Mayor David Albert Lacson yesterday said nine barangays of E.B. Magalona town in Negros Occidental that were hit by floods will be placed under a state of calamity, so they can avail of funds for clearing and declogging of waterways in the affected areas.

Expected to be placed under state of calamity, after its declaration, is approved by the Sangguniang Bayan of E.B. Magalona during its regular session next week are barangays 2 and 3 poblacion, Tabigue, Latasan, Pasil, Sa Jose, Santo Niño, Nanca and Damgo.

There are 3,153 families in E.B. Magalona affected by the flashfloods, with one fatality recorded.

Five persons, one a minor, were apprehended by the Bacolod City Police Office Anti-Illegal Task Force yesterday and Thursday as the “seal-off operation” in Brgy. 2 continues.

Arrested were Jocelyn Cawaling, 43, of Purok Sigay and Melchor Cahilig, 24, of Purok Cagaycay in Brgy, 2, Allan Edward Tiano, 25 of Reagent Pearl Homes in Brgy, Alijis, Reggie Cadiz, 22, of Rio Vista in Brgy, Taculing and his 16-year-old neighbor, whose name is being withheld by the DAILY STAR.

A college student was stabbed by one of the four pickpockets who took his cellular phone at Libertad Street in Bacolod City and later died in a hospital at about 5:30 a.m. yesterday.

The victim was identified by case investigator Police Officer 1 Arnel Deles as William Robert Ong, 18, of Regent Pearl Homes Subdivision, in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod.

Ong, a first year Hospitality Management student of La Consolacion College, succumbed to a lone stab wound on his chest while being treated at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.