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By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Following an incident where four fishermen from Dapitan City were held in Sipalay City for lack of proper transit documents, Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles has ordered local police to monitor for suspicious boats in the municipality’s waters. Miravalles noted the town is, so far, peaceful, and shared accounts of unfamiliar …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Regional Wage Board (RWB) convened earlier this week to review a proposed wage hike for local domestic workers in the Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental. In a text message sent by General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) Secretary-General Wennie Sancho, he said the projected increase for domestic workers in …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company (BISCOM) chief executive officer Jose Marie Chan said he is planning to meet with leaders of the Sugar Alliance of the Philippines (SAP), following their threats to boycott Pepsi-Cola products. Based on a local radio report aired yesterday, Chan said he decided to return to Negros after …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) ambushed and killed a planter and his driver in Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, yesterday morning. Police identified the fatalities as 67-year-old Norberto Lumayno and driver Danilo Braga, 45, both residents of the said town. Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) acting …

By Paulo Loreto Lim President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed Executive Order No. 28, which regulates the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics. According to the order, the new regulations will “minimize the risk of injuries and casualties” and limits the use of firecrackers to “community firework displays.” Based on a Philippine Information Agency press release, “a …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga A suspected member of the infamous “akyat bahay” gang victimized a house at Purok Langka, Barangay Dos Hermanas, Talisay City, yesterday morning. Police identified the victim as 53-year-old Richard Nepomuceno, a resident of the said barangay. An investigation by Talisay City police found the suspects gained entry by climbing the …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga A suspected drug pusher and user were successfully apprehended by members of the Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit (MDEU), following a buy-bust operation along Jacinto Street, Barangay 3, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, Wednesday afternoon. Police identified the suspected drug personalities as Sanru Gelico and Oscar Bergonio, both residents of the said barangay. …

By Tara Yap Amid reports of a hostage situation at a school in Lambunao, Iloilo yesterday, Mayor Jason Gonzales dispelled rumors on Facebook, posting, “The report that there’s been a school hostage taking in Barangay Caninguan is a hoax.” “There is no cause for alarm,” he assured. Word of the alleged hostage situation claimed students …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga A boarder renting a room at a pension house was found dead by the establishment’s staff in Barangay Piapi, Dumaguete City, Wednesday afternoon. Police identified the fatality as 58-year-old Gaudencio Verdida. According to the Dumaguete City police, a call from the pension house owner came in around 1:00 p.m. indicating …

By Paulo Loreto Lim The Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) recently reported power rates for June 2017 dropped nearly 60¢ from the previous month, falling to P9.9095 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from P10.5062/ kWh in May. Rates have been dropping since March 2017, when costs peaked at P11.1669/kWh. Ceneco credits the reduction to a drop …