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The police have identified a person of interest in the killing of a 50-year-old farmer who was shot by three unidentified men in Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Sunday morning, Aug. 23.Calatrava police chief Capt. Jesus Alba said investigators are withholding the identity of the person of interest while follow-up operations and witness interviews continue.“We already have a person of interest, but we cannot disclose the details yet because our investigation is ongoing,” Alba said.The victim, identified only by the alias “Jundy,” was on his way to attend market day when three men allegedly approached and shot him in Sitio Panggiasgiasan, Brgy. Lalong.Police said the victim’s wife saw three men approaching her husband shortly before the shooting.A medico-legal examinatio...

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region received the Gold Eagle Award after earning a 96.03 percent overall rating under the Philippine National Police Performance Governance System.PRO-NIR was conferred Compliant Status during a ceremony at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday, Aug. 24.The recognition was received by PRO-NIR Regional Director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, Deputy Regional Director for Administration Brig. Gen. Villaflor Bannawagan and members of the PRO-NIR Advisory Group.The award was conferred on behalf of PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. by Lt. Gen. Bernard Banac, deputy chief for administration.PRO-NIR said the 96.03 percent rating covered its efforts in strategic management, governance, accountability and perf...

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso (7th from left, top row) leads the turnover of a PHP2-million symbolic check to Sarangani Vice Governor Danny Martinez (to Alonso's right) at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City on Monday.*SP photoThe Negros Occidental provincial government donated PHP2 million to Sarangani province, which incurred widespread damage after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off its coast on June 8.“This is to help in their recovery from the earthquake,” the Provincial Board, headed by Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso, said in a statement on Tuesday, August 25.Alonso, who sits as the acting governor while Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is on leave, led the turnover of the symbolic check to Sarangani officials, led by Vice Governor Danny Martinez...

Senate President Win Gatchalian, Senator Chiz Escudero and Senator JV Ejercito (l-r) during the subcommittee hearing Monday.* Senate photoProposed bills seeking to set five-year terms for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and to postpone the upcoming elections are now set for plenary debate.“The committee report will be prepared by Sen. (Chiz) Escudero as subcommittee chairman to be referred to the plenary for final discussion, whether to postpone or push through” with the polls,  Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito told DIGICAST NEGROS on Monday, August 24.The final date of the new barangay and SK polls, originally scheduled for November, will be determined once the Senate subcommittee issues its official report.Ejercito moved for the approval of the m...

Mayor Greg Gasataya listens to the accounts of the victims*BCCO photoMayor Greg Gasataya has directed law enforcement to take swift action following a brazen impersonation scam that targeted a working student and a local business owner early morning Monday, August 24, at 24H Supermart along Rizal Street, Bacolod City.At approximately 3:55 a.m., an unidentified suspect allegedly posed as the mayor to deceive the victims into transferring funds. The suspect reportedly  booked two rooms at a nearby hotel, claiming to accommodate arriving official guests and uniformed personnel, a press statement from the Bacolod City Communications Office said. The caller then requested to talk to the hotel’s security guard and asked for assistance to locate a GCash facility, claiming hi...

Two men were shot dead in separate attacks in Manapla and Calatrava towns in Negros Occidental on Sunday, Aug. 23.In Manapla, a 57-year-old man identified only as alias “Mau” was shot multiple times while driving home  at around 11:50 a.m. in Purok Suaga, Brgy. I-A.Police said the victim was passing behind a convenience store when an unidentified assailant wearing pants, a black jacket and a bonnet allegedly opened fire.Despite sustaining gunshot wounds to the head and neck, the victim managed to accelerate and maneuver his vehicle about 30 meters from the shooting site before it stopped in the middle of the road.He was rushed by rescuers to Dr. Ramon B. Gusto Hospital but was declared dead.Police recovered five fired cartridge cases and a deformed fired bullet of ...

Four people were arrested while about P1.7 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in three separate buy-bust operations in Bacolod City from Saturday night to early Sunday, Aug. 22 to 23.The Bacolod City police said the operations yielded a combined 250 grams of suspected shabu.The largest seizure was recorded in Purok Katilingban, Brgy. 39 at around 2:15 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, where Police Station 1 arrested a 32-year-old man classified as a high-value individual and listed by the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.Police recovered about 200 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P1.36 million from the suspect.Earlier at around 10:24 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, personnel of the City Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a buy-bust operation in Purok Kagaykay, Br...