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MassKara dancers at the countdown to the 43rd MassKara Festival at the Bacolod City Government Center Friday night*The National Telecommunications Commission has approved the shutdown of mobile services during the highlights of the 43rd MassKara Festival in Bacolod City on October 22 and 23 as a security precaution, festival director Pinky Mirano Ocampo said Sunday, October 2.Mirano said they requested “signal shutdowns” at the venue sites of the streetdance competition on October 23 and the Electric MassKara on October 22.“This is customary during big events, especially since we are expecting no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grace our main event,” Ocampo said.The “shutdown” during the streetdance competition on October 23 will only be limited to performance a...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez at the countdown to the official start of the 43rd MassKara Festival at the Bacolod City Government Center.*Despite the drizzle, thousands trooped to the Bacolod City Government Center to join the countdown for the official start of the 43rd MassKara Festival Friday evening, September 30.Pol. Col. Thomas Martir, Bacolod police director, pegged the crowd at the MassKara Kick-off Salubong at 20,000, many of whom stayed for the countdown at midnight which was capped by a spectacular 8-minute fireworks display.“This is what we have been preparing for, to give you the biggest and grandest MassKara Festival,” Bacolod Mayor Allfredo Abelardo Benitez told the crowd.Benitez, who was acompanied by Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and the city councilo...

The countdown to the MassKara Festival was held at the Bacolod City Government Center Friday night.*Ronnie Baldonado photoMayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Friday, September 30, that he expects about P5 billion in revenues for Bacolod City during the three-week MassKara Festival.“We are expecting about P5 billion to enter the system because of this event,” he said.The October 1 to 23 festival kicked off with a countdown at the Bacolod City government center Friday night.Bacolodnons should prepare for the best ever MassKara Festival, Benitez said.“We have planned for this for a couple of months and you can see the reaction of the people is very positive,” he said, not only in Bacolod but in other parts of the country and abroad.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and...

The former rebel who surrendered to authorities.*A suspected member of the New People’s Army surrendered to authorities in Brgy. Locotan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on September 26.Lt. Col. Joel Garcia, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 commander, identified the surrenderer as Edgar Millares, 58. He was a former member of the Squad 1, Nissan Platoon, Southwest Front Kometing Region Negros Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor.Millares also surrendered his 12-gauage homemade shotgun with two bullets, Garcia said.The police will continue to implement the government's program for those who want to surrender to the government to achieve peace and development, he said.*

Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr.*Eighteen personnel of the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division of Negros Occidental have been issued show causes orders, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Friday, September 30.Issued show cause orders were 13 drivers, a utility worker , three administrative aides and one special operations officer, he said.The drivers were issued show cause orders for failure to comply with the rule on the submission of trip tickets immediately after they travel, Nellas said.The admin personnel were issued show cause orders for complaints against their behavior, he added.The show cause orders were issued two weeks ago and so far only one has not replied, Nellas said.The Provincial Legal Office is determining if th...

The man who was gunned down in Sagay City on Thursday.*Sagay PNP photoA man was killed while a woman was hit by a stray bullet in Brgy. Poblacion 2, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Thursday night, September 29.Killed was Jomarie Matarong, 38, while Marilyn Mangulabnan, 56, suffered injuries.Matarong was on his way home on board his motorcycle when he was shot by a motorcycle-riding suspect who was tailing him, the police said.When he fell to the ground, he was shot again by the suspect’s companion who was already on the side of the road. Both fled together.Matarong was declared dead on arrival, while the woman is now in good condition.Recovered from the scene were six cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol and three deformed bullets.Police said the victim who was inc...

motorcycle accident in Sagay City on Wednesday, September 28.*Sagay PNP photoA motorcycle driver died after he was ran over by a truck at the highway in Barangay Old Sagay, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, September 28.Killed was Kayne Ray Taleda, 22, while injured was his companion.Taleda, and another motorcycle driven by John Danly Baraga were tailing a truck when Baraga tried to overtake it but failed, a police report said Friuday.Taleda’s motorcycle then hit Baraga causing them to fall on the pavement, but Taleda was ran over by the truck.Taleda’s rider was injured while Baraga was unscathed.*