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Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez has directed a traffic aide to explain a viral video showing him “acting discourteously and inappropriately” against a jeepney driver and his partner.Benitez in his show cause order addressed to Traffic Aide 1 Chris Aragon released Friday, July 15, directed him to submit an affidavit containing his written explanation within three days on why no formal charge should be filed against him relative to the incident.Failure to file the written explanation shall be construed to be a waiver of his right to be heard and contravene allegations against him, the mayor added.The viral video showed an altercation between Aragon and a certain Regie Desuyo and his partner Joan Ducay at Lacson-BS Aquino Drive in Bacolod City.Maj. Junji Liba, B...

Samples were taken from the hazardous materials for laboratory testing.*DRRMO photoMembers of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the City Health Office already contained the foul odor from the chemical spill at the abandoned compound in Barangay 39, Bacolod City, Thursday, July 14.Councilor Pao Sy, head of the council's Committee on Fire, Social Defense and Natural Disasters, said they are planning to dispose of the containers once it is known what kind of chemical are in them.Sy and Karol Joseph Chiu, secretary to the mayor, led the inspection after residents complained about the foul smell from the compound since Wednesday, July 13.They are already investigating who owns the property and what the hazardous chemicals were for, Sy said.*

The items recovered from the encounter site in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, July 14.*3ID photoGovernment forces encountered about 10 suspected rebels at Sitio Hanot, Barangay Inayawan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, July 14.The state troopers received a report from residents regarding the presence of members of the New People’s Army. This resulted to a 10-minute encounter.No casualty was reported on  the government’s  side, while blood stains were seen on the  withdrawal route of the rebels.Recovered from the encounter site were a homemade grenade, .45 caliber  pistol with magazine, anti-personnel mine paraphernalia, 50-meter long electric wire, three cellphones, chargers, four backpacks, medicines, food packs, p...

The drug recoveries from a bust at Brgy. Poblacion, Bago City, Negros Occidental Thursday, July 14.*Bago PNP photoAt least P1.8 million worth of illegal drugs were seized while a suspected high-value individual was arrested in a bust at Brgy. Poblacion, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Thursday, July 14.Nabbed was 42-year-old Rex ”Pedic/Pedik” Quilong of Brgy. 35, Bacolod City.Recovered from his possession were 275 grams of suspected shabu, the P500 buy-bust money, drug paraphernalia, a backpack, P2,553 in cash, and a .45 caliber pistol.The suspect is now detained at the Bago City police station and is facing drug charges.*

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, Liza Araneta Marcos, and Vice President Sara Duterte Carpio are expected to join the MassKara Festival in October, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said Friday, July 15.Benitez said he invited Marcos to the festival and his  coming is almost confirmed.The vice president, on the other hand, reminded him that she will be attending the festival, Benitez said.The specific dates of their arrival have yet to be set.Bacolod  is preparing to stage a grander MassKara Festival this year, Benitez said.A new MassKara Festival Foundation will be created that will need the accreditation of  the Sangguniang Panlungsod, he said.Lawyer Pinky Mirano Ocampo, who chairs this year’s festival, will be part of the foundation, ...

The United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED) is supporting the temporary appointment of  Ignacio Santillana as officer-in-charge of the Sugar Regulatory Administration while waiting for the  official appointee of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is also sitting as secretary of the Department of Agriculture.The press statement from UNIFED president Manuel Lamata Friday, July 15, came after Hermenegildo Serafica issued a memorandum order on July 12 stating that his position as SRA administrator was not covered by the Memorandum Circular 1 from the Office of the President.Memorandum Circular 1  states  that all appointed officials must vacate their posts effective June 30 to give the new administration leeway to appoint its  own people.“Serafica is a ...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, July 15, that active COVID-19 cases in Negros occidental could hit 100 next week.“We should now tell the public that it is possible that by next week we will be hitting 100 active cases already,” he said.Lacson said the COVID-19 cases have been going up and he has received information that people he knows are getting hit by the virus.“So let’s be aware of that and continue to protect ourselves,” he said.He stressed the need to continue wearing of face masks and being vigilant.Negros Occidental had six new COVID-19 cases Friday for a total of 41 active cases, the Provincial Incident Management Team reported.Meanwhile, Lacson said reshuffling of some heads of provincial government hospitals is being planned.He also assured ...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Dr. Mary Ann Sta. Lucia, OIC of the Local Health Support Division of the Department of Health VI, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang and Dr. Jessica Fama discuss the dengue situation in Negros Occidental Thgursday afternoon. cussed about local health concerns, as well as updates in addressing the dengue cases among the LGUs.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, July 15, that active COVID-19 cases in Negros occidental could hit 100 next week.“We should now tell the public that it is possible that by next week we will be hitting 100 active cases already,” he said.Lacson said the COVID-19 cases have been going up and he has received information that people he knows are getting hit by the virus.“So let’s be aware of that and continue to ...

The Department of Health is sending a team to help Negros Occidental fight the rise in its dengue cases, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Friday, July 15.The team will focus on the dengue situation in Negros Occidental that now has the highest number of cases in Western Visayas, he said.“It has reached an alarming level that is why they are here to help,” Lacson said.Dengue cases in Western Visayas have reached a record high of more than 5,000 with 31 deaths, the DOH 6 reported Wednesday, July 13.The dengue cases in Western Visayas this year have hit 5,057 with 574 new cases from June 26 to July 2, or an increase by 389 percent compared to last year, the report said.Negros Occidental has the highest number of dengue cases in the region at 1,869 or an increase by 777 percen...