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A mother was sentenced to life imprisonment Friday, July 2, for the sale of shabu to a policeman in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, in 2019.Executive Judge Raymond Joseph Javier found Jobelle Caimpon Derla, alias Tata, guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the sale shabu in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and sentenced her to life imprisonment and to pay a fine of P500,000.She was arrested by the police for the sale of .0544 gram of shabu to a police poseur buyer for P300 at Highland Hills Subdivision in Barangay Granada on Oct. 8, 2019.On her arrest, .3232 gram of shabu was found in her possession, the court was told.Javier found Derla guilty for possession of the .3232 gram of shabu and sentenced her to an additional 12 years and 8 months imprisonm...

Sinovac mass vaccination in La Carlota City Friday, July 2.*A total of 9,356 Negrenses were inoculated with Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines this week, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said Friday, July 2.The Pfizer and Sinovac mass vaccination drive will continue next week, he saidNegros Occidental received 11,700 doses of Pfizer vaccines on June 17, of which 5,850 are being reserved for second jabs, Diaz said.There were 4,579 Negrenses from various parts of Negros Occidental who were vaccinated at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City and the Negros Residences in Bacolod City this week.The remaining 1,271 Pfizer first dose vaccines will be administered at the Negros Residences on Monday, Diaz said.Meanwhile, 4,777 Negrense...

Mayor Marxlen dela Cruz has ordered the temporary closure of the Salvador Benedicto town hall for disinfection due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the municipality.The Salvador Benedicto town hall will be temporarily closed Monday and Tuesday, July 5 to 6, dela Cruz said Friday, July 2.This is because some employees, especially at the treasurer’s office, are close contacts of COVID-19 positive residents, he said.All employees , except those rendering essential services such as health, peace and order and disaster risk reduction management, are advised not to report to their offices on July 5 and 6, he said.The municipal hall will reopen on Wednesday, July 7, he said.He has also ordered contact tracing of residents who came in contact with two Salvador Benedict...

Comelec Bacolod photoThe Commission on Elections will hold a satellite voter registration drive at City Mall Mandalagan in Bacolod City on Saturday, July 3.They aim is to register about 400 residents, Bacolod Elections Officer Kathrina Trinio-Caña said.About 631 residents were registered in previous mall registrations on June 25 -26 in Bacolod City, she said.On the request of the Sangguniang Kabataan for special satellite registration for the youth, Caña said this will require the approval of the Emergency Operations Center since Bacolod City is under General Community Quarantine.The SK asked for satellite registration for three days in several barangays, she said.*

Archie Alipalo file photoA community memorial for former president Benigno Aquino III will be held at the San Antonio Abad Parish Church in Bacolod City 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 3.It will start with a 5:30 p.m. mass followed by candle lighting rites, Agnes Hechanova, one of the organizers, said.COVID-19 protocols will be observed inside the Church during the mass and on the grounds for the candle lighting, she said.Hechanova said those participating are urged to bring their candles and flowers.Aquino, 61 , died peacefully in his sleep on June 24. He succumbed to renal disease secondary to diabetes.He was the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016.Hechanova said they want to offer prayers and a tribute to Aquino through a mass as a community in lieu ...

NOCPPO photoThe Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office has reshuffled police officers holding key positions in the province.Effective July 1, Capt. Ellendie Rebusquillo replaced Maj. Fernando Somblingo as chief of the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station. Somblingo is now assigned at the provincial police headquarters as deputy of the Provincial Operations Management Unit.On July 2, Lt. Col. Rollie Pondevilla was designated officer-in-charge of the Calatrava police, replacing Maj. Roberto Indiape Jr. who is now assigned at the NOCPPO headquarters.Lt. Col. Norberto Barniso is now the new officer-in-charge of the Cauayan police, replacing Lt. Col. Lowell Garinganao who is now the chief of the Human Rights Affairs Office of NOCPPO.The turnover of command was held at Cam...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the launching of the Negros Occidental Digitized Health and Emergency Management system at the Capitol this afternoon, July 1.*Richard Malihan photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government launched its Digitized Health and Emergency Management system designed to ensure the swift and efficient response to health needs and disasters, Thursday, July 1.“COVID-19 changed the world and we are called to change accordingly to adapt to the situation,” Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said at the launching at the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.He said by digitizing the health and emergency management system of the province “we are taking not just a step, but a stride, in handling this crisis in an adept and consummate manner, with all the knowledge and resour...

Taal Volcano emitted a one kilometer high phreatomagmatic plume Thursday afternoon raising fears of more eruptions.* Phivolcs video screengrabBacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon is calling on the faithful to pray for the safety of the people affected by Taal Volcano’s unrest following a phreatomagmatic eruption Thursday afternoon, July 1."In solidarity with the communities that are affected by the eruption of Taal volcano today, July 1, I am calling on our parishes and chaplaincies to offer masses and prayer intentions starting tomorrow for the safety and protection of our people in those areas", the bishop said.At 3:16 p.m. Taal Volcano’s main crater generated a short-lived 1 kilometer high phreatomagmatic plume prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phiv...