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Hinobaan PNP photoA high school principal allegedly shot a teacher and her husband to death and committed suicide in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, the police reported.Initial investigation showed that principal Warren L. Escobar, 56, shot the couple at the Bilbao-Uybico National High School in Barangay Pook before taking his own life, Maj. John Ganzon said.Killed was senior high school teacher Alvarisa A. Arroy and her husband, Christoper, both aged 35, he added.Hinobaan Mayor Ernesto Estrao said he received unconfirmed information that the principal was angry at the teacher because a complaint was lodged against him with the Office of the President.He allegedly had received a notice to explain in five days, and blamed the teacher f...

Rain induced by Tropical Depression “Agaton” and a low pressure area triggered flooding that caused the evacuation of 4,757 residents, the suspension of classes and sea travelers to be stranded in Negros Occidental on Monday, April 11.“If rivers start to swell, people should be ready to move out,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said, as some local government units (LGUs) began preemptive evacuations.“Agaton”, which did not directly hit Negros Occidental, was in the vicinity of Basey, Samar, at 8 p.m. Monday with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 60 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa , the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported.Lacson warned that the approaching Tropical Storm “Malakas” co...

Nineteen families with 55 members were preemptively evacuated amidst an impending hazard caused by a rain-induced landslide in Purok San Jose, Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City on Monday, April 11.The residents of Puroks San Jose 1 and 2 in Brgy Alijis were brought to the Emilia J. Garcia Elementary School evacuation center, Dr. Anna Maria Pornan, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) head, said.They were also continuing to monitor the situation of residents living close to rivers in Bacolod City as rain continued to pour, she said.The rain brought on by Tropical Depression “Agaton” and a low pressure area is expected to last until Tuesday to Wednesday, Pornan said.The Bacolod City Schools Division also ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes in seven...

The direction of the national government is to declare the entire Philippines under Alert Level 1, which could include Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, April 11.Only 5 of 31 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental are currently under Alert Level 1. The rest of the LGUs remain under Alert Level 2 until April 15 because of low COVID-19 vaccination performance.However, now it appears that the national government wants all LGUs placed under Alert Level 1 regardless of their vaccination performances, Lacson said.Lacson said he feels placing all areas under Alert Level 1 will make more Filipinos complacent as they try to push more people to get vaccinated.Negros Occidental on Sunday only had 10 remaining active COVID-19 cases and he is hoping so...

Commissioner Aimee Ferolino of the Commission on Elections is urging residents who lodge vote buying complaints during the May 9 polls to back them with evidence.Ferolino, who heads the Comelec’s Task Force Kontra Bigay, met with election officers in Negros Occidental at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City on Monday, April 11.Task Force Kontra Bigay is currently in the process of formulating the rules versus vote buying after gathering inputs from its member agencies, she said.The rules will be released to the public after the approval of the Comelec en banc, she said.“No one is caught (for vote buying) maybe because no one complains and there are those who lodge complaints but they are not supported by evidence,” she said.Ferolino said they are encouraging people to ...

Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla complained anew that members of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) have yet to approve the town’s proposed P270 million annual budget six months after it was submitted to the council.Montilla, at a press conference Monday, April 11, said the town has to “figure out a way in solving these problems while the raging war of the unapproved budget goes on.”Their problems continue to mount after the mayor’s office in the municipal hall was razed by fire, which left P100,000 in damages, on April 7.Arson investigators, who were also at the press conference, dismissed claims that the mayor’s office was set on fire, stressing that the cause of the fire was electrical in nature.Montilla lamented that at the start of the year, when the municipal hall was being renov...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson reminded the public that campaigning on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, April 14 and 15, is prohibited, and that they should take time to reflect on the reason for Holy Week.“There is a suspension of campaign activities…let us reflect and remind ourselves why we are celebrating Holy Week and give thanks to the Lord for giving up His life to save us,” Lacson said on Monday, April 11.He also reminded the public to practice COVID-19 health protocols, especially during mass gatherings during Holy Week.They should wear their masks and practice social distancing if they join processions, he added.Negros Occidental could still have rainy weather during Holy Week so those travelling should make sure to drive safely, he said.*