Marchel P. Espina

Contributed photoMore incumbent mayors in Negros Occidental were seeking reelection Wednesday, October 6, the sixth day of filing of certificates of candidacy (COC).Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla, who is seeking reelection for her second term, was joined by her son, newcomer Juan Miguel Montilla, who is running for vice mayor, and her slate in filing their COCs.In Binalbagan, Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, who is seeking reelection, filed his COC, along with his wife, Mary Ann Mirasol, who is seeking the vice mayoral seat. The incumbent mayor will be challenged by Ramil Carpio and former mayor Emmanuel Aranda.In San Carlos City, seeking reelection in the 2022 polls are Mayor Renato Gustilo, who will be on his third and last term, and Vice Mayor Paul Christopher Carmona who filed t...

Police Station 9 photoAn agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency was shot at Purok. Cabuguason, Brgy. Cabug, Bacolod City, Tuesday night, October 5.The victim was identified as Agent Jayson Yayola, a member of the PDEA-6 Special Enforcement Team.He was onboard a motorcycle when was waylaid and shot three times by the unidentified gunman.In a statement, PDEA-6 denounced the attack on its agent, who is presently being treated for his injuries.PDEA-6 said it is waiting for the results of the police investigation.It said that PDEA-6 does not discount the possibility that the shooting may have been job-related, especially with the intensified campaign that the agency launched against drug personalities in Bacolod City and other parts of Negros Occidental.“The...

Police Station 3 photoA Bacolod City resident was found tied up and shot to death at Purok Riverside in Brgy. Banago in the wee hours of Monday, September 20.Killed was Mark Anthony Cubos, 37, of Purok Riverside. He survived an attempt on his life a year ago.Responding policemen led by Maj. Richard Fajarito, Police Station 3 commander, found the victim at past 1 a.m. on the pavement, face down, with gunshot wounds to his head, body, and arms, while his hands were handcuffed and feet tied with a cloth.A placard with the message "El Vigilante Drug Lord Warrior" was also found beside the victim’s body.Fajarito said they are looking at illegal drugs as the motive for the killing of the victim.On Sept. 18, 2020, the victim sustained injuries after he was shot near a scho...

Kabankalan LGU photoThe oldest living person in the country and perhaps the world celebrated her 124th birthday in Barangay Camingawan, Kabankalan City, Saturday, September 11.Francisca Susano had a handful of visitors on her birthday, including National Commission on Senior Citizens Commissioner Franklin Quijano and Kabakalan City Mayor Pedro Zayco.Indigenous Peoples Commissioner Jorge Largado was also present at Lola Francisca’s birthday as she is a member of the IP community in her village.Quijano gave Susano a bouquet of flowers, a plaque of recognition, P10,000 in cash, and a manager’s check worth P24,000 for her 124th birthday.The plaque from the National Commission on Senior Citizens states that she is the oldest person in the world.Zayco and Vice Mayor Raul...

Photo from Office of Vice GovernorMore Moises Padilla town officials have surrendered to the authorities after they were tagged in the killing of a councilor in 2019.Vice Mayor Adrian Villaflor and Councilor Jimmie Don Plaza went to the office of Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer Wednesday, September 1, after warrants for their arrest were issued early this year. They were among the local officials linked to the killing of Councilor Jolomar Hilario in March 2019.On August 23, Councilor Jose Morito Flores, Quintin Remo barangay captain Felisa Villaflor and her husband, Jonathan, who were also tagged in the murder of Hilario, also surrendered at the town police station, where they are now detained.Four days later, on August 27, Councilor Vincent Garcia, nephew of...

A businessman was shot dead at Crossing Antipolo Lubi, Brgy. Talaban, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, Sunday afternoon, August 29.Killed was Marvin Diancin, 40, of Brgy. Mambagaton, Himamaylan City. He was a supplier of bamboo products.Lt. Arturo Margallo, deputy of the town police, said the victim, onboard a motorcycle, stopped on the side of the road after he was flagged down by the unidentified suspect, who then shot him several times.The victim was brought to the Gov. Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.Recovered from the scene were 10 fired cartridges and two bullets of a .45 caliber pistol.The police are still investigating the killing.*