Marchel P. Espina

Rizal PNP photoA suspected drug group leader in Negros Occidental was found dead in Rizal province on Wednesday, the police reported Friday, May 21.Killed was Michael Divinagracia, the alleged leader of the Divinagracia drug group in Silay City.His body, along with an unidentified man, was discovered along the highway at Barangay Pinugay in Baras town.Lt. Col. Robert Petate, Silay police chief, said that they closely coordinated with the Baras Police Station for the identification of the victim.He said Divinagracia’s driver’s license was found on his body and that his photos also matched their records.The have yet to talk to Divinagracia’s family regarding the transport of the cadaver from Luzon, Petate said.Petate said that the victim had an arrest warrant for ...

PDEA photoA female senior citizen was arrested after she yielded P3.4 million worth of drugs during a buy-bust operation at Barangay Lo-oc in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Wednesday afternoon, May 19.The suspect identified as 63-year-old Evelyn Jimenez, who is a sari-sari store owner, was considered as a high-value target of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Negros Oriental.The subject of the operation, Jovic Calibo, who is Jimenez’s relative, did not show up during the transaction with the poseur buyer.Instead, Calibo, who is also a high-value target, sent Jimenez for the trade.Confiscated during the bust were one pack of suspected shabu weighing around 500 grams with an estimated market value of P3.4 million and the buy-bust money.PDEA Negros Orient...

The chieftain of Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, is seeking the help of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu after the owner of an ongoing beach resort project in his community allegedly committed environmental violations.In a letter to Cimatu dated May 19, Barangay Sum-ag Captain Rodney Carmona said that the beach resort project of Engr. Andre Taculod at the mouth of Sum-ag River has utilized about three hectares of mangrove area in the site.He and other barangay officials conducted an ocular inspection Wednesday, May 20, and found out that the developer constructed “a mini wharf at the entrance of Sum-ag River using concrete boulder materials which made the entrance narrow and is clearly dangerous for it became a navigational hazard for incoming and outgoing fishing vessels utilizing ...

Talisay PNP photoThree men, including an Oman national, were found dead in Negros Occidental Tuesday, May 18.The body of Oman national Ahmed Haj, 34, of Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, was discovered in the grassy portion of the BREDCO port in the morning.The victim sustained a gunshot wound on his chest, the police report showed.He was last seen by his family Monday night, May 17.In Murcia town, the body of Archie Aguirre, 41, of Hinigaran was found at a sugarcane plantation in Barangay Blumentritt.The victim sustained gunshot wounds on his head and body.Police investigators recovered eight empty shells of a .22 caliber pistol and two fired bullets from an unidentified firearm.In Talisay City, the body of 24-year-old Bryan Barredo of Barangay 1, Bacolod City...

The Silay City government has locked down a church and an office at the city hall to prevent the further spread of coronavirus.In a special executive order issued by Mayor Mark Golez on May 14, he said the Victory Church at Zamora-Gamboa Street will be placed under zoning containment or temporary lockdown from May 14 until May 28 for disinfection, sanitation and decontamination measures.This, after five members of the church tested positive for the virus, the order said.Under the temporary lockdown, no person will be allowed entry to the area, and all persons affected are required to undergo strict quarantine measures and to exercise the required minimum health and safety standards.The order also said that it suspends social gatherings by public and private sectors.In a...

HImamaylan PNP photoA man was stabbed and shot to death at Barangay Mahalang in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, May 16.The fatality was identified as Gody Lozano, 30.Based on the initial police investigation, two unidentified men fetched the victim from his house Saturday night, May 15.Successive gunshots were then heard from afar, his wife told the police.The next day, the body of the victim was discovered in a canal. He succumbed to nine gunshot wounds and two stab wounds.The police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.*

Pontevedra PNP photoA misunderstanding between two relatives led to the killing of a man at Barangay Pandan, Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, May 16.Killed was 38-year-old Teofilo Semillano.The victim and his 41-year-old uncle, Jhonito Semillano, were having a drinking session at the house of the victim when a misunderstanding ensued between them, a police report said.Based on the police report, the victim allegedly stoned the suspect, who retaliated by hacking his nephew.The victim was brought to Don Salvador Benedicto Hospital in La Carlota City where he was declared dead on arrival. He succumbed to multiple hack wounds.The suspect was arrested in the barangay in a pursuit operation.Semillano, who will face homicide charges, has a previous frustrated ...

Atty. Joseph Celis photoThe chief of police of the EB Magalona Police Station in Negros Occidental was relieved from his post Saturday, May 15, following a surprise inspection by the regional director of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) in Western Visayas.Col. Romy Palgue, provincial police director, confirmed Sunday, May 15, that Lt. John Paul Tabujara, EB Magalona police chief, was transferred to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Police.An investigation of the EB Magalona police, including the six duty personnel, is underway, he said.Under its standard operating procedure, the chief of police or his deputy should always be present at the police station.Both were not around when NAPOLCOM Region 6 director Jose...