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A 74-year-old farmer died while his two passengers were injured after their multicab collided head-on with a truck in Toboso, Negros Occidental on Friday, Sept. 4.The Toboso Municipal Police Station identified the fatality only as alias “John,” a resident of Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava.His passengers, alias “Freddy,” 34, and alias “Romy,” 37, both from Calatrava, sustained injuries.Police said the group was aboard a green Rusco multicab traveling from Sagay City toward Minapasok when the vehicle reportedly swerved into the opposite lane in Sitio Talawi, Brgy. Bug-ang.One of the passengers told investigators that the driver had allegedly fallen asleep before the vehicle crossed into the opposite lane.A Mitsubishi Fuso truck van driven by alias “Chris,” 39, of Sagay City, ...

New leadership has taken over Bacolod City Police Stations 2 and 8 following a turnover ceremony at the Bacolod City Police Office on Saturday, Sept. 5.The ceremony was held at around 11:30 a.m. at the BCPO Conference Room.Maj. Rondyl Tapang formally assumed as station commander of Police Station 2, while Leonardo Ildefonso was designated officer-in-charge of Police Station 8.Lt. Connan Gadayan turned over his duties as part of the leadership transition.Lt. Col. Lester Leada, deputy city director for operations, thanked the outgoing officers for their service and urged the incoming leadership to build on the accomplishments of their predecessors.Leada, speaking on behalf of BCPO City Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia, said the change in assignments should be viewed as anot...

About P67,000 worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes were voluntarily surrendered to  the police during a checkpoint in Brgy. Granada, Bacolod City, on Friday night, Sept. 4.The Bacolod City Police Office  reported that  personnel of Police Station 5 were conducting a checkpoint at Crossing Carmen at around 8:45 p.m. when two men, aged 26 and 23, approached officers and turned over three boxes of cigarettes.Police said the surrendered items consisted of 100 packs of Forth cigarettes and 34 packs of Canon cigarettes.The two men, both residents of Brgy. Mandalagan, told police that they had allegedly been hired by another man to deliver the boxes to Brgy. Alangilan for P5,000.They reportedly arrived in Alangilan proper at around 6 p.m. and waited for more than ...

A firefighter putting out the blaze.* BFP photoA fire damaged four houses and left a teenager injured in Bangga Alit, Purok Laurel, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Saturday, Sept. 5.The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bacolod reported that the blaze broke out at 7:25 a.m. destroying two houses and damaging two others.The incident affected six families, comprising 15 individuals.A 14-year-old resident sustained burns to his upper left arm during the incident.Fire investigators estimated the structural damage at ₱22,500.*

A 35-year-old butcher was found dead with  gunshot wounds inside his home in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, early Friday, Sept. 4.The Himamaylan police identified the victim only as  “Josh,” a resident of Sitio Daan Banua, Brgy. Su-ay.Police said the victim’s live-in partner tried to wake him at around 4:30 a.m. so he could butcher pigs but received no response.When she switched on the light, she allegedly found him lifeless on the bed with blood pooling around him.She sought help from a neighbor, who then notified barangay officials and police.The victim was brought by the Himamaylan Rescue Unit to the Governor Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead.Initial examination showed possible gunshot wounds on the right side of h...

The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region has issued a show cause order against the operator of a public transport company in Bacolod City following a passenger complaint involving alleged reckless driving and discourteous conduct.LTO-NIR said its Intelligence and Investigation Unit served the order at around 1:50 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, in Brgy. Granada.The order was received by an authorized representative of the transport operator.The complaint alleged reckless driving, arrogant and discourteous behavior, and refusal to drop off a passenger at a designated stop during a public transport trip.LTO-NIR said the show cause order requires the operator to explain the circumstances surrounding the complaint and why administrative sanctions should not be imposed.T...

Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez *Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said proposed bills setting the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years and postponing the Nov. 2 elections are expected to be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.House Bill No. 10971, which fixes the term of office for barangay and SK officials to five years, passed on second reading in the House of Representatives this week.Under the measure, barangay officials will be allowed to serve up to two consecutive terms, while SK officials will be limited to a single term.Benitez noted that because there are no major differences between the Senate and House versions, the bill could pass swiftly without requiring a bicamera...

The rescued birds. *CIDG NegOcc photoLaw enforcement operatives led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested a 65-year-old man and rescued 19 protected birds valued at ₱200,000 during an entrapment operation in Barangay 30, Bacolod City,  on Thursday, September 3.The suspect, identified by authorities only as alias "Ancheto," was caught in a buy-bust sting operation.He faces charges for the illegal possession and trading of wildlife under Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.During the operation, operatives recovered marked buy-bust cash and boodle money, alongside 11 bird cages containing five Philippine Serpent Eagles, eight Martanico birds, two Green Parrots, two Coleto birds, a G...