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Mayor Janice Degamo of Pamplona, Negros Oriental, is facing a disqualification complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding her residency in Siaton town as she seeks the 3rd congressional district seat in the My 12 polls. Her legal counsel, Andrei Bon Tagum, told the media in an online interview on Wednesday, May 7,  that the disqualification case was lodged before the Comelec at the end of April and is meant to discredit the mayor. “It is just political propaganda to frustrate the people in the 3rd district,” given the timing of the complaint filing, Tagum said. The mayor, who is the widow of the late Governor Roel Degamo, has completed the residency requirement of one year for her to qualify as a congressional candidate in the 3rd district, ...

PrimeWater, with its joint venture partner Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), announced on Wednesday, May 7, that it  has delivered an additional 3 million liters per day (MLD) of water supply through the recently activated Matab-ang Water Treatment Plant in Brgy. Granada, Bacolod City. The activation of the Matab-ang water treatment plant will address the current demand of the city by providing 3 million liters per day, increasing to 6 MLD within the year, a press release from PrimeWater said. The additional supply will improve the supply of approximately 5,000 households in Bacolod, particularly in Barangays 27, 28, 30, Estefania, Villlamonte and Mandalagan, it said.  “This project is just one of the initiatives and developments we are implementing together...

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is urging Bacolod residents  to inform the city government of water-related concerns amid the clamor for PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., the joint venture partner of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa), to address the  supply shortage in many parts of the city. “Water access remains a top priority. I urge everyone to stay vigilant and report any water concerns in your areas as we push for lasting solutions for Bacolod,” he said in a statement on Wednesday, May 7. Benitez made the call as PrimeWater announced on the same day the activation of the Matab-ang water treatment plant that will provide 3 million liters per day (MLD) of additional water supply to affected villages. As this developed, the Baciwa Employees Union (B...

The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) are going on  red alert starting Saturday, May 10. The  Red Alert status is for the  May 12 elections, the PDRRMC announced. The red alert for the elections will  start  at 8 a.m. on May 10 until 8 a.m. of May  13. The PDRRMC EOC  red alert   amid the prevailing Alert Level 3 at  Kanlaon Volcano also remains  in effect for close monitoring and coordination, it said.* 

The Bacolod City police have arrested 14 Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban violators  so far. They arrested  the 14 gun ban violators from Jan. 12 to May 3, the Bacolod City Police Office  (BCPO) reported. Eight firearms were surrendered to various police stations in Bacolod, the BCPO said. The police also  recovered two firearms in hot pursuit operations, one from a checkpoint,  one from a drug buy-bust operation, and two from incidental to lawful arrest.  COMELEC gun ban violators face imprisonment of  1 to 6 years, disqualification from holding public office, and deprivation of the right to suffrage.  A fine ranging from P1,000 to P3,000 may be imposed, and violators could also face charges under the Comprehensive ...

A survey shows Jose Benito Alonso, Eugenio Jose Lacson and Jeffrey Ferrer (l-r) winning.* Ronnie Baldonado photoNegros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson  (Nationalist People’s Coalition) said  on Wednesday, May 7, that  the latest local survey shows that if elections were held today,  he would win the governorship. The survey also shows that Jose Benito  Alonso who is running for vice governor  and Vice Governor Jeffery Ferrer, who is running for congressman of the Fourth District, will win, he said. Alonso and  Ferrer are members of the National Unity Party/United Negros Alliance. Ther four other candidates for governor are former Victorias City Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino)  Ferdinand &nbs...

Soldiers  of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion   buried an alleged rebel who was killed in an encounter in Brgy. Humay-Humay, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on  May 1, after no family member claimed his remains. They buried Tony Pahayahay, alias “Aldren/Redol”, 53,  at  the Guihulngan Public Cemetery, on Tuesday, May 6,  the 62nd IB reported.  Pahayahay, a resident of Barangay Bulado, Guihulngan City, was a member of  the Squad 2, Sentro De Grabidad, of the dismantled Central Negros 1 of the New People’s Army, it said. He was abandoned by his fleeing comrades during the encounter, the report added. The 62IB soldiers seized an  M-4 assault rifle, M-16 rifle, three M-16 long magazines, 30 bul...

Department of Economic Planning and Development - Negros Island Region concurrent regional director Arecio Casing Jr. leads the strategic meeting on the proposed NIR Tunnel Connector with Himamaylan City officials on Wednesday* The proposed construction of the Himamaylan-Tayasan tunnel connector in the Negros Island Region (NIR) is poised to spur growth in the newly formed administrative region and the rest of the Visayas, a key official of the Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) said on Wednesday, May 7. In a statement, DEPDev-NIR concurrent regional director Arecio Casing Jr. said the connector project would use the most relevant construction technology to achieve the safest, fastest, and economical mode of travel between the key cities east and west of ...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sought help for Manny Pacquiao (center)  Benhur Abalos Jr., and  Francis Tolentino*President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked  the country’s governors to help three senatorial candidates of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas win in the May 12 polls, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday, May 7. The three  are Benhur Abalos Jr., Francis Tolentino and Manny Pacquiao, Lacson said. The president asked the governors, especially those who have no opponents, to push for these three during a meeting on May 5, Lacson said. The surveys show that the other Alyansa bets are already in the winning circle, Lacson pointed out. The president left it to the governors to decide whether they will support his sister, re-electionist Imee M...

The seized shabu at  Country Homes Subdivision in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City.* The Bacolod police arrested a 54-year-old man and seized suspected shabu worth P476,000 in a buy-bust operation at Country Homes Subdivision in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, May 7. Arrested was Remwil Sellado, alias “Hapon”, 54, the police said.  Seized from the suspect were  70 grams of suspected shabu, the buy-bust money and other non-drug items, the police added. Sellado is not under police custody  and will be charged for  violation of  the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The Bacolod City Police Office also seized suspected shabu worth P2.69 million last week, from April 28 to May 4. The drugs were seized in 12 anti-i...