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The Commission on Elections has already distributed the vote counting machines (VCMs) and ballots for the May 9 polls to the towns and cities of Negros Occidental, Roberto Salazar, acting provincial elections supervisor, said Monday, May 2.The final Joint Provincial Security Coordinating Council meeting of the Comelec, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines before the May 9 polls will be held Tuesday, he said.Representatives of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Provincial Health Office have also been invited to the meeting, he said.Quick reaction teams are ready for deployment during the polls, Salazar said.He reminded voters to report vote buying incidents to the PNP because that is a public crime and those caught in the act can be arrested.Sal...

Cadiz PNP photoTwo minors, aged 11 and 16 years old, died after they figured in a vehicular accident at the highway in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City, on Saturday, April 30.The motorcycle driver, a 13-year-old, sustained injuries.Lt. Gina Fernandez, Cadiz City police station deputy chief, said the victims onboard a motorcycle came from choir practice when they met the accident.The motorcycle driver tried to overtake a truck but failed.This caused the driver to lose control of the wayward motorcycle, which then fell on the road.The 11-year-old died on the spot after he hit his head on the road, while the two were taken to the hospital, but the 16-year-old was also pronounced dead.*

PNA file photoPresident Rodrigo Duterte had declared Tuesday, May 3, a regular holiday throughout the Philippines in observance of Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan.The holiday was declared to give the Filipino people the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in observance of Eid'l Fitr, Proclamation 1356 said.In order to bring the cultural and religious significance of Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness, it is necessary to declare a holiday, it added.Duterte, in his message to the Filipino-Muslim Community, said “It is my hope that your spirits are truly refreshed and your strength for the coming days is fully renewed. May this event inspire you to remain models not only of the Islamic faith, but also of goodwill and...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who reiterated his support for presidential candidate Leni Robredo on Saturday, April 30, reminded Negrenses to go out and vote on May 9.Lacson issued the call in his speech after the unity walk of the Aranetas and Ledesmas for Robredo and her runningmate Kiko Pangilinan in Bacolod City.The governor commended the Ledesma and Araneta families for initiating the unity walk not just in Bacolod City but also in Iloilo and Makati.“This unity walk, along with our show of support to our candidate, is a good reminder to our fellow Negrenses and Filipinos to go out and cast our votes this May 9,” he said.Quoting Cambodian-American activist, Luong Ung, Lacson said “voting is not only our right, it is our power. When we vote we take back our...

The “Negros Workers for Leni-Kiko” mark Labor Day with a rally at the Bacolod Public Plaza on Sunday, May 1.*Joshua Villalobos photo“This Labor Day, as we recognize the hard work and dedication of the Filipino workers, we equally honor their compelling and crucial contribution to our national development,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Sunday, May 1.He said together with the people of Negros Occidental, he expresses his sincerest gratitude to all workers for all that they have done to meet the needs of the country and people despite the COVID-19 pandemic.“Your commitment is truly worthy of admiration and commendation,” Lacson said.He said the provincial government fully supports the furtherance of the workers’ rights and protection.About 2,500 “Negr...

A "People's Proclamation Rally" and meeting with political and sectoral leaders in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental will cap the visit of Vice President Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan to the province on Tuesday, May 3.Former Governor Rafael Coscolluela, Robredo People's Council (RPC) provincial campaign manager, on Sunday, May 1, said Robredo is expected to attend a mini-rally in Bago City for a late afternoon event that will be followed by a 20-kilometer caravan of Kakampinks that will end up in Bacolod City.Robredo and Pangilinan, will be endorsed by political and multi-sectoral leaders representing Negros Occidental's 31 component cities and municipalities in an event dubbed as a "People's Proclamation Rally", a press release from the RPC said.Vice Mayor El Cid Familiara...

This photo was furnished by Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer who said the crowd at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City was 15,000.*Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer on Sunday, May 1, denied a report that there were less than 3,000 people who attended a free concert for the youth supporters of presidential candidate Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr. and his runningmate Sara Duterte at the Paglaum Sports Complex Saturday night, April 30, saying their count was 15,000.Security personnel at the Paglaum placed the crowd at less than 3,000. Drone photos of the crowd at the venue taken at 7:29 p.m. were also posted on social media.Ferrer, who heads the Marcos campaign in Negros, furnished DIGICAST Negros with photos that he said showed that the crowd was 15,000 contrary to the cl...