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The Partido Kusog Talisaynon in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City, on Monday.*Carla Cañet photoTalisay City mayoralty candidate Rowena "Weng" Lopez Lizares on Monday, March 31, vowed to continue the legacy of her husband, Mayor Neil Lizares, who is on his last term as chief executive of Talisay.Lizares issued this statement in a press conference, Monday, after a mass held at the clubhouse of La Costa Brava, which kicked off the opening salvo of her team’s campaign.Lizares was joined by her husband, running mate Vice Mayor Nic Jalandoni, candidates for councilor, and Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez who is running for congressman of the 3rd District on Negros Occidental.Lizares said that her husband accomplished a lot during his three terms as chief executive of th...

Brgy. Villamonte was declared champion in the barangay category of the 3rd Mayor Albee Benitez Fire and Rescue Olympics, in line with the fire prevention month celebration, held in various venues in Bacolod City, Friday to Monday, March 28 to 31.Brgy. Villamonte was the champion in the Community Fire Auxiliary Group (CFAG) barangay category followed by Tangub - 1st runner-up and Pahanocoy - second runner-up, a Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod press release said Monday.In the company category, the Ayala Malls Capitol Central Fire Brigade was the champion while Vallacar Transit Incorporated or the Ceres Liner Fire Brigade was the 1st runner-up.Mansilingan Agro-Industrial High School was the champion in the high school category followed by Abkasa National High School - fir...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez with the Sidlak Kadalag-an Festival back-to-back champions at the Panaad sa Negros Festival awarding rites on Sunday.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe 29th Panaad sa Negros Festival drew a crowd of 65,000 on closing night Sunday, March 30, and its sales hit P14,943, 266, an initial report showed.“Each moment of this festival has been a testament to the strength, creativity, and unity of the Negrenses,” Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said in his speech at the closing program.The Panaad was not only a festival but an economic and cultural showcase, he said.“As we close this chapter of Panaad sa Negros 2025, let us carry forward the spirit of unity and progress that this festival embodies...

The Toyota Avanza that fell 50 meters down a ravine*A 58-year-old woman died, while four police personnel and three others were injured, when their vehicle fell into a ravine in Purok Tuburan, Barangay Pandanon in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, at about 3:20 p.m. Saturday, March 29.The police personnel and their companions who were on board a Toyota Avanza were travelling from Bacolod City to Don Salvador Benedicto town for an overnight outing when the accident occurred, SSgt Bengie S. Bantilan, DSB police investigator-on-case, said Sunday.Upon approaching a curve in the national highway at Purok Tuburan, the vehicle fell 50 meters down a ravine.Daisy delos Santos, 58 , a nanny of one of the minors in the vehicle, died instantaneously, Bantilan said.Injured...

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (left) talks to the second batch of buyer-beneficiaries of the Asenso Yuhum Residences on Saturday.*PNA/Nanette L. Guadalquiver photoThe Bacolod City government turned over the keys to buyer-beneficiaries of the 64-unit second tower of the Asenso Yuhum Residences, its shelter project under the Pambansang Pabahay Para Sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, in Barangay Vista Alegre on Saturday, March 29.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who led the turnover rites with other city officials, congratulated the homeowners for making an investment seen to increase in value in the coming years.“This is one program that will greatly benefit the people of Bacolod, a decent and affordable housing, which is being developed into a world-class township,” Benitez...

PMaj. Justin Noel Josol, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod*Two Malaysians are facing charges for qualified human trafficking for alleged involvement in a "love scam", PMaj. Justin Noel Josol, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod, said Sunday, March 30.Josol said the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office approved the filing of charges against alias “Sam Phoon,” 60, and alias “Abao” who is in his late 20s.He withheld their real names citing privacy regulations.The two were arrested at Henrietta Village in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, on Thursday.Five Filipino employees were rescued during their arrest by virtue of a search warrant, he said.The Malaysians were charged for qualified human traf...

The leg of a 1-year-old child was severed while his father was injured after they were hacked by a 42-year-old man in Purok 1, Brgy. Isio, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, March 29.Alias “Rey”, 36, was injured and his 1-year-old child’s leg was cut off after alias “Tata”, 42, hacked them when they sought his help.Investigation revealed that the victim and his live-in partner had an argument resulting in her losing consciousness due to high blood pressure.Rey held his child and sought the help of Tata, who is the brother of his live-in partner, however, the suspect allegedly attacked them with a canecutter.They were brought to the Cauayan District Hospital, and the child was later transferred to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for further me...

Gasoline and diesel prices are expected to increase by about P1 per liter starting Tuesday, April 1.The Energy Oil Industry Management Bureau of the Department of Energy has projected an increase per liter of P0.85 to P1.35 for gasoline, P0.75 to P1.25 for diesel and P0.95 to P1.10 for kerosene.Unioil Petroleum Philippines forecasted a per liter increase of P0.90 to P1.10 for diesel and P1 to P1.20 for gasoline.*

The police arrested a Murcia resident and seized a gun and suspected shabu worth P340,000 in a buy-bust operation in Purok Minoro, Brgy. Amayco, Murcia, Negros Occidental, Saturday, March 29.Arrested was alias “Crisanto”, 38, of Brgy. Caliban, Murcia.They recovered suspected shabu weighing 50 grams, a 9mm revolver with five rounds of live ammunition and the buy-bust money from him, the police said.The suspect is detained by the Murcia police and will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and R.A. 10591 in relation to COMELEC gun ban.*

Fur parents and their pets join the kick-off of the 1st Bacolod Pet Festival at Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, on Saturday .*Falcor Marketing photoFur parents and about 100 cats and dogs joined a pet walk at the Panaad Park in Bacolod City on Saturday, March 29, to kick off the 1st Bacolod Pet Festival in line with the observance of Rabies Awareness Month.Organized by the City Veterinary Office (CVO), the weeklong event, themed “Building a Safe and Rabies-Free Community is Our Shared Responsibility,” advocates rabies awareness, responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.Dr. John Michael Cabuguason, assistant city veterinarian, said the pet festival showcases the commitment and strong collaboration between the government and private sector.“We are very ...