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The Bacolod City officials who also discussed electricity concerns during their strategic planning meetings in Baguio City are back.* Rep. Greg Gasataya FB page photoBacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is asking the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to look into two different contract prices charged for the purchase of power by Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) from Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC).Worth looking into also is the possible abuse of the power market considering the big disparity in the two rates of power being purchased , Benitez said in a letter to Monalisa C. Dimalanta, ERC chairperson, dated January 2, a copy of which was furnished the media Saturday.This warrants a review by the ERC of the power supply agreements between CENECO with PCPC, Beni...

Khiem Sales photoE. B. Magalona, headed by Mayor Marvin Malacon, in partnership with the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, headed by Rev. Fr. Ernesto Salvador with Parochial Vicar Fr. Arnel Pabalate, will celebrate the 50th year of its Hermano Mayores del Señor Sto. Niño with a weeklong festival Monday to Sunday, January 9 to 15.Dubbed the “1st Sug-alaw Festival," it will be the first festival of the town in honor of its second patron saint, Señor Sto. Niño, a press release said.The town's Hermano Mayores del Señor Sto. Niño was founded by Fr. Vicente Pelobello in 1973, with then Mayor Luis Magalona and First Lady Manuela Magalona as the first Hermano and Hermana Mayores.The municipal government has organized cultural and religious activities in celebration of the 1st Sug-alaw ...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Gian Christopher Cordero Santos (right)*Top ranking Philippine swimmer, Gian Christopher Cordero Santos, is the grandson of a Negrense.Maximino Cordero said his 16-year-old grandson is a top ranking Philippine swimmer in 400m Individual Medley, 200m Individual Medley, 400m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle and 1,500m Freestyle, who is set to compete in the SEA Games (Open) in Cambodia in May representing the Philippines.He will also compete in the Winter Invitational Swimming Championships and the South East Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in December.The venue for the last two swimming competitions are yet to be announced.Santos has been swimming since he was 7 years old and is a member of good standing at his swimming club...

A body was found in a National Irrigation Authority dam in Hacienda Leoncia, Brgy. Consing, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, January 7.The victim was identified as Richard Robles Occeña, 46, a laborer from Hacienda Calaptan, Brgy. San Isidro, EB Magalona, the police said.The police said Ronald Pillon went fishing on January 1 and saw something floating in the area but did not pay attention because he thought it was a dead animal.When he went back to fish on January 7 there was a foul odor and when he went closer he discovered that the cadaver was that of a person.The cadaver was then brought to St. Katherine Funeral Homes in Brgy. 2-Poblacion, EB Magalona, and subjected to a post mortem examination, the police said.*

Three persons were apprehended and suspected shabu valued at P170,000 was seized in Purok Indian Mango, Brgy. 6, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, January 7.Nabbed was Karl Marlon Segura Gebusion, alias Karen, 20, who was the subject of the buy bust operation, Philip John Buenviaje Alvarez, 23, and Mark Jezer Gilvero, 26, all of Kabankalan City, a police report said Sunday.Seized were 14 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, including the buy bust item, with estimated weight of 25 grams valued at P170,000, the report said.The arrested suspects and recoveries are now under the custody of the Kabankalan police.*

Three alleged high-ranking members of the New People’s Army were apprehended in Sitio Pinamactinan, Barangay Cambayobo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, Friday night, January 6.Arrested were Felix Susas Jr., alias Jun and Rigor, 45, secretary of the defunct Northern Negros Front (NNF) and former commanding officer of the Regional Security Force-Komiteng Rehiyon Negros; Cheryl Cantero Catalogo, alias Celo, 27, NFF education staff; and Jalen Susas, alias Cristel, Izumi and Cg, 35, NFF medical and education staff, the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army reported on Saturday.Seized from the three were two .45-caliber pistols with two magazines and seven rounds of live ammunition, one 9mm pistol with magazine, a holster and 18 rounds of live ammunition, four rifle grenades, medi...

The Suzuki Ertiga that hit taxi driver Leonilo Ortillo Borbon.*Police Station 8 photoA 22-year-old Bacolod resident whose vehicle hit and killed a taxi driver will face charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide with damage to property, the police said Sunday, January 8.Miguel Jomari Gardoce Gialogo of Prk Kasilingan, Brgy. Tangub, was driving his Suzuki Ertiga when it hit taxi driver Leonilo Ortillo Borbon, 58, who was crossing Araneta Street fronting City Mall in Brgy Singcang Airport, Bacolod City at 3:40 a.m. Saturday, January 7, PEMSgt. Jose Mira said.Borbon’s body hit the windshield of the Suzuki Ertiga and remained on its hood as Gialogo continued to drive on for about another five kilometers, before stopping at the Caltex gasoline station at BS Aquino Drive-L...

It is hoped that the dismissal of four Negros Occidental provincial government employees from the service will send a strong message to others against committing abuses, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday, January 6.Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson dismissed engineers Ramelo Letran, German Abihay and Rezin Palacios, and project development assistant Maria Luisa Abaño of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist for grave misconduct on Tuesday.On July 15, 2022, the four used a Capitol Cab Service vehicle beyond office hours and refused to head back to the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod after a meeting at the Victorias City Hall, the decision dismissing them from the service said.They instead engaged in a drinking spree at a restaurant in Victorias City beyond office...

The Bailes de Luces Festival in La Castellana Thursday night.*Ronnie Baldonado photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is urging Negrenses joining festivals in various parts of Negros Occidental to continue to wear masks and to remain vigilant against COVID-19.Lacson joined the Bailes de Luces Festival in La Castellana town on Thursday night, January 5.While he is happy that fiesta celebrations have resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic, Lacson said the public should not forget that its threat still remains and they should protect themselves, especially in crowded areas.The Sinulog Festival in Kabankalan City kicked off Friday and Cadiz City is set to celebrate its Dinagsa Festival from January 14 to 29.Even if the COVID-19 protocols have eased, the provincial government remains vi...