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Negros Occidental’s active COVID-19 cases have risen to triple digits but the situation is still manageable, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, May 15.The province had 148 active COVID-19 cases on Sunday, May 14, from 91 on May 1.Lacson said it is not just in Negros Occidental, COVID-19 cases are going up in the whole country.“But they are still manageable, our hospitals are no getting filled up. Many of those who have been vaccinated are experiencing mild cases, which are treatable at home,” he added.Lacson again reminded senior citizens who are unvaccinated to wear masks.Those who wish to be vaccinated can get in touch with their local health units, there are still Sinovac vaccines available, he said.They are no vaccine brand choices since the national governme...

A suspected drug dealer, who claims to be a grade six student, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Purok Totong 4, Brgy. Felisa, Bacolod City, Saturday, May 13.Confiscated from the 18-year-old Bacolodnon were 1 gram of suspected shabu worth P6,800 and the P500 buy-bust money, the police reported Monday.PMaj. Richard Fajarito, Bacolod Police Station 10 Chief, said that the suspect claims that he is a student in an elementary school and is currently studying through the modular system.The police also said that the person had previous records for theft when he was a minor.A case for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act will be filed against the suspect, who is detained at Police Station 8, Fajarito said.*MLG

Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District) in South Korea?The government is unmoved in its resolve to go after the suspected killers of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, including Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Neg. Or., 3rd District).Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday, May 14, that charges against Teves will be filed “most probably on Wednesday” by the National Bureau of Investigation.The DOJ initially planned to file the suit Monday but the suspects were provided with private lawyers and “are no longer talking,” a move which he said was expected “considering the extent of the resources involved."“Obviously, some people are interested in the statements they want to give and now they don’t want to cooperate anymore,” Remulla told reporters...

A farmer found a grenade along the riverbank of Brgy. Camingawan, Kabankalan City, Sunday, May 14.Jenus Sarrosa, 35, a resident of Purok Bougainvillae, Brgy Camingawan, found an MK II grenade along the riverbank of Sitio Cabatal while collecting firewood, a Kabankalan police report said Monday.PLTCol. John Joel Batusbatusan, Kabankalan police chief, said they coordinated with the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Provincial Explosive Ordinance and Canine Unit (PECU) for the retrieval of the grenade.PCpl. Rex Totol of PECU together with PExecutive Master Sgt. JD Capunong retrieved the rusty hand grenade, with a brittle safety lever and without a safety pin.The grenade is currently in the custody of the PECU bomb squad for proper disposition.Batusbatusan said...

State workers will receive their midyear bonus starting Monday, May 15, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Sunday, May 14."I am happy to announce that our civil servants will be receiving their midyear bonus this year, as provided in the agency-specific allocation under the 2023 General Appropriations Act or GAA. We know that fellow government employees look forward to receiving this bonus which can really help in their everyday needs,” she said in a news release."So, we are reminding all government agencies and offices to ensure the timely release of bonuses to their employees or as stipulated in our existing rules and regulations, starting May 15," she said.The midyear bonus is equivalent to one month basic pay as of May 15 and shall b...

The body of a construction worker who drowned in the Himogaan River in Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, was found at 12:28 p.m. Sunday, May 14, the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) reported.The victim was identified as Gilbert Bandolon, 37.He was reported to have drowned at 7:25 a.m. on Saturday, the DRRMO said.The construction worker went to gather river shells called “kayog” but drowned when he was swept away by strong current, the DRRMO added.A retrieval operation was initiated by the DRRMO, Barangay Council of Paraiso, Sagay Marine Reserve, Philippine Coast Guard and residents of the area starting Saturday.*

Expect fuel prices to go up Tuesday, May 16.Diesel prices will increase by P1.30 to P1.50 per liter, and gasoline by P0.30 to P0.50 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines announced on Saturday, May 13.The increase comes after three weeks of successive price rollbacks.The Department of Energy monitored the year-to-date net decrease for diesel and kerosene at P7.05/liter and P7.50/liter, respectively, as of May 9.Gasoline had a net increase of P3.85/liter, the DOE added.*

A 42-year-old man who reportedly went home drunk Friday evening was found dead at Sitio Lawagon, Brgy. Dian-ay, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, Saturday morning, May 13.The victim was identified as Epineto Mañego Palacios.The victim was found dead with a head injury, approximately 500 meters from his house, the police said.His forehead appeared to have been hit with a hard object, PMaj. John Ganzon, Escalante police chief, said.Ganzon said they are investigating if he was deliberately hit with a hard object by someone or accidentally tripped on his way home.*

The remains of Liezel Demerin St. Jean bring brought out of her house.*Nico Delfin photoA Canadian national, who stabbed his wife in the chest with a kitchen knife causing her instantaneous death, also died after committing suicide in Bacolod City, Friday morning, May 12.Liezel Demerin St. Jean, 50, a call center agent, was killed at their house at Villa Mikaela Subdivision at Barangay Singcang-Airport, at 6:30 a.m., PCapt. Glenn Montaño, Police Station 8 OIC chief, said.Her husband, Ronald James St. Jean, 55, who stabbed himself on the chest and slashed his wrist after killing his wife died at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod at 10:30 a.m., Montaño, said.The couple had a heated argument over their finances prior to the stabbing incident....

The decision on whether Central Negros Electric Cooperative should enter into a joint venture agreement with Ignite Power and Energy Holdings Inc. (MORE Power) lies in the hands of its members-consumers, former CENECO president Roy Cordova said Friday, May 12.A referendum will have to be conducted for the purpose, he said. Roel Castro, More Power president and chief executive officer, said on Tuesday that a referendum is expected to be held sometime in June or July.CENECO serves the needs of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay and Bago cities, and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.The JVA between Ignite and CENECO is one of the best options for the electric distribution utility to meet present demands and challenges, Cordova said.CENECO will become a robust distri...