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RMN-DYHB photoA fisherman drowned off the coast of Manapla Tuesday morning, April 26.The victim was identified as 49-year-old Rogelio Bustillo.Bustillo was just sitting on the side of a boat in Brgy. Punta Salong when he suddenly fell into the sea, a police report said.His two companions tried to save him, but failed.*

The Commission on Elections is reminding the public to submit accurate information when using its online precinct finder to avoid getting a “not found” response.Negros Occidental Elections Supervisor Roberto Salazar gave the advice Monday, April 25, following numerous complaints from voters who could not find their names.The “not found” problem may have also been triggered by heavy traffic at the precinct finder site, he added.He said the online precinct finder’s URL is voterverifier.comelec.gov.ph.Salazar said the names of some voters may also have been deactivated for failure to vote in two consecutive elections or because they had registered in the past as overseas absentee voters.Voters who cannot find their names through the vote finder can go to their local Comele...

The lay leaders signing their joint declaration of support for Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan.*Twenty-seven lay organizations of the Diocese of Bacolod in an unprecedented move declared their support for Leni Robredo for president and Kiko Pangilinan for vice president on Monday, April 25.The leaders of the lay groups made the announcement at a press conference at the John Paul II Hall of the Redemptorist Shrine in Bacolod City where they signed their joint declaration of support.Bobby Magalona, Community of Families for Christ-Gawad Kalinga lay leader, said this is the first time that the lay organizations have united to come up with declaration of support for candidates."This is very significant and very historic," he said.The lay organizations, in their joint state...

Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade firefighters rescuing a family from a fire at the JA building Monday night.* Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade photoFirefighters rescued four persons trapped in a fire that hit the three-storey JA Building at corner Gonzaga -Lopez Jaena streets in Barangay 26, Bacolod City, at 7:36 p.m. Monday, April 4.One person was injured in the fire that hit Big Thumb General Merchandiser owned by Tomas Arroyo Lim, the Bureau of Fire Protection Bacolod reported.Injured was Mark Anthony Dimaglit Morino, 31, who suffered from a laceration on his left leg.Morino and his wife Jay, 35, one-year-old daughter Jelane Ann and their companion Jinky Chavez, 19, were rescued from the fire, Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, Bacolod fire marshal, said.Estimated damage wa...

The Department of Education in Western Visayas has approved the inclusion of 18 more schools under the Negros Occidental Schools Division in the expansion phase of the limited face-to-face (F2F) classes, DepEd Regional Director Ramir Uytico said Monday, April 25.The 18 will bring to 55 the number of schools under the division offering F2F classes, Ian Arnold Arnaez, DepEd Negros Occidental spokesman, said.Thirty-seven schools under the division are already implementing F2F classes, he said.The officials of the 18 newly approved schools will decide when to begin their F2F classes, Arnaez said.The 18 schools are:Biaknabato Elementary SchoolCabagna-an Elementary SchoolCabacungan Elementary SchoolSag-ang Elementary SchoolPacita Elementary SchoolCabacunga...

Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael "Lito" Coscolluela said on Monday, April 25, that he agrees with the call of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to file formal complaints against those engaged in election "dirty tricks", including threats and intimidation, but witnesses are afraid to come forward.Acting Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Roberto Salazar said the concerns of Coscolluela have reached his attention but not officially.Formal complaints should be filed, he said.Threats, intimidation and terrorism during the campaign period and on election day are poll offenses, Salazar said, so they will give due course to such complaints but they must be supported by evidence.Coscolluela, at a press conference on Friday, called on the Comelec to invest...

Two presidential candidates are expected to return to Negros Occidental for final campaign swings before the May 9 elections.Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso will hold a grand rally at the old airport in Barangay Singcang, Bacolod City, on Thursday, April 28.Damagoso, who will be joined by his son Joaquin Damagoso, will hold an “Iskoncert Bacolod” grand rally, his camp announced.Vice President Leni Robredo has also indicated her desire to come back to Bacolod for a final swing in the first week of May, former governor Rafael Coscolluela, who heads the Robredo People’s Council in Negros Occidental, said.They will be able to make a final announcement within the week, he said.“It will be a day trip that will include Bacolod and Iloilo, so most likely...