Marchel P. Espina

3IB photoThe four victims of separate Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, killings on Friday, May 14, were allegedly targeted by the New People’s Army (NPA) because they suspected them to be government informants.The separate shooting incidents in Barangay Trinidad occurred near the site of a recent encounter between the Philippine Army and the NPA that claimed the lives of 10 rebels and wounded another.“The four were suspected by the NPAs to be responsible for the major setback they suffered during the encounter on March 23,” the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade said in a statement Saturday, May 15.In the police report, 45-year-old Rogelio Fat, a farmer, was preparing to pasture his livestock at around 5 a.m., when four unidentified men believed to be members of the NPA’s Speci...

Four persons were killed inside their residence at Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental 5 a.m. Friday, May 14.“The victims were killed inside the sanctity of their own homes and were quite possibly, victimized on suspicion of being informants during the encounter in the same place last March 23, when the communist rebels suffered a major loss,” Guihulngan Mayor Carlo Reyes said in a statement.The Army said the four civilians killed Friday, allegedly by the New People’s Army, were Ronelo Quirante, 56, Roger Fat, 46, and the couple Rodrigo Lubay, 46, and Celerina Lubay, 44.Meanwhile, Reyes said the police are already conducting an investigation “to secure the safety of the masses and to bring the perpetrators to justice.”“This is simply too much hardship and p...

La Carlota PNP photoA retired teacher was shot to death along the national highway of Barangay Haguimit, La Carlota City, in Negros Occidental Wednesday night, May 12.The fatality was identified as Irvi Ramos, 64, of Haguimit.The victim, along with his second cousin, was walking home from a sari-sari store when he was waylaid and shot five times by an unidentified suspect, a police report said.Ramos was rushed to Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital for medical treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.Recover from the crime scene were three fired cartridge cases of a .45 caliber pistol and a deformed fired bullet.The police have yet to establish the motive of the killing.*

The Sipalay City government has eased its restrictions against COVID-19 as it opened its locality to tourists.Mayor Maria Gina Lizares in Executive Order 2021-013 signed Thursday, May 13, extended the Modified General Community Quarantine in Sipalay City to May 31 with amended guidelines.Under the new EO, which will take effect 12:01 a.m. Saturday, mass gatherings will be allowed up to 30 percent capacity of a venue, but establishments or venues will strictly comply with ventilation standards.The daily curfew will start from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., while those who are exempted are persons in need of emergency services, personnel of cargo vehicles, and authorized persons outside their residence.Under its amended travel guidelines, travel forms will no longer be required for outgoi...

PDEA-6 photoA high-value target from Bacolod City was arrested in a buy-bust operation at the Old Tagbak Terminal in Jaro, Iloilo City, Wednesday, May 12.The suspect was identified as Ramel Delgado, who yielded around 60 grams of suspected shabu worth P408,000 when he was arrested by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Iloilo City Police Station 3 during the bust.Cases for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of the Republic Act 9165 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, or sale and possession of illegal drugs, are now being prepared against the suspect.*

At least 19 alleged members of the New People’s Army surrendered to the police in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, May 11.This, after they realized they have no future in the insurgency movement, a press release from the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office said.The former rebels will receive assistance from the government to help them start their new life, the press release said, adding that their surrender was the result of continuous negotiations of state units and the support of barangay leaders in the area.Col. Romy Palgue, provincial police director, urged the rebels who are still active in the movement to surrender to the authorities.He said their identities will remain anonymous, and they will be given assistance as they gradually establish a pe...

The Salvador Benedicto police in Negros Occidental are investigating the death of man whose body was found at a pineapple plantation in Purok Marang, Barangay Bago, on Sunday, May 9.The body of Teofesto Villaruel, 38, of Purok Marang, was already in a state of decomposition when it was discovered, the police said.The victim was last seen by his cousin more than a week ago, in the morning of May 3.He was identified by his relatives, the police report said.The cause of death is still being determined, pending the result of the post-mortem examination.*

PDEA photoTwenty-one persons were arrested and more than P300,000 worth of drugs were recovered in separate buy-bust operations in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, in two days.At least 17 suspects, including those who were at the drug den, were nabbed in a buy-bust operation at Purok 1, Barangay 6 on Saturday, May 8.Arrested were:Suspected drug maintainer Ricardo “Kadoy” Garcia, 35, of Barangay 6, KabankalanRamil Dela Cruz, 33, of Barangay Aguisan, Himamaylan CityRoger Abordo, 31, male, of Barangay Camugao, Kabankalan CityRichard Garcia, 36, of Brgy. 6, KabankalanJoebel Barientos, 35, of Brgy. Aguisan, HimamaylanJan Michael Sambrano, 28, of Brgy. Orong, KabankalanMarlon Villaflor of Brgy. 6, KabankalanRamil Martinez, 23, of Brgy. Salong, KabankalanBobby Infante, 30, of B...