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Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” Valderrama Jr. says he stands by his integrity and the truth.*CPG photoThe planters’ representative on the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board on Tuesday, August 16, said he leaves the decision on whether he should step down to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. amid calls for his resignation.“I will wait for the instructions of the president, I believe that I did not do anything wrong,” said Aurelio Gerardo “Bodie” Valderrama Jr. , one the signatories of the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 that would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.Valderrama said he was appointed to the SRA Board by the president two weeks ago, he did not ask for the position but was recommended by planters and millers’ groups.“I did not seek the ap...

Hermenegildo Serafica said: "I performed the functions of my office consistent with, or within the bounds of the law“.Malacañang has accepted the resignation of Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, who was one of four signatories of the controversial Sugar Order No. 4 that would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.The Sugar Board importation order was revoked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for being issued “without his authority and approval”.Serafica is the third member of the SRA Sugar Board who has resigned.“In behalf of president   Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., I wish to inform you that your resignation has been accepted, effective immediately,” Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez said in a letter ...

Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) called on all of those who signed SO4 to resign out of delicadeza at a House briefing on the sugar importation mess on Monday.The millers’ representative on the Sugar Regulatory Administration Board resigned on Monday, August 15, and lawmakers are calling for the resignation of the rest of its members.Roland Beltran was the second member of the Board to resign.Department Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian resigned of Friday after Malacañang announced that he “illegally” signed and issued Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4) granting the importation of 300,000 MT of sugar without the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.SO4 was also signed by Beltran, SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica and Aurelio Gerardo Valderrama...

The policeman was gunned down in Barangay San Roque, Bayawan City*RFS FM Bayawan photoA policeman was shot to death at Sitio Ipil-ipil in Barangay San Roque, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, Monday afternoon, August 15.P/Cpl. Rey Ambo was on his way home on board his motorcycle when he was gunned down.CMsgt. Archer Birjes, Bayawan police investigator, said the victim was taken to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.Ambo was a member of the 705th MC Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 and a resident of Brgy. Poblacion, Basay, Negros Oriental.*

A drunken man was stabbed to death by his elder brother at Purok Kalubihan, Brgy. Bacong, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 14.Killed was 58-year-old Arturo Vicente, a laborer.The victim, who was said to be under the influence of liquor, met his brother, 65-year-old Hernane Vicente, at the road and challenged him to a fight.This prompted the suspect to run, but the victim chased him.When the suspect stopped due to shortness of breath, he drew his long knife and stabbed the victim on the chest.The victim was brought to the Bago City Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.The suspect who fled after the incident was later caught by the police.*

Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (right) at the House briefing on Sugar Order No. 4 on Monday.*The Senate and House of Representatives are set to conduct inquiries into the “illegal” issuance of Sugar Order No. 4 (SO4) granting the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar, which was revoked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week.“We were not born yesterday. We know importation is a lucrative business,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said in a privilege speech Monday, August 15, calling for an investigation into the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Board’s issuance of SO 4.Zubiri also said there is “tong-pats” or a corruption scheme involving sugar importation that was divulged to him by industry insiders.He was informed that “tongpats” or bribes worth P50 to P1...

The drug recoveries during the buy-bust operation in Kabankalan City on Monday, August 15.*Radyo Bandera photoA suspected drug group leader was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Purok Paraiso, Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on  Monday, August 15.Nabbed was high-value individual Jonalyn “Mommy Jing” Bugalon, 49, who was said to be the leader of Bugalon drug group, and Juanito “Jerome” Artisano Jr., of Purok Riverside, Brgy. Suay, Himamaylan City.Recovered from the suspects possession were 130 grams of suspected shabu worth P884,000.The suspects and the recovered items are now under the custody of Kabankalan police.Col. Leo Pamittan, provincial police director, lauded his men on the accomplishment and  reiterated his directive for a more ...

Dr. Glicerio Javellana (2nd from left) at the Merceditas Montilla District Hospital turnover rites in Sipalay City on Monday.*The installation of the new chiefs of seven Negros Occidental provincial government hospitals began Monday, August 15, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Installed Monday were Dr. Glicerio Javellana at the Merceditas Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay City and Dr. Ma. Lalaine Teorima  at the  Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospital in Hinoba-an.Officials of Sipalay City and Hinoba-an at the turnover rites pledged support for the hospitals, Diaz said.Dr. Claudelia Josefa Pabillo will assume her post as Cadiz District Hospital chief in Cadiz City on Tuesday, August 16.The turnover rites at the Eleuterio T. Decena Memorial Hospi...

Abner Cañal, owner of the Binalbagan house used by illegal STL operators, at the NBI Bacolod office.*A woman from Escalante City leased the room used by persons who were engaged in fake Small Town Lottery operations in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, the owner of the house told National Bureau of Investigation  officials on Monday, August 15.Abner Cañal, owner of the Binalbagan house located at Barangay Santo Rosario, said the room was rented by a certain Liezel of Escalante City.Persons he identified only as Cookie, Nonoy and Val, occupied the room and each paid  P100 a day.However, he asked them to leave when he noticed that their bet stubs did not have the name of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and they could not produce proof that they were legitimate STL...

A solar-powered Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera being installed at the Central Market on Monday.* Bacolod PIO photoThe Bacolod City government launched a Citizens Garbage Watch on Monday, August 15, that will enable residents to report their garbage problems to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.Dubbed “Isugid kay mayor ang problema sa basura (Report your garbage problem to the mayor), citizens can send garbage concerns by scanning this QR code:They can also report their garbage complaints by filling up a form at https://bit.ly/BASURAWATCH.The city government also  installed four solar-powered Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the Central Market on Monday.The CCTV cameras are at Gonzaga-Bonifacio, Gonzaga-Gatuslao, Gatuslao-Luzuriaga and Luzuriaga...