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Mayor Benjie Miranda being interviewed at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday.*Mayor Benjie Miranda said on Wednesday, July 27, that he is open to dialog with members of the Kabankalan Sangguniang Panlungsod to ensure a harmonious working relationship for the good of their city.Anytime time they want to come to my office they are welcome, he said.The Kabankalan City Sangguniang Panlungsod members had passed a resolution expressing their dismay and disappointment over the hiring of non-Kabankalanon residents by Mayor Benjie Miranda.Miranda said when he declared that he would not fire any employees, and job order and casual workers of Kabankalan, the SP should have also passed a resolution thanking him for doing that.“I prioritized the Kabnkalanons because they were th...

The minor who was hit by lighting is now in stable condition.*Sagay PNP photoA 60-year-old man was killed while his worker, a 17-year-old boy, was injured after they were struck by lightning Tuesday, July 26, in Brgy. Puey, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.Killed was Bernardo Tapia.The two were tending to their pigs when it suddenly rained, so they took cover at the waiting shed, but they were hit by lightning, a police report said.There were four more people at the waiting shed but they were not hit.Tapia was declared dead on arrival at the hospital while the minor is in stable condition, the police said.*

The man who was shot in San Carlos City, Tuesday, July 26.*San Carlos PNP photoA 43-year-old man was injured after he was shot by responding policemen at Barangay Punao, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday, July 26.Based on the initial police investigation, the two policemen responded after a suspicious person was seen carrying a weapon.The suspect identified as Ramonito Tura, of Barangay Punao, San Carlos City, pointed his gun at the policemen that prompted them to shoot, the police report said.It was later discovered that the man was only carrying a toy gun.The man was said to be suffering from mental problems.He is being treated at the San Carlos City Hospital.*

Several personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office were recognized for their performance at rites held at the Police Regional Office-6 headquarters in Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City, on July 25.*PRO-6 photoBacolod City Police Office personnel were awarded for their “exemplary performance that contributed to the overall accomplishment of the Philippine National Police”.The awarding was held at the Police Regional Office-6 headquarters in Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City, on Monday,  July 25.Cpt. Elmer Bonilla,  Police Station 7 chief, and  SSg. Edlyn Villan, were awarded the Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Merit Medal ) for their anti-illegal drugs campaign accomplishments.Lt. Edward Bolivar, who was then assigned to the Bacolod City Mobile Force Company (BCMFC), was...

Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer and Rep. Francisco Benitez*Two Negros Occidental representatives have been appointed chairpersons of House committees in the 9th Congress.Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) has been named chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Committee again.Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) chairs the Committee on Justice.Committees study, deliberate on and act upon all measures referred to them inclusive of bills, resolutions and petitions, and shall recommend courses of action for the House, its rules state.Committees also have oversight responsibilities to determine whether or not laws and programs addressing subjects within their jurisdictions are being implemented and carried out in accordance with the intent of Congr...

The Negros ACE officers take their oaths before Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.*Richard Malihan photoVictorias Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives, rallied his fellow mayors to “band together and succeed together”.Benitez and the rest of the officers of the Negros ACE took their oaths before Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at rites at the Social Hall of the Capitol in Bacolod City Wednesday morning, July 27. Other officers of the league are Nicholas Yulo of Bago City – vice president, Salvador Escalante of Cadiz City – secretary general,  Jilson Tubillara of San Enrique -  treasurer, Raymund  Tongson of Himamaylan City – auditor and Lawrence Marxlen dela Cruz of Salvador Benedicto  - public in...

La Carlota City Councilor Julius Martin Asistio*The Love Negros and United Negros Alliance coalition has agreed to support La Carlota City Councilor Julius Martin Asistio for president of the Philippine Councilors League-Negros Occidental chapter, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, July 27.Silay City Councilor Ryan Gamboa, current PCL Negros Occidental president, has the choice of being the vice president, which was the position held by Asistio, Lacson said.“What we will be discussing next is already the lineup because we also would like to nominate one lineup for the next PCL officials,” Lacson said.Lacson said he suggested to Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer that they sit down with Gamboa and Asistio to discuss the lineup.Asistio is the son of Rep. Juliet Marie Ferr...

All officers and employees of the Sugar Regulatory Administration must abide by the issuances of its officer-in-charge Ignacio S. Santillana and its deputies or administrative sanctions may be meted against them.This was contained in a memorandum issued by Santillana and SRA deputies Brando Noroña and Guillermo Tejida III on Wednesday, July 27.They said on June 30 the Office of the President issued Memorandum Circular No. 1, series of 2022 stating that “all presidential appointees whose appointments are classified as co-terminus" were deemed separated from service, and the positions held by them in the offices, agencies including the GOCCs were declared vacant.The memorandum circular is self-executing in nature and effective immediately, they added.True to their oath to obe...

Participants of the Bacolod City Justice Zone 2022 Drug Prevention and Awareness Seminar at USLS.*Bacolod Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Raymond Joseph Javier called on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6 and the Bacolod City Police Office to revive preventive education programs to discourage impending abusers from experimenting with illegal drugs.Javier issued the call Wednesday, July 27, on the 20th anniversary of PDEA-6, one of Bacolod City Justice Zone 2022’s partners.The preventive education programs would complement the approaches employed in reducing the desire to obtain and use illegal drugs and ultimately reduce the amount of drug cases being filed in court, he said.Javier, Bacolod Justice Zone 2022 convenor, established an educational program designed t...

Negros ACE secretary general - Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante and president - Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez turn over their resolution of support for an expanded NIR to Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer (l-r).*CPG photoThe Negros Association of Chief Executives Inc. has unanimously passed a resolution supporting bills filed in the House of Representatives seeking the creation of the expanded Negros Island Region (NIR).The resolution was turned over by Negros ACE president - Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez and secretary general - Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante to Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer during the swearing-in ceremony of the association’s offi...