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303rd IB photoA suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) who was killed in an encounter with government soldiers in the hinterlands of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Sunday, January 4, was linked to an ambush of a policeman and other killings.Randy Tapales, an alleged member of the NPA Special Partisan Unit, died in a clash with 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers in Sitio Pitik-Pitik, Barangay Luz. The soldiers were conducting security operations following reports of the presence of NPA rebels in the area.Cpt. Mervin Rosal, civil military operations officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, said that the firefight between the government troopers and the rebels lasted for about five minutes. No soldiers were injured in the encounter, he added.Recovered from the scene...

Richard Malihan photoThe Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City is only accepting emergency surgical operations until further notice, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Monday, July 5.The TLJPH emergency and operating rooms will only be accepting emergency cases until a risk assessment is completed and they are confident there are no more COVID-19 positive cases at the hospital, he said.Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, TLJPH officer-in-charge, and Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Hospital Operations Department OIC, recommended this because of the increasing number of COVID-19 infected frontline staff, Diaz said.Diaz said two more staff of the TLJPH tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and Monday.There were five other TLJPH frontliners and some members of ...

The Negros Occidental provincial government has taken over the management of its Negros First CyberCentre in Bacolod City.It was a very smooth transfer from the Negros Property Management and Development Corp. (NPMDC), Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Monday, July 5.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson had signed a mutual termination agreement with NPMDC in May to end its management of the provincial government-owned NFCC.A new security group has been hired by the provincial government to secure the NFCC, Diaz said.New security features have also been put in place, he said.Meanwhile, the plan to transfer the Negros Occidental Capitol from Bacolod City to Talisay City is still on, Lacson said.Lacson said they have notified the contractor who won the bid to build the ...

Victorias PNP photoA 12-year-old girl drowned at a mangrove nursery area at Aqua Cards in Barangay 13, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Sunday afternoon, July 4.The girl, a resident of Hacienda Basa 2, Barangay 13, went with her father, who was on duty as a Bantay Katunggan (Mangrove Watcher) in the area.The victim swam in the deep portion of the river, but drowned due to the strong current, police records showed.The victim was rushed to Kaayong Lawas Medical Foundation clinic but was pronounced dead on arrival.*

An alleged New People’s Army rebel was killed in an encounter with 62nd Infantry Battalion soldiers in Sitio Pitik Pitik, Brgy Luz, Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental at about 7 p.m. Sunday, July 4, Maj. Cenon Pancito III, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said.The 62IB soldiers encountered about five Communist rebels and a firefight lasted about five minutes, he said.There was no casualty on the government side, Pancito said.He said they recovered the body of the slain rebel, a 357 caliber revolver and one hand grenade.*

City PIO photoNegros Occidental and Bacolod City administered 170,507 COVID-19 jabs as of Friday, July 2, but still have a long way to go towards reaching herd immunity.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Sunday, July 4, that 101,553 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Negros Occidental so far.Administered vaccines were Sinovac – 61,558, AstraZeneca - 35,481 and Pfizer - 4,514, he said.The targets to be vaccinated in Negros Occidental are 1,825,730 residents or 70 percent of its population, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Those who have received their first dose in Negros Occidental are 82,376 or 4.51 percent of the target, and those with second jabs are 19,177 or 1.05 percent, he added.IN BACOLODIn Bacolod City 68,954 Sinovac and AstraZeneca vacc...

Cadiz PNP photoTwo brothers were killed while their aunt sustained injuries after the motorcycle they were riding on collided head-on with a truck loaded with sugarcane at Hacienda Sto. Niño in Barangay Jerusalem, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, July 2.Killed were motorcycle driver Rolly Sapangila, 35, and his brother, Alvin Sapangila, 22, of Barangay Cabahug, while their aunt, Lolita Daog, 56, of Barangay Jerusalem, all of Cadiz, was injured.The motorcycle encroached the opposite lane and collided with the truck driven by Richard Taladro, 39, of Barangay Tadlong, Sagay City, the police report showed.The truck was on its way to the Central Lopez station in Sagay.The victims were brought to Cadiz City Emergency Clinic, where the brothers died.The truck driv...

A security guard of Victorias Milling Co. was gunned down by an unidentified man while he was on duty at Hda. Florencia, Brgy. 18-A, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Saturday night, July 3.KIlled was Francis Legada, 23, of Brgy 1-A, of Manapla.The victim was alone at his post when he was shot by the unidentified suspect several times, a police report showed.He was rushed by his companions to Ikaayong Lawas Foundation clinic but he did not make it.The victim’s issued service firearm, a 12-gauge shotgun with eight live ammunition, and his cellular phone were missing, the police report also showed.The suspect fled in an unknown direction.Recovered from the scene were two fired cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol.The police are still investigating the motive of the...