Marchel P. Espina

PDEA photoAnother suspected illegal drugs high-value target was arrested in a joint buy-bust operation at Barangay 1, Bacolod City, Friday, April 23.The suspect was identified as Jobel Villasis, who yielded six sachets of suspected shabu worth P408,000 with an estimated weight of 60 grams.The operation was conducted by drug enforcement agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Negros Occidental and personnel of Bacolod Police Station 2.The suspect will face drug charges.*

BCPO photoAn alleged “love triangle” led to the killing of a 44-year-old man in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Thursday, April 22.Killed was Branel Casas of Purok Paghidaet in Mansilingan.His body was found buried in a vacant lot in CarmenVille Subdivision.Based on the initial police investigation, the victim went to the area and had a quarrel with the suspect identified as 73-year-old Wilfredo Sadaba, who then struck Casas with hardwood.He also hacked the victim in the head with a cane cutter.Responding police officers arrested the suspect at the Terra Nova Subdivsion in the village.The suspect admitted to the killing of the victim.Police is looking at jealousy as the motive for the killing.*

PDEA-6 photoOperatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6 Special Enforcement Team arrested a high-value target in a drug bust operation at Purok Cheriza 1 in Barangay 27, Bacolod City Wednesday afternoon, April 21.Nabbed was Elena Quiman, who was considered by PDEA-6 as a high-value target.She yielded around 50 grams of suspected shabu worth P340,000.The suspect will face charges for possession and sale of illegal drugs.*

Escalante PNP photoWhile some policemen in Metro Manila were under fire following a red-tagging incident of a community pantry organizer, two police stations in Negros Occidental joined the initiative Tuesday, April 20, to help their constituents.The Escalante City Police Station led by Lt. Col. Gil John Despi set up a community pantry in front of their station, where the public can get free food such as eggs, vegetables, rice, canned goods, fruits, and other essential goods.The police also posted messages that read: "Tabang sang mga kapulisan sa mas ga kinahanglan (help of the police for those in need)" and "Kuha lang basi sa kinahanglan ug paghatag basi sa masarangan (take what you need and give what you can).”They started the initiative to help those who are in need and ...

HELPING OTHERS. This community pantry outside a milk tea shop at Araneta Street, Bacolod City, is among the initiatives started by the residents on Monday, April 19, to help those in need.*Romeo Subaldo photoInspired by the selfless initiative of the residents of Metro Manila, Bacolodnons and Negrenses also united to start their community pantries in several areas of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental Monday, April 19.In Bacolod City, Kim Lizares and her group opened a community pantry at 12th Lacson Street, where they offer free essential items such as canned goods, noodles, eggs, vegetables, and other goods.The group set up their pantry under a makeshift canopy outside a residence of a good samaritan who offered his place for a joint initiative.On Facebook, Lizares called...

The management of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City announced Monday, April 19, that it will no longer allow patient watchers inside the medical facility to stop the spread of coronavirus.Dr. Julius Drilon, CLMMRH chief, said that it has been observed in the past two weeks that the COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have been "increasing drastically through community transmission.”“Evidently, the combined cases of the city and province have reached more than 200 persons per day, and it is alarming that people’s complacent behavior in the community has contributed to this situation. The poor observation of health safety protocols and attending of mass gatherings have increased the likelihood of exposure in the community,” he ...

BCPO photoA high-value individual, known as “Bebe,” yielded P1.7 million worth of drugs following her arrest in a joint police buy-bust operation at Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City, Monday, April 19.Police identified the suspect as 35-year-old Christine “Bebe” Vivero, while her husband, Edwin “Toto” Vivero, 34, was able to escape during the drug bust.The police said they recovered the P1,000 marked money used in the buy bust operation and 59 sachets of suspected shabu worth P1.7 million with an estimated weight of 250 grams from the woman.She was tagged by the police as a high-value individual.The suspect is now detained at Police Station 4 and will face drug charges.*

A 45-year-old man was shot to death outside his home at Barangay Mabini in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, Saturday night, April 17.Police identified the victim as Leticio Cordova.The victim was with his wife and brother in his home when six unidentified armed men arrived, a police report said.One of the suspects called the victim and told him to come out.When the victim went out, he was shot by one of the suspects.When he fell to the ground, he was shot again on the head, causing his instantaneous death.The suspects said “NPA ni (we’re NPA)” and fled to the mountainous area of the village, the police report added.Recovered from the crime scene were two fired cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol.Police are still investigating the incident.*

BCPO photoA 19-year-old was arrested and yielded P2.6 million worth of drugs in a joint buy-bust operation at Purok Sigay, Barangay 2 in Bacolod City on Saturday, April 17.The police identified the suspect as Dan Aldrick Ballesteros of Barangay 2.He yielded three sachets of shabu worth P2.6 million with an estimated weight of 396 grams, the buy-bust item, P1,000 in marked money and a weighing scale.The joint operation was conducted by the police and the National Bureau of Investigation.Three more persons were also arrested by the police in Barangay Alijis on April 16.The suspects were identified as Romulo “Jun Jun” Dipon, 32, Antonio “Tonio” Dipon, 32, both of Barangay Alijis, and Garry Velez, 32, of Barangay 34.The suspects yielded nine sachets of suspected sha...