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The barangay captain and secretary of Bata in Bacolod City have tested positive for COVID-19.Barangay Captain Angelito Abaring said on Thursday, July 29, that he and his secretary tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.The Bata Barangay Hall has been closed for decontamination and those seeking death ad indigent certificates will be attended to by kagawads holding office at the barangay gym, Abaring said.Abaring said he was not aware that he had COVID-19 and only found out on Tuesday after he was swabbed for a RT-PCR test prior to a trip to Iloilo City for an angiogram.He was not feeling ill, Abaring said.The secretary was also swabbed as he was going to accompany the barangay captain to Iloilo City.*

A policewoman who was assigned at the office of the Negros Occidental police provincial director was relieved from her post after she was linked to a recent illegal gambling operation in Hinigaran town.Col. Romy Palgue, Negros Occidental police provincial director, has already called for an investigation, Lt. Abegael Donasco, provincial police information officer, said, as she stressed that it is not yet clear how the policewoman was involved in the operation.She was relieved from her post to prevent her from influencing the investigation, Donasco said.The name of the policewoman was linked to illegal gambling operations in Barangay Quiwi on Sunday, July 25, following a police raid conducted by the 2nd company of the Negros Occidental Provincial Public Safety and Company."F...

Ramon Hofileña explaining art pieces in his ancestral home to guests.*Ronnie Baldonado photoRamon Hofileña, the “father of heritage conservation” in Silay City, Negros Occidental, passed away Thursday, July 29.He was 87.Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said the Department of Tourism “acknowledges his great contribution to heritage preservation and cultural tourism, especially in his beloved hometown in Silay.”“A trip to this heritage city would not be complete without a visit to the Hofileña ancestral house where visitors used to be toured by sir Mon himself. The Annual Cultural Tour of Negros that he organized for 40 years instilled pride of place for Negrenses”, she told DIGICAST NEGROS.“We salute him for sharing his time and talent for the promotion of Filipino art,...

A husband and wife suffering from various ailments were found dead at their house at Hermelinda Homes, Brgy Mansilingan, Bacolod City, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 29.Found lifeless were Rene Ateles Gargoles and his wife, Jane Braga Gargoles, both aged 67 years old, PCapt. Elmer Bonilla, Police Station 7 chief, said.The victims’ nephew Ryan Mark Gargoles Pantanalgo, 34, a neighbor of the couple went to their house to bring their breakfast but when he called for them no one answered. The doors and windows of the house were locked prompting him to call for assistance from the police and Barangay Captain Rodolfo Pico, Bonilla said.The door was then forcibly opened by Pantanalgo.The wife was found on her bed and the husband was found in another room lying beside a bed face down wi...

A pastor survived a gun attack outside of his Church at BarangayTan-awan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Wednesday, July 28.Police identified the victim as Abner Navarro, 58, pastor of Grace Baptist Church.The victim and his brother-in-law, Silas Bokingkito, were at the Church when they noticed a ray of a flashlight.When the pastor checked it out, he was shot.He was rushed to Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital. He sustained a gunshot wound on the left side of his body, as the bullet passed through his back.The victim is now in stable condition.Bokingkito identified the two suspects as "Alias Totong" and "Alias Nonoy," who fled after the incident.Police are still investigating the case and are looking at robbery as the motive of the incident.*

The Election Registration Board (ERB) has approved the application of former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez to transfer his voter registration to Bacolod City.The ERB resolution released Wednesday, July 28, denied the opposition to his registration filed by three Barangay Mandalagan residents."We respect and thank the ERB for the decision. We have complete faith in the Comelec-ERB process. Now, I am a registered voter of Bacolod City. Bacolod, here I come," Benitez said.Benitez earlier announced that he is running for mayor of Bacolod in 2022.Marcus Aurelian Vaflor, lawyer of the oppositors Hector Yula, Teodoro Abao, and Jonah Abao who are aligned with the Grupo Progreso of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, said they will issue an official answer after reading the ERB ...

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said a message circulating Wednesday, July 28, that Bacolod City will be placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from August 1 to 14 is fake news.The message titled “circuit breaker lockdown style” circulating on social media said Negros Occidental would also be placed under MECQ.Familiaran said the national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious will convene on Thursday so no decision has been made yet.“We should wait for an official announcement from the IATF,” he said.The Department of Health also issued a public advisory on circulating messages about lockdowns on Wednesday.“We would like to clarify that the IATF has yet to decide on the quarantine classification of Metro Manila and other area...

A policeman in Negros Occidental was arrested Wednesday, July 28, at Cadiz City after he allegedly raped the 12-year-old daughter of his partner.Police Capt. Karena Onio, head of the Provincial Women and Children's Protection Desk (WCPD), confirmed that the rape complaint was filed against the suspect through an inquest proceeding.She said that the mother and her daughter are decided to pursue the case against the policeman.Based on the report, the suspect, on Tuesday, July 27, allegedly entered the room of the minor, who was sleeping, and reportedly molested her, the police said.When it happened, the minor yelled for help and was heard by her mother, who saw the incident after she entered the room, Onio said.The cop is now detained at the Cadiz City Police Station....