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The scene of the crime in Barangay Sampinit, Bago City*An argument led to the death of an alleged drunk man and injuries to two others in Barangay Sampinit, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, September 2.Killed was Ferdinand Flores Jr., 25.Police said that the victim just had a drinking session with his friends at his neighbor’s birthday party when he went home, where he later figured an argument with his mother.Police said the victim allegedly attacked his mother, but his older brother, 28-year-old Nike Flores, pacified him.The victim then reportedly stabbed his brother twice.This prompted their father, Ferdinand Flores, to stop the commotion, but he, too, was stabbed.Nike Flores grappled for the weapon, and was able to grab the knife from the victim, who...

A area where the body of Fritz Buenafe was found.*EB Magalona PNP photoA man who was allegedly abducted from his home in Silay City, Negros Occidental, was found dead in nearby EB Magalona town on Saturday, September 3.He was identified as Fritz Buenafe, 32, of Barangay Lantad, Silay City.Capt. Eric Doronila, EB Magalona police chief, said the victim was allegedly taken by four unidentified men from his house on Friday, September 2.Two hours later, the victim was found dead by a watchman in a sugarcane field in Barangay San Jose, EB Magalona town. He was hogtied and had no upper clothes.The victim sustained three gunshot wounds.The police are still investigating the motive for the killing.*

The Negros Occidental and Bacolod officials meeting Sunday.*Pinky Mirano Ocampo FB page photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and the mayors of Negros Occidental met in Bacolod City Sunday, September 4, to discuss plans for the MassKara sa Panaad from October 10 to 16.Each congressional district will sponsor entertainment activities for the six-day event at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod, MassKara Festival director Pinky Mirano Ocampo said.Aside from the Negros Occidental local government units opening up their pavilions at the park for the MassKara guests, on October 10 the 1st District will sponsor an event, October 11 – 2nd District, October 12 – 3rd District, October 13 – 4th District, October 14 – 5th District, and October ...

The Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed P32,670,000 in educational assistance payouts to 11,248 indigent students in Western Visayas on Saturday, September 3.Of the beneficiaries 2,340 are elementary pupils, 1,896 high school students, 1,510 - senior high school and 5,502 – college, the DSWD reported.There were 2,793 beneficiaries in Negros Occidental who received P8,477,000. The 497 beneficiaries are elementary pupils, 406 – high school students, 392 – senior high school and 1,498 – college.The other beneficiaries of the payout in Western Visayas were in Aklan - 1,526 who received P4.1 million, Antique -1,334 – P3.5 million, Capiz -1,202 - P3.1 million, Guimaras 457 – P1.1 million, and Iloilo - 3,936 – P12.2 million.*

Bacolod Rep. Greg GasatayaThe groundbreaking of the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH) at Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod, is set on Friday, September 9.Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has confirmed that he will be joining the event, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said on Saturday, September 3.Gasataya authored the bill creating the BCGH in the Lower House, and Zubiri authored the measure in the Senate.They are hoping that the 120-bed hospital will be completed by 2024, Gasataya said.The P200 million for the construction of the other buildings outside the hospital has already been awarded and will start anytime, he said.The Department of Health is finalizing the floor plan for the P250 million main hospital building that hopefully can be bidded out in September, Ga...

The night market at Ballesteros Street.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe night market at Ballesteros Street in Bacolod City will be allowed to operate until October, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said Sunday, September 4.The night market will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September and October, he said.He said so far 41 of 50 slots at the night market have been occupied.The vendors will be required to sell other items, and not just used clothing, he said.Meanwhile, about two of 17 restaurant owners at the Manokan Country who have been sent demand letters to pay their delinquent accounts have paid about P600,000, Maghari said.That brings the city’s collectibles down to P8 million.Those who fail to pay their delinquent accounts by the deadline on...

The motorcycle that hit a barrier and fell into a canal that led to the death of two persons.*La Carlota PNP photoTwo people were killed while another was injured in a vehicular accident at Barangay Balabag, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, September 2.Killed were Rico Sibonga, 32, and Neil Albert Arquisola, 29.Arquisola’s brother William, 39, was injured. All of the victims reportedly had no helmets on.The victims were on board a motorcycle driven by Sibonga, who was said to be under the influence of liquor, when it hit a barrier and fell into a canal, a police report showed.Police investigation showed that the driver lost control of the motorcycle.Sibonga was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, while Neil Albert succumbed to injuries hours late...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Saturday, September 3, that he has appealed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office to give him a month to find a solution to the problem of the public utility jeepney (PUJ) operators in the city.He said he will present the valid issues and concerns of the PUJ drivers and operators on the jeepney modernization program to Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and in the meantime he asked that they be allowed to continue to ply the streets of Bacolod.If these PUJs are made to stop operating now there will not be enough public transportation for Bacolod residents, he said.The provisional authorities of the operators who did not apply for the modernization program have expired....

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino "Jerry" Acuzar (2nd from left) with Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego (l-r) at the signing of the MOUs for the housing programs at the Bacolod City Government Center on Saturday.*CPG photoDepartment of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar committed on Saturday, September 3, to provide Bacolod City with the funds to build 10,000 housing units for the poor in three years.Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Acuzar signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) to develop housing projects for the residents of Bacolod, especially the Informal Settler Familie...