By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Local environmental advocates expressed their sadness and frustration after the Commission on Appointments rejected Gina Lopez as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary. Green Alert Negros (GAN) coordinator Randy James Rojo called it a “sad day,” while both anti-mining advocates Kay Versoza O’Brien and Darlene Casiano of the …
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Three Silliman graduates among Top 10 in 2016 bar exam results USA-Iloilo student ranked fourth
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga and Tara Yap Three law students from Silliman University in Dumaguete City made the Top 10 of the recently released 2016 bar exam results, made public yesterday by the Supreme Court. Allana Gayle Ashley Khio placed second, Marie Chielo Ybio came in ninth, and Andrew Stephen Liu rounded out the …
DILG Undersecretary: We have done everything to save NIR, we just have to wait
By Paulo Loreto Lim According to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo, Jr., after submitting his Negros Island Region (NIR) retention memorandum to the Office of the President last month, said it is a matter of waiting. “We have done everything,” he said. “We just have to wait for the …
Former Moises Padilla Mayor, secretary sued over corruption allegations
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Former Moises Padilla Mayor Francisco Nazareno and his private secretary Adrian Villaflor are being accused of corruption in connection to P90,000 in town funding going to Liza Enterprises for the 2010 Magayon Festival. According to an affidavit submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman by municipal accountant Elsie Meguiso, Liza …
One wounded in separate stabbing, shooting incidents in Bacolod City
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga A man was seriously wounded, while a woman managed to escape, following separate violent incidents in Bacolod City, late Tuesday evening and early Wednesday morning. Police identified the victims as 38-year-old Erlyn Dayrit, a resident of Purok Cagaycay, Barangay 2; and Ereneo Arellano, 40, a resident of Purok Punay, Barangay …
One dead, eleven injured from falling glass in Mansilingan
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga At least one person was confirmed dead, while 11 others were seriously injured, following a freak glass accident near a mosque located at Bangga Adela, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, yesterday morning. Authorities identified the fatality as Victor Lasanas, a security guard at a nearby warehouse in the said barangay. Based …
Reduction in city crime resulted from ASEAN meetings –Vice Mayor Familiaran: BCPO needs more police officers
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, yesterday, said the 60 percent reduction in street crime the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) boasted about recently was a result of the increased police presence during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings back in March. The reasoning is in contrast …
Pavia mayor discusses dwindling agricultural sector in town
By Tara Yap Speaking at the annual Carabao-Carroza Festival, which celebrates the carabao and their contribution to farming, Pavia Mayor Michael Gorriceta discussed the dwindling farming sector in the town, once a major agricultural area. He pointed out, the town has three barangays containing agricultural land, with Barangays Cabugao Norte, Pagsanga-an, and Tigum designated by …
Congressional hearing on high fructose corn syrup scheduled for May 16
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga According to Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, the House of Representative, through the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, will hold a congressional hearing on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) on May 16. Gasataya previously filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the importation of HFCS, saying the practice …
Following PFT incident, provincial government reviewing security agency contracts
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Following the ongoing investigation into the alleged cover-up of a shooting incident at the Provincial Food Terminal (PFT) involving a reportedly drunk security guard of the IloBac Security Agency, the designated agency to the site, the Negros Occidental provincial government is reviewing contracts with security agencies. “We are currently discussing …