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Illegally posted campaign materials being removed in Bacolod City.*The Commission on Elections is issuing notices to officials in more than 20 barangays in Bacolod City for allowing the illegal posting of campaign materials in barangay halls and government facilities, Election Officer Revo Sorbito said on Friday, March 28.Barangay halls and other government facilities such as gyms are not included in the designated common poster areas.Comelec-Bacolod personnel led the removal of illegally posted posters and tarpaulins of the candidates on Friday, the start of the campaign period.Sorbito said they are scheduled to send notices to more than 20 barangay officials who were found violating the Fair Elections Act.Sorbito explained that although the Comelec now allows baranga...

 Malaysians allegedly involved in a "love scam"  were arrested and seven Filipinos were rescued at Henrietta Village,  Barangay Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City, on Thursday, March 27.           The Malaysians  identified only as alias  “Sam Phoon,” 60,  and alias “Abao” who is in his late 20’s were charged for violation of   human trafficking before the Bacolod City Prosecutors Office,   PMaj. Justin Noel Josol, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod, said. They were arrested by virtue of a search warrant, following CIDG surveillance operations for more than a month.The  suspects rented a house which they used as a studio to lure victims who are foreign nat...

The Team Asenso candidates at their Paglaum Stadium rally.*Carla Cañet photoBacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez, Rep. Greg Gasataya and their Team Asenso candidates for councilor vowed to continue to bring change and progress to Bacolod City at their opening campaign rally at the Paglaum Stadium in Bacolod City Friday night, March 28.Benitez is running for representative of Bacolod and Gasataya is running for mayor.They will continue the path towards making Bacolod a super city, Benitez vowed.Benitez said his decision to run for congressman was not easy but he believes he will be able to hasten Bacolod’s becoming a super city at the national level.He will be able to access more resources and facilities for the city, Benitez said.Benitez said he has done h...

The Team El Cid rally at the Bacolod Public Plaza*Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaan, who is running for mayor of Bacolod City, on Friday, March 28, vowed to serve the city with integrity, compassion and competence.His will be a leadership that will bring the government closer to the people and will be transparent and consultative, Familiaran said.Familiaran along with former Bacolod mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia who is running for congressman, Councilor Renecito Novero for vice mayor and his councilor bets inaugurated the Team El Cid General Headquarters, and held a press conference and a rally at the Bacolod Public Plaza on Friday, March 28.The Team El Cid press conference*Team El Cid’s vision is to make Bacolod “a most competitive and most livable City where business an...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (right)*Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez on Friday, March 28, denied the claim of Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran that the Bacolod City government has a P6.5 billion loan, and that its payment would drain resources that could be used for social services.“Let’s set the record straight so that the constant lying of the other party will stop,” Benitez, who is running for congressman of Bacolod, said in a press statement.Familiaran is running for mayor of Bacolod.The loan line granted to Bacolod City was only P4.1B, and based on the record, and what was availed of by the city from the Development Bank of the Philippines for various projects is only P2.05B at this point in time, Benitez said....

 Bamboo will perform at the Panaad sa Negros Festival 8 p.m. Sunday*Large crowds are expected at the Panaad sa Negros Festival at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City with top entertainers expected this weekend, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Friday, March 28.Diaz said more than 10,000 visitors have been visiting the festival daily.On Friday night the Lin-ay sg Negros pageant drew a crowd of 9,000, he said.The Kapamilya Karavan show with Pinoy Big Brother and ASAP artists will be at 4 p.m. Saturday.This will be followed by the Rico Blanco and Janella Salvador show at 8 a.m. Saturday, Diaz said.Singer, and songwriter Bamboo will perform at the Panaad sa Negros Festival 8 p.m. Sunday and not Parokya ni Edgar as earlier announced.Sales at th...

The Jetour X50 that hit the glass wall of the mall.*Two persons were injured when a compact crossover SUV hit the glass wall of a mall in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, Thursday night, March 27.A Jetour X50 hit the back entrance of Gaisano City Mall causing injuries to its driver and an employee who was guiding the vehicle in, Police Station 9 reported..The vehicle was meant to be displayed inside the mall and was driven by an employee of the car company.While entering the mall, the vehicle hit a ramp causing the driver to accelerate by stepping on the gas pedal.*

Another farmer was shot to death in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, 7:30 a.m. Thursday, March 27 .Nilo Salomag, 35, was shot dead while on his way to his farm in Sitio Dugma, Brgy. Malatas, Calatrava, the police reported.He was the third farmer to be killed in Calatrava this week. The two others were killed in barangays Telim and Minapasok.The victim was brought to the Calatrava District Hospital where he was declared dead.Alias “Boy” was shot to death in Sitio Cambalogbog II, Brgy. Telim on Wednesday and alias “Cyril”, 41, was killed in Sitio Calanugan, Brgy. Minapasok on Tuesday.*

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz*The Negros Occidental provincial government is waiting for the specific design and program of works to be submitted by the town of La Castellana for its permanent relocation site for residents transferred from Kanlaon Volcano’s 4-kilometer permanent danger zone.The provincial government is allocating P14 million, from the P50 million provided by the Office of the President, for materials and labor at the relocation site in Brgy Manghanoy, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Friday, March 28.The provincial government also wants clearance from the Office of the Civil Defense and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on the proposed permanent relocation site in Brgy Manghanoy to ensure that the area is safe from volc...

Dengue cases have hit all 31 towns of Negros Occidental, the Provincial Health Office reported Friday, March 28.There have been 1,435 dengue cases and six deaths reported from Jan. 1 to Marh 22, the PHO said.That is a 386.44 increase or 1,140 cases more compared to 295 in the same period last year.Bago City still has the highest number of recorded dengue cases at 285, followed by La Carlota City with 111 and Kabankalan City with 109.The 11 to 20 years old age group has the most number of dengue hit persons.*