Marchel P. Espina

A 19-year-old was arrested after he allegedly stole a bike that was parked at a public market in Bago City on August 10.*Bago PNP photoA teenager was arrested  at the public market of Brgy. Poblacion in Bago City, Negros Occidental Wednesday, August 10, for allegedly stealing a bike.Nabbed was Dorwin Arevalo, 19, of Purok Balintawak, Brgy. Don Jorge Araneta, Bago City.Police said that the bike, which was borrowed by a minor from his cousin, was parked at the public market when it was stolen.The minor was having his haircut when he learned about the stolen bike, which was worth P15,000. He immediately called for help from his cousin to look for the suspect, whom they later caught with the bike.The suspect is now in the custody of the Bago police.*

NBI-Bacolod district office chief Renoir Baldovino shows photos of two Small Town Lottery outlets that are reportedly operating illegally in Negros Occidental.*Barbara Mijares photoThe National Bureau of Investigation-Bacolod district office raided two more Small Town Lottery outlets that are reportedly operating illegally in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, August 10.They are in Sipalay City and in Binalbagan.NBI Bacolod chief Renoir Baldovino said on Thursday, August 11, that the Vikings Peryahan ng Bayan outlets  were already closed when the NBI went to the two areas.It was on August 6 when the NBI operatives made a test bet, and conducted surveillance on August 8.The STL outlets were still operating on August 9, the day before the raid.Baldovino said they su...

The recovered items from the encounter site.*303rd IB photoThe Philippine Army has yet to release the name of the suspected New People’s Army rebel who was killed in an encounter with  state troopers in Sitio Bulasot, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, August 11.The government forces encountered the members of the Central Negros 2, Komiteng Rehiyon – Negros after they responded to a report that armed men were seen in the area, the Army’s press statement said.The soldiers recovered two M-16 rifles, two .45  caliber pistols, numerous magazines with live ammunition, medical supplies, backpacks, propaganda materials, and subversive documents.Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the NPA rebels in Negros ...

A scene of the accident in Barangay Damgo, EB Magalona, Wednesday, August 10.*EB Magalona photoA 78-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a car at the highway in Barangay Damgo, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, August 10.Killed was  Aurelio Artus.The victim just crossed the street from his house, which was at the side of the road, when he was hit by the car, the police reported.The driver was speeding when he hit the curb, and wasn’t able to control the car, the police said.The driver was also hospitalized after sustaining injuries from the accident.*

A suspected member of the New People’s Army was killed in an encounter with state troopers at  So. Bulasot, Brgy. Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, August 10.The troops of 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion were conducting combat operations in the area when they received a report that the rebels were conducting extortion activities in the adjacent barangay.When the government forces responded, they encountered members of the NPA that resulted in a firefight.The encounter reportedly claimed the life of a rebel, whose name was not yet released by the Army.The troops also recovered one M-16 rifle at the site.*

Bacolod City Councilor Al Victor Espino proposes an ordinance granting tax relief.*Bacolod SP photoBacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino proposed the granting of amnesty for delinquent real property taxes during the Sangguniang Panlungsod session on Wednesday, August 10.The ordinance granting tax relief for delinquent real property taxes, hurdled first reading and was referred to the SP committee on laws, ordinances, and good government.Espino said the ordinance is up for a public hearing next week.The tax relief is one way of giving Bacolod residents a little respite, he said.“We’re still in the middle of the pandemic…we’re still in a state of national calamity,” he added.Espino said that his proposed ordinance  seeks to condone tax penalties and surcharges of de...

The drug bust operation in Brgy. 2, Bacolod City.*BCPO photoA teenager was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation at Prk. Sigay, Brgy. 2 in Bacolod City, Tuesday, August 9.Nabbed was 18-year-old Christian Ababa of Prk Lubi, Brgy. 3.During the arrest, the teenager yielded three grams of suspected shabu worth P20,400 and P500 in cash.He is now in the custody of Police Station 3 and facing drug charges.*

The alleged NPA tax collector.*NORPPO photoAn alleged tax collector of the New People’s Army was arrested in  Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Monday, August 8.Nabbed was 32-year-old Roldan Villareco Baydal, who was said to be a tax collector of NPA’s Central Negros 1 of the Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor.His arrest was by virtue of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms issued by Guihulngan Regional Trial Court  Judge Ma. Anna Priscila Pareja on August 3.During the arrest, the suspect yielded a rifle grenade, and a .38-caliber revolver with three rounds of live ammunition.The suspect is now in the custody of the Guihulngan police.*

Two suspects yielded P550,800 worth of drugs in a buy-bust operation at Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City Tuesday, August 9.*BCPO photoMore than P500,000 worth of drugs were seized and  two suspects, including a high-value target, were arrested in a police buy-bust operation at Purok Kawayan, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, August 9.Nabbed were high-value individual Rodmar “Zan” Abada, 37, and Aunice “Denice” Latuna, 28.Recovered from their possession were the P1,000 marked money, 21 sachets of suspected shabu worth P550,800, a sling bag, and the P250 cash proceeds.The suspects are now detained at Police Station 3 and are facing drug charges.*

The body of the farmer who was killed in Kabankalan City on Sunday, August 7.*Kabankalan PNP photoA farmer was shot and hacked to death at Barangay Tampalon in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Sunday, August 7.Killed was Romeo Juanico, 38, of Barangay Camingawan.Police investigation showed that the three suspects - two brothers and their uncle - chanced upon the victim and attacked him.One of the suspects shot the victim several times. When he fell to the ground, the two other suspects hacked and stabbed him to death,  the police added.Police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.*