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A 42-year-old man was arrested after authorities seized about P170,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, the police reported Friday,  Sept. 18.The suspect, identified as alias “Jester,” was arrested by personnel of the Dumaguete City Police Station’s City Drug Enforcement Unit in Purok 4-B, Brgy. Batinguel, on Thursday.Police said Jester is a resident of Purok Amihan in the same barangay.Operatives recovered four medium-sized sachets containing about 25 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P170,000.The suspect and the seized evidence were placed under police custody for proper disposition.Jester is expected to face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dange...

The geothermal power plants in Valencia, Negros Oriental provide clean and renewable energy 24/7 and are operated by First Gen's Energy Development Corporation.*PNA/Mary Judaline Flores Partlow file photoThe Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) has welcomed the additional baseload power secured by the province’s two electric cooperatives, saying it will help meet consumers’ growing electricity demand.NOCCI president Edward Du said in a Friday interview that the additional supply for Negros Oriental I Electric Cooperative (NORECO I) and Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) is a positive development, but it may not be sufficient once major investors establish operations in the province.“Having a total of 5.2 MW (Megawatts) for both electric coop...

A 22-year-old man listed as the No. 1 most wanted person in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, was arrested for a carnapping case on Wednesday, Sept. 16.Police arrested the accused in Sitio Cansati-an, Brgy. Canggohob, for alleged violation of Republic Act 10883, or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016.Authorities withheld the identity of the accused.Police also identified the arrested man as a person of interest in a separate robbery with homicide case that occurred in Brgy. Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City, on Sept. 2.Being identified as a person of interest does not establish his involvement or guilt in the robbery with homicide case, which remains subject to investigation, the police said.The court set bail at P300,000 for his temporary liberty in the carnapping case.The accus...

The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) has authorized the transfer of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) filing venues in several local government units (LGUs) to accommodate the expected surge in aspirants for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR regional election director, said in an interview Friday, Sept. 18, that COC filing is typically handled by the Office of the Election Officer in each town or city.However, he said larger venues have been designated in some areas in anticipation of the number of candidates who will file their COCs.“The Office of the Election Officer is not suitable to accommodate the large number of potential candidates; that is why we have to look for a venue with...

A Negros Oriental police officer was formally promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel during an oath-taking and donning of ranks ceremony in Bacolod City on Thursday, Sept. 17.Lt. Col. Nelson Lamoco, acting chief of the Provincial Police Strategic Management Unit of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, received his new rank during the ceremony at Maringal Hall, Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Brgy. Estefania.Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region Director Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales led the ceremony attended by members of the regional command and staff, police personnel and Lamoco’s family.PRO-NIR said Lamoco’s promotion recognized his service, performance and qualifications while giving him greater leadership responsibilities in the police organization....