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Two persons were killed in Bacolod City and La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday and Friday, Jan 29 and 31.Mary Jane Co, 38, was shot to death in front of a sari-sari store in Purok Tahong, Brgy. 3, Bacolod City, early Friday morning, Jan. 31.Co, a resident of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and temporarily residing in Brgy. 5, Bacolod, was shot multiple times by unidentified person riding a motorcycle.The victim was brought to a hospital but was declared dead due to a gunshot wound in the head.Meanwhile, a man dancing at a drinking session in Sitio Odiong, Brgy. Camandag, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, was stabbed dead on Wednesday, Jan. 29.The 39-year-old laborer was stabbed by alias “Gab”, 19, the police reported.The suspect and the victim had joine...

The shabu seized in Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City.* BCPO photoThe police arrested a high-value drug personality and seized suspected shabu worth P748,000 in a buy-bust operation in Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, early Friday morning, Jan. 31.Alias “Joseph”, 45, of Purok Sigay was arrested by City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) operatives of the Bacolod City Police Office.The police said they seized 110 grams of suspected from him.The suspect will be charged for violation of Sections 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.Further investigation is ongoing to determine his possible links to other drug networks operating in the city, the police said.*

Leaders in the Visayas have reaffirmed their support to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.During the event organized by Cebu Governor and 'One Visayas Bloc' leader Gwendolyn Garcia on Thursday, all 16 governors from Cebu and the Visayas region signed a manifesto expressing their support for Marcos and his vision for national progress.Signatories include Garcia, Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores, Guimaras Gov. JC Rahman Nava, Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro.Other officials who signed the manifesto of support were Governors Eugenio Jose Lacson (Negros Occidental), Manuel Sagarbarria (Negros Oriental), Gerard Roger Espina (Biliran), Jake Vincent Villa (Siquijor), Sharee Ann Tan (Samar...

Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano of the Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region.*PNA/Mary Judaline Flores Partlow photoTeachers from the Department of Education (DepEd) serving in the May 12 national and local elections will receive higher pay this time plus a service incentive, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said Friday, Jan. 31.Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-Negros Island Region (NIR) regional director, said that the poll honoraria comes following requests for higher rates as well as other benefits.“The teachers will also receive a service incentive leave, recommended at 5 to 7 days and a monetary incentive increase,” Castillano said.He stressed the importance of the teachers being remunerated for their efforts, especially for those i...

Two criminology students died when their motorcycle hit a truck parked on the side of the road at Hacienda Silos, Brgy. Taliban in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Thursday night, Jan. 30.The motorcycle driver identified only as “John”, 21, and his back rider “Jasper”, 23, died, the police said.Investigation revealed that the victims came from Himamaylan City proper and were headed towards Binalbagan when they accidentally hit a truck parked on the side of road because of mechanical failure, the police said.The victims sustained serious injuries and were brought to a hospital where they were declared dead.The driver of the truck surrendered to the police.*

Screengrab of the video showing the man firing his gun*A police manhunt hunt is on for a man shown in a video, which has gone viral on social media, firing his gun at a female agrarian reform beneficiary in Barangay Dos Hemanas, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Friday morning, Jan. 31.Lt. Col. Salvador Trono Jr., Talisay police chief, said they are searching for the man in the video who will face charges for violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban, grave threats and illegal discharge of a firearm.The motive for the incident is a land dispute, Trono said.The man could not be found in the a addresses given to the police but their operations are ongoing to locate and arrest him, Trono said.The video shows an angry man fire his gun in the direction of a woman hold...

Two priests of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental facing complains for alleged sexual abuse of minors remain on administrative leave and are not engaged in any ministerial duties, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said on Thursday, Jan. 30.The Diocese of San Carlos would like to address recent concerns regarding the status of Fr. Conrado Mantac and Fr. Aron Buenacosa, who are both facing complaints for alleged sexual abuse of minors, Alminaza said.BishopAccountability.org, a United States-based watchdog, on Wednesday launched an online database on more than 80 Roman Catholic priests in the Philippines who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors.It said Buenacosa was charged on Feb. 27, 2019 by the Cadiz City Prosecutor’s Office with raping a 4-year-old girl. ...

Business tycoon Hans T. Sy, honorary mayor of Bacolod, (seated) with Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and his children Harvey and Hanna Carinna Sy (standing, l-r)  at the mayor’s office.*Ronnie Baldonado photoBusiness tycoon Hans T. Sy announced on Thursday, Jan. 30, that SM’s biggest development in Bacolod City will be its township at the city’s old airport along Araneta Avenue.The 20-hectare mixed use development will become an urban oasis, Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings Inc., said in his speech at the Bacoloadiat spring festival gala at the SMX Convention Center Thursday evening.“It will have a new upscale shopping and lifestyle center, BPOs and other commercial projects that the business sector and the city will surely benefit from,...

The government’s Regional Task Force Kanlaon, through the National Food Authority (NFA), has augmented rice supply to displaced families affected by the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island.At least 659 sacks of rice procured by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) were released to five local government units (LGUs), data on Thursday, Jan. 30, showed.Maria Christina Ilustre-Mayor, public information officer of OCD-Western Visayas, said they cater to all requests for rice assistance through the NFA.“It should be supported by the situation report of the LGU, showing the affected population,” she said.La Castellana, the worst-hit LGU in Negros Occidental, has an allocation of 310 sacks; La Carlota City, 70; San Carlos City, 15; and Bago City, 10, while Canlaon City in Negros Orie...

The establishment of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Statistical Services Office (RSSO) in the Negros Island Region (NIR) is underway.In a statement on Thursday, the PSA-Negros Occidental said its chief statistical specialist John Campomanes has been named as the interim regional director.“The PSA is gearing towards the establishment of its additional field office. Preparations are underway, beginning with the appointment of Campomanes,” it added.Campomanes is spearheading the transition efforts, which will place the Provincial Statistical Offices of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor together under the RSSO-NIR.He met with Negros Oriental chief statistical specialist Ariel Fortuito to discuss key points and ways forward during a preparatory ...