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Returning Negrenses are being warned not to fall prey to unscrupulous persons selling fake COVID-19 negative RT-PCR results.Zeaphard Caelian, Provincial Incident Management Team head, said those caught presenting fake RT-PCR test results on their arrival in Negros Occidental will face sanctions.They will also be subjected to RT-PCR tests and quarantined, he said.If they opt for fake results and are not caught at their port of entry they will endanger others in the communities they are headed for if they are positive for the virus, he also said.They are documenting cases involving fake RT-PCR results that are subject for validation, Caelian said.Negros Occidental’s border control measures under General Community Quarantine this July will remain the same, he added.Tha...

The Negros Occidental provincial government began the rollout of its newly received 38,400 Sinovac vaccines in five cities and two towns Thursday, July 1, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.Delivered were 1,598 doses to Escalante City, Sagay City, Talisay City, La Carlota City, Kabankalan City, EB Magalona, and Pulupandan.Diaz said 1,511 doses were administered or 94.56 percent.Escalante City, Sagay City and La Carlota City fully consumed the vaccines delivered to them, he said.EB Magalona had a 97 percent performance rate, Kabankalan City - 96 percent, Talisay City -91 percent and Pulupandan -75 percent.The delivery of the Sinovac vaccines to towns and cities of Negros Occidental will be daily until the supply last, Zeaphard Caelian, Provincial Incident Manag...

A misunderstanding between drinking buddies led to a fatal stabbing incident at Barangay San Miguel, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Wednesday night, June 30.Killed in his house was 43-year-old Albert Lacsinto, a laborer.The victim and the suspect, identified as Arnel Tacuyo, 42, who is also a laborer, were having a drinking session when a heated argument ensued between them, the police report said.This prompted the suspect to go home to get his bolo, and return to the victim’s house.The suspect demanded that Lacsinto, who was also armed with a cane cutter, come out of his house. He then attacked him.The victim was brought to the Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.Recovered from the crime scene was a 21-inch-long bolo ...

One of the five high-risk prisoners who broke out of the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Bago City was killed after they were tracked down by pursuing law enforcers in Hacienda Velez in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, Wednesday morning, June 30.This came a day after they escaped from the NODJ.Killed was Marvin Celeste of Victorias City, who was charged with illegal possession of firearms, while Daniel Tamon of Salvador Benedicto town, who is facing murder charges, was arrested by the tracking team.Lawyer Jairus Anthony Dogelio, spokesperson of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6, said they received an intelligence report that the five suspects were sighted in the area.When the tracking team was closing in, a firefight ensued, causing the death of Cel...

Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 35 Wednesday, June 30, placing Bacolod City under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in July, and naming businesses not allowed to operate.The movement of all persons will be limited to accessing goods and services from permitted establishments, for work or for such other essential activities authorized by the national and local rules on quarantine, he said.Leonardia said Executive Order No. 31 issued on June 6 is adopted in EO 35 with the amendment that it is now mandated, and not merely strongly advised, that Church/religious gatherings for holy mass, prayers, worship services and other similar activities, should be at a maximum of 30 percent of the venue capacity.Gatherings outside of residences will be prohibited, except for...

A Manila-based lawyer is facing charges for “mocking” Commissioner Rowena Guanzon of the Commission on Elections in his Twitter account.The Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office has found probable cause to file a cyber unjust vexation case against Ferdinand Topacio.Guanzon, a Negrense, filed the complaint against Topacio on June 23, 2020, before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office but Topacio sought its transfer because of perceived partiality. The complaint was reassigned to the Iloilo City Prosecutor’s Office and raffled off to Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Adri Anne T. Montes-Española.Española on May 12 recommended the filing of the charges against Topacio for cyber unjust vexation under Article 287, paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Section 73 of Republic Ac...

The 7,800 Sinovac vaccines that arrived for Bacolod City.*Bacolod PIO photoThe 34,800 Sinovac vaccines for Negros Occidental and 7,800 for Bacolod City arrived Wednesday, June 30, with more expected to come.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lascon said that it was the largest single shipment to Negros Occidental so far, and the vaccines will be immediately distributed to towns and cities ready to inoculate their residents.“This is the biggest number of vaccines that we received at one time. There is a focus on Western Visayas because of the (COVID-19) cases. Let’s really take advantage. On the part of the provincial government we are ready to rollout whatever vaccines we have,” Lacson said.The Pfizer mass vaccination at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City and the Teresita L. Jalandoni P...