Carla P. Gomez

Apr132026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Police seize P442K in shabu, arrest 2 suspects in Bacolod

The Bacolod police seized ₱442,000 worth of suspected shabu and arrested two suspects in back-to-back operations Sunday evening, April 12.The synchronized crackdown, led by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), resulted in the confiscation of 65 grams of the illegal substance, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) reported.The first operation took place at 9:19 p.m. along Banahaw Street, Barangay Villamonte. City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) operatives , supported by the City Intelligence Unit and Police Station 4, arrested a 42-year-old suspect identified as alias “Bebe.”Authorities launched the operation after a confidential informant reported "Bebe’s" alleged drug activities in several Bacolod barangays.Surveillance confirmed the reports and re...

Apr122026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Transport strike, rally set Wednesday, ‘No to Oil Price Hike Coalition’ formed

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The No to Oil Price Hike Coalition – Negros convenors*A transportation strike to protest the rise oil prices is set in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, and Silay in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, April 15, Bayan Negros Secretary General Noli Rosales said Sunday.The strike is being organized by the convenors of the newly formed “No to Oil Price Hike Coalition – Negros.”Protest centers will be established in various areas on Wednesday morning, followed by a rally in the afternoon in front of the Bacolod City Government Center replica at the Bacolod City Public Plaza, Rosales said .Rosales said drivers, commuters, business groups, and various sectors joined the organization of the coalition on Saturday to finalize plans.In a press statement, the coalition said its demand...

Apr122026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Man tagged in killing Bacolod cop in drug buy-bust op dies at hospital

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PBGen. Arnold Tomas Ibay at the wake of PMSgt. Romulo Galvez* A 32-year-old man tagged in the killing of a policeman during a buy-bust operation died at a Bacolod City hospital on Saturday morning.The resident of Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod, died at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital at 5:27 a.m., Bacolod City Police Director PCol. Eugene Rebadomia said on Sunday.Rebadomia said the man had grappled with officers attempting to disarm him after he fatally shot PMSgt. Romulo Galvez during a buy-bust operation at Alijis Road in Barangay Singcang, Bacolod City, on Thursday night.The man was not taken to a police station but was brought directly to the hospital for a medical check-up after being restrained, Rebadomia said.Upon arrival at the hospital the 32-ye...

Apr122026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bishop calls for Church austerity, solidarity amid economic crisis

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San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, president of Caritas Philippines*San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza on Saturday, April 11, called for a renewed commitment to austerity, accountability, and solidarity with the poor in a pastoral letter addressed to priests, consecrated persons, and lay leaders.Alminaza said the current economic and ecological crises cannot be ignored, pointing out that fisherfolk are struggling with declining catches, drivers are burdened by rising fuel costs, and workers' wages no longer meet basic needs.“Their suffering is not distant. It is immediate, concrete, and persistent,” the bishop said.Citing a growing gap between Church leaders and the poor, Alminaza described this reality as a “tolerated evil” that must be confronted through sincere conver...

Apr122026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Comelec: NIR surpasses 183,000 voter applications

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The Commission on Elections has processed 183,187 voter applications in the Negros Island Region, it reported on Saturday, April 11.Negros Occidental continues to drive the bulk of registration activity, accounting for 125,695 of the total applications. Negros Oriental followed with 54,208, and Siquijor with 3,284, the Comelec report said.The Comelec said from April 7–11, there were 8,735 new voter applications.The weekly breakdown included 6,211 from Negros Occidental, 2,276 from Negros Oriental, and 248 from Siquijor.In the overall running total, female applicants significantly outpace their male counterparts, with 96,326 registered compared to 86,861 men.*

Apr102026 by Carla P. Gomez and Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod cop slain in drug op hailed as hero by PNP, mayor

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PMSgt. Romulo Galvez*A highly decorated member of the Bacolod City Police Office was killed in the line of duty during an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, Mayor Greg Gasataya said on Friday, April 10.PMSgt. Romulo Galvez of Police Station 9 was conducting a buy-bust operation in front of Jade Court II along Alijis Road on Thursday night when a 32-year-old suspect opened fire with a .45 caliber pistol hitting him on the right thigh.Galvez, a member of the Station 9 Drug Enforcement Team , was immediately rushed to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center but he was declared dead at about 12:08 a.m. Friday, due to hypovolemic shock secondary to a gunshot wound.The suspect was immediately arrested and recovered from him was marijuana est...

Apr102026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Health worker killed, 11 injured as trucks collide in San Carlos

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The Canter truck that figured in the accident.*San Carlos DRRMO photoA barangay health aide was killed while 11 others were injured when two trucks collided along a downhill road at Sitio Punod, Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, at around 8:58 a.m. on Friday, April 10.Killed was Perfecto Magbanua, 50, who sustained a head injury.Nine of those injured were personnel of the San Carlos City Health Office and an 81-year-old doctor on board a Canter truck, who were headed for Brgy Quezon for a bloodletting activity, Joe Recalex Alingasa, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer of San Carlos City, said.The doctor was the last to be extracted out of the front seat of the Canter truck, Alingasa said.The police said the Hino truck, driven by a 49...

Apr102026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

PNP to send-off full security force for Panaad Festival on Saturday

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The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) is deploying nearly 900 personnel for the Panaad Festival 2026 that opens on Monday, April 13.The send-off ceremony for Task Group Panaad Festival 2026 will be held at the Pana-ad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 11.The activity will be led by PBGen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay, PRO NIR regional director, and PCol. Dennis C. Wenceslao, Negros Occidental provincial director.Gov. Eugenio Jose V. Lacson will be the guest of honor and speaker.The ceremony will feature a presentation of forces and resources followed by a blessing of the troops, symbolizing full operational readiness and the unified commitment of all involved units, the PRO NIR said.The PRO NIR said th...

Apr102026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NegOcc DRRMOs honored with gold, silver plaques

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Joe Recalex Alingasa, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer of San Carlos City, (3rd from left) receiving the gold plaque of his city.*Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMCs) in Negros Occidental were recognized for their commitment to public safety during an Assessment Awarding Ceremony held at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Friday, April 10.The event highlighted the results of the Regional and Sectoral Assessment for 2025, with several local government units (LGUs) receiving Gold and Silver plaques for their exemplary performance in disaster preparedness and response, Donato A. Sermeno III, chairperson of the Regional DRRMC and director of the Office of Civil Defense Negros Island Region, said.The Province of Negr...

Apr102026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

UNIFED urges immediate cloud seeding as El Niño threatens sugarcane crops

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The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) is calling for emergency cloud seeding operations to save sugarcane crops from worsening dry conditions brought on by the onset of El Nino.In letters to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, and Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, UNIFED President Manuel Lamata emphasized the "urgent need" for government intervention to prevent a productivity crisis.“The lack of sufficient rainfall is adversely affecting crop growth, reducing yield potential, and increasing the risk of substantial economic losses”, Lamata said on Thursday, April 9.Lamata said without any intervention the sugar industry, particularly the livelihood of hundre...