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Aug162022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Palace accepts resignation of Serafica, probe still urged

Hermenegildo Serafica said: "I performed the functions of my office consistent with, or within the bounds of the law“.Malacañang has accepted the resignation of Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, who was one of four signatories of the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 that would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.The Sugar Board importation order was revoked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for being issued “without his authority and approval”.Serafica is the third member of the SRA Sugar Board who has resigned.“In behalf of president Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., I wish to inform you that your resignation has been accepted, effective immediately,” Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez said in a letter ...

Aug162022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Beltran resigns, lawmakers call for other SO4 signatories to quit

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Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) called on all of those who signed SO4 to resign out of delicadeza at a House briefing on the sugar importation mess on Monday.The millers’ representative on the Sugar Regulatory Administration Board resigned on Monday, August 15, and lawmakers are calling for the resignation of the rest of its members.Roland Beltran was the second member of the Board to resign.Department Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian resigned of Friday after Malacañang announced that he “illegally” signed and issued Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4) granting the importation of 300,000 MT of sugar without the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.SO4 was also signed by Beltran, SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica and Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama...

Aug152022 by Romeo SubaldoNo Comments

Cop shot dead in Negros Oriental

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The policeman was gunned down in Barangay San Roque, Bayawan City*RFS FM Bayawan photoA policeman was shot to death at Sitio Ipil-ipil in Barangay San Roque, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, Monday afternoon, August 15.P/Cpl. Rey Ambo was on his way home on board his motorcycle when he was gunned down.CMsgt. Archer Birjes, Bayawan police investigator, said the victim was taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.Ambo was a member of the 705th MC Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 and a resident of Brgy. Poblacion, Basay, Negros Oriental.*

Aug152022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Drunken man stabbed dead by brother in Bago: police

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A drunken man was stabbed to death by his elder brother at Purok Kalubihan, Brgy. Bacong, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 14.Killed was 58-year-old Arturo Vicente, a laborer.The victim, who was said to be under the influence of liquor, met his brother, 65-year-old Hernane Vicente, at the road and challenged him to a fight.This prompted the suspect to run, but the victim chased him.When the suspect stopped due to shortness of breath, he drew his long knife and stabbed the victim on the chest.The victim was brought to the Bago City Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The suspect who fled after the incident was later caught by the police.*

Aug152022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Senate, House to probe sugar import; Zubiri: Kickbacks could have hit P600M

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Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (right) at the House briefing on Sugar Order No. 4 on Monday.*The Senate and House of Representatives are set to conduct inquiries into the “illegal” issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4) granting the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, which was revoked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week.“We were not born yesterday. We know importation is a lucrative business,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said in a privilege speech Monday, August 15, calling for an investigation into the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board’s issuance of SO 4.Zubiri also said there is “tong-pats” or a corruption scheme involving sugar importation that was divulged to him by industry insiders.He was informed that “tongpats” or bribes worth P50 to P1...

Aug152022 by Marchel P. EspinaNo Comments

Suspected drug leader falls, P884K in shabu seized in Kabankalan bust

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The drug recoveries during the buy-bust operation in Kabankalan City on Monday, August 15.*Radyo Bandera photoA suspected drug group leader was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Purok Paraiso, Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, August 15.Nabbed was high-value individual Jonalyn “Mommy Jing” Bugalon, 49, who was said to be the leader of Bugalon drug group, and Juanito “Jerome” Artisano Jr., of Purok Riverside, Brgy. Suay, Himamaylan City.Recovered from the suspects possession were 130 grams of suspected shabu worth P884,000.The suspects and the recovered items are now under the custody of Kabankalan police.Col. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director, lauded his men on the accomplishment and reiterated his directive for a more ...

Aug152022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Installation of news chiefs of NegOcc hospitals starts

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Dr. Glicerio Javellana (2nd from left) at the Merceditas Montilla District Hospital turnover rites in Sipalay City on Monday.*The installation of the new chiefs of seven Negros Occidental provincial government hospitals began Monday, August 15, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Installed Monday were Dr. Glicerio Javellana at the Merceditas Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay City and Dr. Ma. Lalaine Teorima at the Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospital in Hinoba-an.Officials of Sipalay City and Hinoba-an at the turnover rites pledged support for the hospitals, Diaz said.Dr. Claudelia Josefa Pabillo will assume her post as Cadiz District Hospital chief in Cadiz City on Tuesday, August 16.The turnover rites at the Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospi...

Aug152022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Escalante resident linked to rent of illegal STL venue

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Abner Cañal, owner of the Binalbagan house used by illegal STL operators, at the NBI Bacolod office.*A woman from Escalante City leased the room used by persons who were engaged in fake Small Town Lottery operations in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, the owner of the house told National Bureau of Investigation officials on Monday, August 15.Abner Cañal, owner of the Binalbagan house located at Barangay Santo Rosario, said the room was rented by a certain Liezel of Escalante City.Persons he identified only as Cookie, Nonoy and Val, occupied the room and each paid P100 a day.However, he asked them to leave when he noticed that their bet stubs did not have the name of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and they could not produce proof that they were legitimate STL...

Aug152022 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez launches Bacolod Citizens Garbage Watch

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A solar-powered Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera being installed at the Central Market on Monday.* Bacolod PIO photoThe Bacolod City government launched a Citizens Garbage Watch on Monday, August 15, that will enable residents to report their garbage problems to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.Dubbed “Isugid kay mayor ang problema sa basura (Report your garbage problem to the mayor), citizens can send garbage concerns by scanning this QR code:They can also report their garbage complaints by filling up a form at https://bit.ly/BASURAWATCH.The city government also installed four solar-powered Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the Central Market on Monday.The CCTV cameras are at Gonzaga-Bonifacio, Gonzaga-Gatuslao, Gatuslao-Luzuriaga and Luzuriaga...

Aug152022 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Negrense young softbelles bow to Mid Atlantic girls

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It was a tough Sunday afternoon for the Negrense players in their semi-finals encounter with their Mid Atlantic rival at the 2022 Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina.Looking like a David versus Goliath challenge, indeed it was as the mid-Atlantic players were double or near triple the body size of the Negrense cuties, as some Americans describe them, a press release from the Negros Occidental Sports Office said Monday, August 15.The battle ended with an 11-0 final score in favor of the American team.The absence of the Negrense main pitcher added to the scenario as she had already played 12 innings as one rule of the Little League World Series dictates. Added to the rival's advantage was their full batting that balls went flying in full power giving...