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A 33-year-old construction worker died after he lost control of his motorcycle, fell into a canal and was swept by a strong current in Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Monday morning, Sept. 7.The Murcia Municipal Police Station identified the victim only as alias “Mike,” a resident of Brgy. Puso, La Castellana.Police said the road incident happened at around 7:40 a.m. along the Bypass Road of the national highway in Brgy. Blumentritt.Based on accounts gathered from motorists and bystanders, the victim was traveling from Murcia proper toward Bacolod City when he lost control of his Rusi TC 125 motorcycle.He fell in a canal and was swept away by the strong flow of water before being carried into a culvert, police said.Motorists at the scene attempted to revive the victim thr...

Brig. Gen. Rudecindo L. Reales (3rd from left) during his arrival at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr.*PNP photoCalling for a return to "back-to-basics" community policing, Police Brig. Gen. Rudecindo L. Reales officially stepped into his role as the new director of the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) during an arrival honors ceremony at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. on Tuesday, Sept. 8.The ceremony marked Reales’ first official engagement with the regional command following his formal assumption of office the previous day.He was received by members of the PRO NIR Command Group, regional and personal staff, provincial and city directors, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion commander, chiefs of national support units, and personnel from across the region. ...

Mayor Greg Gasataya spearheaded the distribution of financial assistance and rebuilding materials to 29 families displaced and affected by recent fires in Barangays Mansilingan and Sum-ag, Bacolod City.Gasataya stressed that the assistance is crucial to the immediate recovery of the affected families, particularly those in Purok Bakyas, Barangay Mansilingan, whose houses were gutted by fire on August 30, and Purok San Jose 2, Barangay Sum-ag, which was hit by fire on September 1.Seventeen families whose properties were destroyed  received P15,000 in financial assistance and six pieces of long-span roofing materials to help jumpstart the reconstruction of their homes.Seven households with damaged homes were provided P10,000 and four roofing sheets, while sharers and renters...

A 21-year-old man was found dead after being stabbed near a sugarcane plantation in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental,  on Monday morning, Sept. 7.The San Carlos City Component Police Station identified the victim only as alias “Willy,” a resident of Purok Sinalikway, Brgy. Codcod.Police said a witness saw the victim along a pathway near a sugarcane plantation running in a zigzag manner with blood visible on his mouth and hands before he collapsed.Minutes later, the witness reportedly heard a motorcycle speeding away from the area.Responding personnel later found the victim with no signs of life.The identity of the assailant and the motive remain unknown.*

A 42-year-old construction worker was shot dead after an argument during a drinking session in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, on Monday night, Sept. 7.The Hinoba-an police identified the victim only as alias “Ramy,” a resident of Brgy. Bulwangan.Police identified the suspect as alias “Romel,” 43, a laborer and resident of Brgy. Asia.The shooting happened at around 10 p.m. in Purok 4, Brgy. Asia.Initial investigation showed that the victim was drinking with companions outside a sari-sari store owned by his live-in partner when the suspect allegedly approached him.A heated argument followed before the suspect allegedly drew a firearm and shot the victim three times.Police said the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and was found apparently lifeless a...

NEPC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joe-Mel Zaporteza explains the power supply situation at a press conference Monday*CPG photoShorter power outages are expected starting the first half of September, but an upward trend in prices is anticipated, a Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) official said Monday, Sept. 7.NEPC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joe-Mel Zaporteza explained during a press conference that daily rotating brownouts have been caused by a power supply shortage in the Visayas grid.Three coal units have been offline since May 13, taking 488 megawatts off the Visayas grid, while another 268 MW of capacity is running below its rating, triggering supply shortages, he said.This shortage has prompted yellow alerts issued when supply is suf...

Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez*Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has filed a resolution directing the House Committee on Visayas Development to investigate the worsening power crisis in the Visayas grid.In the resolution released Monday, Sept. 7, Benitez expressed alarm over the worsening situation.“The frequent rotational brownouts in the Visayas region have increased from around one hour to five to nine hours,” Benitez said.“This inflicts direct economic losses on businesses, disrupts schools, endangers medical patients, and erodes investor confidence in the region”, he said.The inquiry aims to hold stakeholders accountable and ensure a stable, reliable power supply for the region.Benitez noted that the ...

Rep. Javier Miguel "Javi" L. Benitez filing House Resolution No. 1430*Rep. Javier Miguel "Javi" L. Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), together with 11 other Visayas representatives as principal authors, filed  House Resolution No. 1430 directing the Committee on Energy to inquire, in aid of legislation, into what Visayas consumers paid for ancillary services this year and whether the reserves they paid for were delivered when the grid went under red alert.The measure was filed by Benitez with  Reps. Julienne L. Baronda (Iloilo City), Emilio Bernardino L. Yulo (5th District, Negros Occidental), Maria Vanessa C. Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol), Kristine Alexie B. Tutor (3rd District, Bohol), Junard Q. Chan (Lapu-Lapu City), Eduardo R. Rama, Jr. (2nd District, Cebu City), Kathr...