Marchel P. Espina

NOCPPO photoPolicemen are prohibited from asking for COVID-19 jabs from any local government unit (LGU), Col. Romy Palgue, Negros Occidental provincial police director, said.Several policemen in the province have already availed of COVID-19 vaccine shots through the help of the LGUs, but Palgue stressed that they were instructed by the higher headquarters not to ask for jabs.“If the LGU will offer, then that’s the time that the police will be vaccinated,” he said in a press briefing Friday, July 30. Among the policemen in the province who got their COVID-19 jabs were those in San Carlos City and there are others, too, he added.For the provincial police, Palgue said that they are dependent on the schedule set by the provincial government.“The vaccination of the province ...

A policewoman who was arrested in a recent illegal gambling raid in Hinigaran town, Negros Occidental, was charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1602 or the illegal gambling law.This was confirmed Friday, July 30, by Col. Romy Palgue, Negros Occidental provincial police director, who said that the policewoman identified as MSgt. Bebzie Nicor was assigned to his office as his secretary.In a virtual press conference, Palgue said that he ordered the immediate relief of Nicor as he does not want his office to affect the investigation.“So we will have an impartial investigation,” he said.An illegal gambling raid conducted by the 2nd company of the Negros Occidental Provincial Public Safety and Company in Barangay Quiwi led to the arrest of six persons, including the polic...

Col. Romy Palgue, Negros Occidental police director, apologized Friday, July 30, for the lapses of members of the police force in the province.A policeman was arrested for rape and a policewoman for illegal gambling in Negros Occidental this week.“Pasensya na po kung lumalabas na may pagkululang ang police (I apologize if it appears that the police have lapses) and were involved in these kind of cases,” Palgue said in a virtual press briefing Friday, July 30, when he was asked about the status of the policeman who raped the 12-year-old daughter of his partner in Cadiz City.He said the rape case was filed against a member of the Highway Patrol Group and is being monitored by the higher headquarters.The policeman on Tuesday, July 27, reportedly entered the room of the minor, ...

A policeman in Negros Occidental was arrested Wednesday, July 28, at Cadiz City after he allegedly raped the 12-year-old daughter of his partner.Police Capt. Karena Onio, head of the Provincial Women and Children's Protection Desk (WCPD), confirmed that the rape complaint was filed against the suspect through an inquest proceeding.She said that the mother and her daughter are decided to pursue the case against the policeman.Based on the report, the suspect, on Tuesday, July 27, allegedly entered the room of the minor, who was sleeping, and reportedly molested her, the police said.When it happened, the minor yelled for help and was heard by her mother, who saw the incident after she entered the room, Onio said.The cop is now detained at the Cadiz City Police Station....

Pontevedra PNP photoA 48-year-old woman was gunned down at Barangay 2-Poblacion, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, early Saturday, July 24.Melaurie Pagunsan was with her 18-year-old son when she was waylaid and killed by two unidentified suspects on board a motorcycle.They were about to open their store beside their house when the attack happened.Police Capt. Hancel Lumandaz, town police chief, said the victim died on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds to her head and body.Police recovered six empty shells of a .45 caliber pistol at the scene.Prior to the attack, the two suspects, who wore masks and jackets, were reportedly seen in the area, Lumandaz said.He said they are looking at unpaid debts as the motive for the killing. Based on their investiga...

Binalbagan PNP photoLuck finally ran out for a jail escapee who was captured by pursuing authorities in Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan in Negros Occidental Friday, July 23, after more than three weeks in hiding.Francisco Epogon, the alleged leader of the notorious Epogon robbery group, was among five high-risk inmates who escaped from the Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City on June 29.He is facing charges for robbery with homicide and robbery with intimidation of person.Epogon had a close run-in with the authorities but found a way to evade capture.A day after their escape, on June 30, they were cornered at Hacienda Velez in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, that left Marvin Celeste, who was facing charges for illegal possession of firearms, dead, while Daniel Tamon ...

3ID photoA soldier sustained a gunshot wound following a clash with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, July 22.Troopers of the 15th Infantry (Molave Warrior) Battalion were conducting combat operations when they encountered about 20 rebels at Sitio Manulaya, Barangay Tan-awan.The firefight that lasted for 30 minutes left one soldier wounded in the left leg. He is now in stable condition.Maj. Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz, said in a statement Friday, July 23, that after the firefight, the rebels scampered in different directions.He also said the rebel group “suffered an undetermined number of wounded based on the bloodstains seen at the encounter site and the...

PancitoThe Philippine Army in Western Visayas vehemently denied that there were casualties on the government side during the series of encounters between the state troopers and suspected rebels at Barangay Caningay, Candoni, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, July 20.The encounters also prompted some families in the area to flee their homes for their safety.The New People’s Army (NPA) alleged Thursday, July 22, that five soldiers from the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) died in the clashes, and more were reported wounded, a claim that was denied by Maj. Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz.Pancito, in a video statement, said the allegations of the rebels are all lies, and that nobody from the government side died during the encounte...

TF Disiplina photoAt least 35 supporters of former Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez were cited for violating Covid-19 health protocols after they trooped to the Bacolod City public plaza to show their support for the mayoral aspirant Monday morning, July 19.Benitez was at the Commission on Elections-Bacolod office for the Election Registration Board hearing after three persons allied with the Grupo Progreso party of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia filed their opposition to his application for registration to vote in the city.Wilfredo Geolingo, head of Task Force Disiplina, said the supporters violated City Ordinances 926 for not wearing masks and not practicing social distancing, and 944 for not wearing face shields.He said the task force issued citation ticke...