Carla P. Gomez

The new coffee shop at Mambukal*New amenities are set to open at the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, March 26.Set to open are the Camp Nolan trail, a new powerhouse and a coffee shop, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Tuesday.Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson will lead the opening rites.Diaz said endangered species will be relocated along the trail as soon as the construction of their enclosures are completed, which were delayed by weather disturbances.The water falls trail is scheduled to be inspected by the Department of Interior and Local Government.There is an area that has a problem because of slope failure, which has been stabilized. It is about 100 to 200 meters going to the first falls, he said...

Police investigators are eyeing drug-related and political angles as possible motives in the fatal shooting of a Negros Occidental radio block timer on Friday.The victim, Julito Calo, 49, was standing outside his house on the side of the road in Sitio Kawayanan, Barangay Robles, La Castellana town, when a white SUV stopped and a passenger shot him in the head, causing his instantaneous death, the police said.PMaj. Romulo Gepilango, La Castellana police chief, said on Monday, March 23, that they are looking at possible drug-related , personal, and political angles in the killing of Calo.Calo was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation on Oct. 5, 2018, but was released after availing of a plea bargaining agreement, Gepilango said.They are looking for CCTV footage and witnesses ...

Jennylind D. Cordero has been appointed DOT NIR Chief Tourism Operations Officer.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Department of Tourism has appointed a Negrense to a key post at the DOT Negros Island Region office in Dumaguete CityJennylind D. Cordero, former Negros Occidental provincial tourism officer, has been appointed DOT NIR Chief Tourism Operations Officer.Cordero, a veteran in the field who previously served as the Chief Tourism Operations Officer for Regulations of DOT Western Visayas, brings extensive experience in managing accredited establishments and regional tourism recovery.Her new role is central to the tourism development and NIR's goal of institutionalizing tourism standards across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.Cordero is a Mass Communic...

The Army’s 3rd Infantry "Spearhead" Division (3ID) said on Monday, March 23, that the three rebels killed in an encounter in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, were high-ranking remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA). The rebels killed during a clash with troops from the 47th Infantry (Katapatan) Battalion in Sitio Santol, Barangay Tampalon, on Saturday were remnants of the dismantled NPA South West Front and the Regional Strike Force (RSF) under Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, the 3ID said in a statement. The 3ID identified the slain rebels as Ritchie Verano (alias Makoy and Akiro), 26, the vice commander of the NPA Regional Striking Force (RSF) and a resident of Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City; Milky Sampini (alias Gorting), 27, the RSF finance and logistics officer and a resident of Brgy. La...

The recovered items from the encounter.* 47th IB photo Three New People’s Army rebels, allegedly responsible for a string of killings and arson, were killed in an encounter with 47th Infantry “Katapatan” Battalion troops in Barangay Tampalon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, about 4 a.m. Saturday, March 21.The 47th IB operating under the 302nd Infantry “Achiever” Brigade engaged about five to seven remnants of the NPA in a two-minute gunbattle and recovered five high powered firearms and a grenade, Lt. Col. Dennis Martinez, 47th IB commander, said.Killed were Milky Sampini alias Gorting - a squad leader, Ritchie Verano alias Makoy and Akiro, and Joedil Balsimo alias Junjun and Cairo, who were part of the dismantled South West Front and Regional Strike Force of...

The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) has activated a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to conduct an intensified region-wide manhunt for the killer of a Himamaylan City job order worker, who also worked as a community radio block-timer.Julito “Jaz” Diamante Calo, 49, who was the host of Waswasanay sa Quinto Distrito aired on 88.3 DNN News FM based in Himamaylan City, was killed in Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, on Friday, March 20.The Presidential Task Force on Media Security on Sunday, March 22, issued a statement condemning the killing of Calo.“Such an attack on a journalist poses a significant threat to press freedom and the safety of journalists in our country,” it said.“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, fr...

Kanlaon Volcano spewing ash on Saturday* Jezreel Gonzales photoKanlaon Volcano emitted ash 15 times for a combined total of 16 hours and 16 minutes from Friday night to Sunday, March 22, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.The ash emissions mean the magma within the volcano has been able to degas, Ma. Antonia Bornas, chief of the Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division, said on Saturday.It means the pathways of the volcanic gas are not blocked, which reduces the pressure that could trigger an explosion, Bornas said.But that does not mean the unrest at Kanlaon has lowered, it is still under Alert Level 2. They are still expecting a major eruption from Kanlaon but they do not know when, she added.The ash emi...

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Negros Island Region (DSWD NIR) has distributed a total of ₱1,124,184,216.00 in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) payouts as of Sunday, March 22, benefitting 191,912 individuals affected by Typhoon Tino. Among the local government units served, Himamaylan City received the highest disbursement at ₱161,831,985.00 for 30,129 beneficiaries, followed by Hinigaran with ₱142,721,236.00 for 23,636 individuals. Other significant payouts include the City of Bago with ₱127,318,814.00 for 22,294 beneficiaries, Binalbagan with ₱123,854,570.00 for 22,750 beneficiaries, and La Castellana with ₱106,050,553.00 for 18,521 individuals. In Isabela, ₱96,933,578.00 was released to 14,602 beneficiaries, while the City of La Carlota saw ₱92,808,534.00 distributed amon...