are also 10 dengue deaths this year compared to three in the same period last year.The dengue deaths this year were in Hinigaran, Talisay City and Calatrava  – two each, and Himamaylan City, La Carlota City, Murcia and Toboso – one each.The top 10 areas in Negros Occidental with the most number of dengue cases are Himamaylan City with 197, Kabankalan City – 186, La Carlota City -161, Hinigaran – 154, San Car...

Bacolod City Councilor Celia Flor filed a resolution before the Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday, for the City Engineer's Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and the General Services Office to assist in the immediate cleaning and de-clogging of the drainage systems at the Libertad, Burgos and Central markets in Bacolod City.*The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, July 13, called for the immediate cleaning, flushing, de-clogging, dredging and repair of pipelines, drainages and surroundings    of the three major public markets of the city.The call is contained in a resolution authored by Councilor Celia Flor that was approved by the SP during its regular session.The resolution enjoins the City Engineer’s Office, City Disaster Risk Reduc...

Only 48 percent of the schools under the Negros Occidental Schools Division are ready for the opening of classes so far, Schools Division Superintendent Marsette Sabbaluca said Wednesday, July 13.But she assured that preparations are being made so that all schools will be ready for the opening of classes on August 22.There are 252 of 581 public schools, and 10 of 117 private schools ready for the opening of classes, data as of July 12 showed, Sabbaluca added.Municipalities that are 100 percent ready for the opening of classes are EB Magalona, Don Salvador Benedicto, Pontevedra and Valladolid, she said.Her data does not include the City Schools Divisions, she said.They are focusing on the repair of classrooms hit by typhoon “Odette” and the campaign for students to get v...

A man who attended the 18th birthday party of his neighbor was shot to death at Aguntilang 3, Brgy. Riverside, Isabela, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, July 12.Killed was 26-year-old Milky Talanas.The victim who was at his neighbor’s party was attacked by an unidentified suspect with an unknown firearm, the police said.The victim succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, while the suspect fled.Police have yet to establish the motive of the killing.*

The requests of two groups to hold night markets in Bacolod City were referred by the Sangguniang Panlungsod for committee deliberations on Wednesday, July 13, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said.Sheila Versoza, president of the RTW and Retailers of Metro Bacolod Association Inc., is requesting to continue holding a night market at Ballesteros Street on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and for the passage of an ordinance establishing the night market.Micro Bacolod Vendors Organization president Marife Fernandez and secretary Ma. Veronica Saavedra in a letter submitted to the SP are also requesting to hold night markets near the Bacolod  City Government Center, at Ballesteros Street and at the Capitol Lagoon in front of the Provincial Capitol. Familiaran said their reques...

City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. and City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III (right)*The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod concurred the appointment of the new city administrator and legal officer at its regular session on Wednesday, July 13.Concurred were the appointments of Pacifico Maghari III as city administrator and Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. as city legal officer, SP Floor Leader Al Victor Espino said.Also approved was a resolution requesting Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to study the possibility of activating the Community Emergency Rescue Team under the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office covering the 61 barangays of Bacolod City, which was proposed by Councilor Kalaw Puentevella.A resolution urging different private and public schools in Bacolod to ...

Antonino Panique, Fr. Ernie Larida, Jojit Yap and Eugene Velasco (l-r) at a press conference Wednesday.*The Central Negros Electric Cooperative directors who were suspended by the National Electrification Administration for 30 days without pay are filing a motion for reconsideration to the decision finding them guilty of simple neglect of duty, Ceneco president Jojit Yap said Wednesday, July 13.However, they are complying with the suspension order that has already taken effect, Yap said at press a conference.Included in the NEA suspension order were Yap, and Ceneco directors Martha  Joyce  Cuenca, Ernie Larida, Antonio Panique and Eugene Velasco, and  former director Robert J. Javellana and   NEA project supervisor/acting general manager Danny L. Pondevilla.Yap reiterated t...

City PIO photoBacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways and the City Engineer’s Office to harmonize their flood control plans for Bacolod City.The first thing to do is to identify the problem correctly otherwise the solution will not be right, Benitez said at a press conference on Monday, July 11.If they have no major differences in their flood control response then they should move to implementation, he said.He stressed the need to be innovative and to incorporate new ideas in solving the problem.Benitez also said strainers should be placed in drainages to prevent them from being clogged.Meanwhile, the hiring of 280 traffic enforces has been approved and so far there have been close to 400 applicants....

A village watchman of Barangay San Isidro, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, was arrested during a raid on his home for possession of an illegal firearm on Sunday, July 10.Police identified the suspect as Edwin Rodrigazo, 58.The police conducted the raid after receiving  reports of alleged indiscriminate firing, and alarm and scandal by the suspect.The search warrant was issued La Carlota City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Cyclamen Jison-Fernandez.Recovered from the suspect were a .45  caliber pistol, a homemade .38 caliber revolver, a silencer for .45 caliber pistol  and  ammunition.The suspect who is now in police custody was charged for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.*