Marchel P. Espina

Talisay CDRRMO photoA 25-year-old Bacolod resident died after he figured in an accident along the national highway of Talisay City in Negros Occidental early Sunday, July 18.Killed was Kyle Regalado of Villa Valderama, Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City.The victim was on his way home from Silay City when he met the accident while approaching the Matab-ang Bridge past 1 a.m., PSSg. Jade dela Cruz, Talisay police case investigator, said.The victim’s Toyota Fortuner hit the concrete pot at the road junction, then the bridge’s barrier, causing it to flip over two times, and slide more than 100 meters, he said.The vehicle landed on its left side at the center island in front of the Department of Public Works and Highways office, he added.He said the victim was pinned unde...

A septuagenarian was killed while her husband was injured after they were attacked by two drunk men at Sitio Carbon, Brgy, Hilub-ang, Calatrava, Negros Occidental Saturday, July 17.Killed was 78-year-old Librada Suelto while her husband, Lorenzo Suelto, sustained injuries.The suspects, who were under the influence of liquor, were on their way home when they chanced upon the elderly couple at a cornfield, a police report said.The suspects first attacked the elderly woman with a bladed weapon, then her husband, who was carrying two sacks of charcoal.The couple was brought to Calatrava District Hospital, and the wife was pronounced dead on arrival after she succumbed to multiple hack wounds.The husband was then referred to Corazon Locsin Montilebano Memorial Regional Hospi...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned healthcare professionals and the public not to purchase and consume Bongbong’s special piaya and small polvoron.In FDA Advisory No.2021-1589 issued on June 28, the agency said it verified through online monitoring or post-marketing surveillance that the food products are “not registered and no corresponding Certificates of Product Registration (CPR) have been issued.”Aside from Bongbong’s, a producer of staple delicacies in Bacolod City, the FDA also warned the public against consuming Sloan’s Food Products Barquillos Short, Mayo Bay Tablea, and Ruffa’s Banana Chips in its advisory.Pursuant to the Republic Act No. 9711, otherwise known as the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, the agency stressed that “the manufacture, im...

The management of the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) is expected to deliberate on the 2020 audit report of the Commission on Audit (COA) that questioned the legality of its joint venture agreement (JVA) with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. (PrimeWater), which is owned by the Villar family.BACIWA acting general manager Michael Soliva said Wednesday, July 14, that they are “working out to answer the findings and recommendation” of COA.In its 2020 audit report that was posted on its website, COA recommended that the management should seek clarifications and reconciliation to ascertain the legality of the joint venture operation between the district and PrimeWater.COA also noted that the management should create an inventory committee to conduct the physical inventory of all ...

The Commission on Audit (COA) has directed the management of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) to “seek clarifications and reconciliation” regarding its joint venture agreement (JVA) with PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. (PrimeWater), which is owned by the Villar family, “to ascertain the legality” of the deal.In its 2020 audit report that was posted on its website, COA said that the JVA between BACIWA and PrimeWater was contrary to Section 30 (a) of Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended, which explains the right of way of infrastructure, thus, “the interest of the government is not fully secured and protected.”COA stressed that the JVA was not within the mandate and charter of the district which is in violation of Section 30 (a) of PD No. 198, thereby, “the legality of the con...

A second escapee of the Negros Occidental District Jail in Bago City was killed after he allegedly resisted arrest at Sitio Ambulo, Barangay San Fernando, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Friday, July 2.Killed was Danilo Celeste of Victorias City, who was facing charges for carnapping, robbery, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted homicide.Celeste was among five high-risk inmates who escaped by cutting the grills of their cell window and tying their clothes and different pieces of cloth together to climb over a 20-foot wall on June 29.A day after, on June 30, they were cornered at Hacienda Velez in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, that left his brother, Marvin Celeste, who was facing charges for illegal possession of firearms, dead. Daniel Tamon of Salvador Benedicto town...

One of the five high-risk prisoners who broke out of the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Bago City was killed after they were tracked down by pursuing law enforcers in Hacienda Velez in Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia, Wednesday morning, June 30.This came a day after they escaped from the NODJ.Killed was Marvin Celeste of Victorias City, who was charged with illegal possession of firearms, while Daniel Tamon of Salvador Benedicto town, who is facing murder charges, was arrested by the tracking team.Lawyer Jairus Anthony Dogelio, spokesperson of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-6, said they received an intelligence report that the five suspects were sighted in the area.When the tracking team was closing in, a firefight ensued, causing the death of Cel...

Hinigaran PNP photoA retired police officer was arrested for having a cache of weapons and ammunition in his possession in an entrapment operation at Mila’s Restaurant in Barangay 4, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, June 29.Nabbed was Demosthenes Fernandez of Villa Angela Subdivision, Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City. He used to be a police intelligence officer assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).He sold a 9mm caliber Ingram submachine pistol with 28 live ammunition to Maj. Jake Barila, Hinigaran police chief, and was arrested after allegedly failing to show registration papers.Barila said the suspect contacted him for the sale of a weapon and magazines.On his arrest, Fernandez, who was tagged by the police as a loose fir...