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The scene of the accident*A 41-year-old motorcycle rider was killed in a three-vehicle crash at the national highway in Purok San Jose, Brgy. Calumangan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday evening, Feb. 19. The victim was identified as Marvin Abucay, a resident of Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, who was declared dead on the spot. Investigation by the Bago police showed that a tricycle traveling from Bago City proper toward Brgy. Calumangan slowed down to stop at the roadside when it was accidentally hit from behind by the motorcycle. Due to the impact, the motorcycle fell and its driver was thrown onto the inner lane of the highway. Police said the motorcycle rider was then accidentally run over by a sugarcane-loaded Isuzu hauler truck traveling toward Bacolod City. The tricycle driver...

The 438 newly-deployed health professionals taking their oaths at SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City on Thursday.*The Department of Health-Negros Island Region (DOH-NIR) has deployed 438 newly-hired health professionals as part of the initiatives to strengthen primary health care services across the region.In a report on Friday, the DOH-NIR said they are composed of 245 nurses, 153 midwives, 20 medical technologists, eight nutritionist-dietitians, six pharmacists, three physical therapists, and three dentists.They are assigned to 63 local government units across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.The new hires took their oath during the 1st Human Resources for Health Oath-Taking Ceremony under the National Health Workforce Support System (NHWSS) at SMX Conv...

The Bacolod City government has purchased heavy equipment worth P45.4 million to boost the ongoing dredging of its rivers and creeks to prevent flooding.The blessing of a mini amphibious excavator, a six-wheeler dump truck, and a long-arm crawler excavator was held Thursday, Feb. 19,Mayor Greg Gasataya said the equipment will be a big help in avoiding delays in the dredging of the city's major waterways.The rivers in Mandalagan and Banago will be given special attention because they are a major problem for the city, especially since they overflow quickly when it rains, he said.The city aims to remove 9,000 cubic meters of silt from the Mandalagan River.Once the excavation in the Mandalagan and Banago rivers is completed, the dredging in the Lupit and Magsungay rivers wi...

The scene of the crime*A 44-year-old tricycle driver was shot dead by two unidentified suspects in Purok Katilingban, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, on Thursday night, Feb. 19. The victim was identified as Joffrey Jaducan of Brgy. Banago. Police Station 3 cops said the victim was standing by the roadside with a friend when two male suspects on a red motorcycle stopped in front of them. Police said one suspect was wearing a black jacket and helmet, while the other was wearing a black shirt and bonnet. The suspects shot the victim several times, hitting different parts of his body. The victim was rushed to the Riverside Medical Center where he was declared dead. The suspects fled the scene after the shooting.*

Police arrested three alleged drug suspects in two separate anti-illegal drug operations in Bacolod City on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 19 to 20.The Bacolod City Police Office said about 10 grams of suspected shabu worth an estimated P68,000 were confiscated during the operations.At around 11:15 p.m. on Thursday Police Station 9 cops conducted a buy-bust operation in Purok Magayon, Barangay Sum-ag.Arrested were alias “Ruel,” 42, and alias “Melchor,” 30, of Brgy. Sum-ag.Police said around six grams of suspected shabu worth P40,800 were recovered from the two suspects.In a separate operation at around 12:48 p.m. on Friday , operatives of Police Station 8 arrested alias “Kerk,” 21, in Purok Grasya, Brgy. Singcang-Airport.Police recovered about four grams of suspected sha...

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has partially granted the appeal filed by the former head of the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) by reducing her penalty of dismissal from the service to a three-month suspension.The CSC decision promulgated Jan. 5 ruled on the appeal filed by Ma. Mina Pellejo, former NOCHP officer-in-charge and assistant provincial administrator of Negros Occidental, for the dismissal of an order meted against her by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.Lacson on Nov. 19, 2021, found Pellejo guilty of Gross Neglect of Duty and Grave Misconduct and imposed the penalty of dismissal from the service.Civil Service Commission Commissioner Luis Meindrado Pangulayan, in his 15-page decision, modified the decision of the governor and found Pellejo guil...

One man was killed while another was injured in an electrocution incident beside the Arao Gym in Arao Progreso Village Dos in Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod City on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 18.Police identified the fatality as Wendel Unay, 42, married, while the injured victim was identified as Jilmar Caromayan, 44, of Brgy. Vista Alegre.Police investigation showed that the victims were repairing the roof of a house on the second floor when strong winds blew away the insulator foam they were using.Police said the foam accidentally touched a live electric mainline, resulting in the electrocution of both men.The victims sustained electrical burns on different parts of their bodies.Responding police officers rushed Caromayan to Metro Bacolod Hospital where he was reported to...