Marchel P. Espina

Two suspects were caught in a drug bust operation at Moises Padilla Friday, August 19.*Moises Padilla PNP photosTwo top drug suspects of Moises Padilla town, Negros Occidental, were arrested in a buy-bust operation Friday night, August 19, at Brgy. 7 Poblacion.Arrested were 30-year-old Jayvee Dingcoy, who was said to be in the town’s Top 1 Target Priority List, and 33-year-old Jioseen Vinson, a high-value individual, and in the Top 2 Target Priority List.During the bust, the suspects yielded 15 sachets containing suspected shabu that weighed 60 grams worth P408,000, the P1,000 buy-bust money, and two short firearms.The suspects are now in the custody of the police and are facing drug charges.*

A woman was shot to death at Prk. Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, early Saturday, August 20.Killed was 27-year-old Ericka Jane Castaneda.Police said that the victim was walking at the footwalk with her companion when she was attacked by a masked suspect who shot her five times.The suspect fled after the killing.The police are still investigating the incident.*

A scene of the crime int Brgy. Buluangan.*San Carlos PNP photoA “love triangle” triggered the  attack on a couple while they were asleep in Brgy. Buluangan, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Friday night, August 19.The victims were identified as Evelyn Concha, 31, and Julieto Ugdiman, 44, of Calatrava town.They sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the San Carlos City Hospital. They are now in a stable condition.They were shot by the suspect identified as 29-year-old Charles Brandi-ase, who is also from Calatrava, with an unknown firearm. He then fled after the shooting.Two days later, on Sunday, August 21, the suspect surrendered to Bacolod City authorities at Taculing Road, in Brgy. Taculing.He was then turned over to the San Carlos police, who are lo...

The abduction and rape of a 23-year-old woman was “fabricated.”This was confirmed Friday night, August 19, by Lt. Arlyn Torrendon, head of  the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD).She said that the police further investigated the case and established that the incidents did not happen.The victim was “very cooperative” in their probe, Torrendon added.Torrendon said that they learned that the woman was having a family problem, which they could not disclose.She also said that the victim had undergone a medical examination, and has a hematoma that was self-inflicted.They understand the woman, “we see her as a victim. We have interventions to help her cope with her problem,” she added.In an earlier statement, the woman alle...

The security preparations for the opening of the face-to-face classes on Monday, August 22, are  set.Police Regional Office-6 director, Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, said that all unit commanders were given orders to ensure the safe and orderly opening of classes in Western Visayas.“I already gave instructions to all unit commanders to ensure that everyone is safe and the resumption of face-to face classes is peaceful," he said in a statement Thursday, August 18.“Law enforcement operations will be intensified to prevent the occurrence of crime and to prevent lawless elements  from launching their evil plans,” he added.PRO-6 will maximize the deployment of its personnel in identified strategic areas such as terminals, transportation hubs, vicinities of the schools and ...

A scene of the accident in Murcia town, Negros Occidental.*Murcia PNP photoA soldier died when his motorcycle rear-ended a tricycle at Barangay Iglau-an, Murcia town, Negros Occidental, Wednesday night, August 17.The victim was identified as Corporal Christian Pelongco who was assigned at the 303rd Infantry Brigade that is based in Murcia. He was on his way to work when he met the accident.Capt. Marc Joeil Reclamado, town police chief, said that the victim’s speeding motorcycle bumped into a tricycle it was tailing after it slowed down.The soldier was taken to a hospital but he died due to the impact of the crash.The tricycle driver, meanwhile, was detained by the Murcia police.*

A restaurant delivered these to the Bacolod City Government Center on Wednesday, that turned out to be a fake order.*PIO photoA restaurant that delivered food to the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Wednesday, August 17, was scammed through a fake order.It turned out that nobody had ordered food to be delivered to the BCGC.The order included oysters, fish, rice and other dishes worth about P12,000.In the Facebook post of the Bacolod City Public Information Office, it said this is not the first time that someone has delivered food to the BCGC that turned out to be a scam.There was even a time when someone delivered coffee to the government center, but it was a fake order.Authorities warned restaurant owners to call first to confirm first if an order had been ...

Councilor Celia Flor, author of the ordinance establishing a social pension fund for qualified senior citizens in Bacolod City.*SP photoBacolod City Councilor Celia Flor is proposing a social pension subsidy for senior citizens to augment their daily subsistence and medical needs.The proposed ordinance establishing a social pension fund for qualified senior citizens in the city of Bacolod and appropriating funds for it was passed on  first reading during the Sangguniang Panlungsod session Wednesday, August 17, with Flor as the main proponent of the measure.It was referred to the SP Committee on Social Services and Development.Flor said that the proposed measure will need  P100 million  for its implementation, adding that a public hearing on the proposal will ...

Councilor Em Ang (center) who authored the fuel subsidy ordinance.*SP photoGood news for tricycle drivers in Bacolod City, they will receive a one-time P1,000 fuel subsidy from the local government.This, after members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed on final reading Wednesday, August 17, the ordinance providing fuel subsidy  for all tricycles for hire with an existing valid franchise issued by the city government that was authored by Councilor Em Ang.The subsidy will benefit 5,610 tricycle drivers in the city, she added.Ang said this will provide the tricycle drivers a temporary relief prices of fuel recently soared to a record high.The national government through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has provided fuel subsidy to jeepney dri...

The victim at the scene of the accident in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City.*Tito Leo J photoA man who was celebrating his birthday died after he figured in an accident at Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City, Tuesday, August 16.Killed was Jundie Doroteo, 28, of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.The victim, on board a motorcycle along with his companion, was on his way home from a drinking session when they rear-ended a truck after it halted due to a traffic stop, police said.The victim died on the spot due to a head injury from the crash, while his companion suffered injuries.The driver of the truck was temporarily detained.*