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A “Tokhang” surrenderee who was caught with more than 621 grams of shabu in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, has been sentenced to life imprisonment on two counts and ordered to pay a fine of P2.5 million.Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Executive Judge, Raymond Joseph Javier, sentenced Sunny Delara Capa, alias Blut, to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000 on Friday, August 12, for the sale of .151 gram of shabu to a policeman in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.Capa was also sentenced to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P2 million for possession of 621.29 grams of shabu.His first cousin Ely Lorence Demadara Sazon was also found guilty of possession of 5.92 grams of shabu and sentenced to 20 years and one day imprisonment and to pa...

The taxi driver who harassed his minor passenger will be charged for acts of lasciviousness.*A 60-year-old taxi driver who touched the leg of his female minor passenger will face charges for acts of lasciviousness.A video of the 16-year-old girl being touched by the suspect has gone viral on social media.The victim was sitting in the front seat of the taxi on her way to Barangay 28 when the harassment happened on Wednesday, August 10.Based on the victim's post, she warned the driver to stop what he was doing but he did not listen and continued to touch her.The victim has no photo of the taxi or its plate number, but she filed the complaint before the Women and Children’s Protection Desk.The police identified the 60-year-old suspect with the help of the ride hailing ...

The military asset after he was killed.*Calatrava PNP photoA military asset was allegedly killed by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Marcelo, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, Friday, August 12.Killed was Renato Estrebello who was shot by five unidentified armed men outside his house.The victim was taken outside his house where he was shot several times by the assailants who reportedly identified themselves as NPA members.Police said that the motive for the killing was the victim’s alleged connection to the Army.*

Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian*DA website photoDepartment Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian has resigned   after Malacañang announced that he “illegally” signed and issued Sugar Order No. 4 granting the importation of 300,000 MT of sugar without the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.A copy of Sebastian’s resignation letter addressed to Marcos, who is also concurrent DA secretary, was released to the media by Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles Friday night, August 12.Sebastian, DA undersecretary for operations and chief of staff to the agriculture secretary, apologized for having approved SO4 on Marcos’ behalf through the authority he had vested on him.“I has become clear that the same was not in keeping with your administr...

A 19-year-old was arrested after he allegedly stole a bike that was parked at a public market in Bago City on August 10.*Bago PNP photoA teenager was arrested  at the public market of Brgy. Poblacion in Bago City, Negros Occidental Wednesday, August 10, for allegedly stealing a bike.Nabbed was Dorwin Arevalo, 19, of Purok Balintawak, Brgy. Don Jorge Araneta, Bago City.Police said that the bike, which was borrowed by a minor from his cousin, was parked at the public market when it was stolen.The minor was having his haircut when he learned about the stolen bike, which was worth P15,000. He immediately called for help from his cousin to look for the suspect, whom they later caught with the bike.The suspect is now in the custody of the Bago police.*

Merle Garcia and Dr. Girlie Pinongan (right)*Two acting Negros Occidental provincial government officers have been promoted, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday, August 12.Merle Garcia is now Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer and Dr. Girlie Pinongan is Hospital Operations Department head in permanent capacities, he said.Dr. Placeda Lemana remains the Provincial Veterinary Office OIC.Filling up of other permanent positions will follow, Diaz said.The formal installation of the reshuffled heads of the provincial government hospitals will be held next week,We will introduce our new chiefs of hospitals and chief nurses to the communities where they will be assigned, Diaz said.*

Some stalls at the fish, fruit and vegetable sections have opened*Barbara MIjares photoSeveral stalls have already opened at the Negros Occidental Food Terminal Market at the North Capitol Road in Bacolod City.Some stalls at the fish, fruit and vegetable sections have opened and more are expected to follow on or before August 15.The provincial government will start charging rent to those awarded stalls at the food terminal on August 15, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday, August 12.The opening of seafood restaurants at the food terminal is also being readied.The provincial government will collect rent for the stalls on a daily basis to make it easy for the vendors, Diaz said.Diaz said priority for the rental of stalls was given to residents of Negro...