Marchel P. Espina

Phoro from Babette SA AB FBA businessman and a senior citizen were killed in separate shooting incidents in Bago City, Negros Occidental, in 24 hours.Killed Tuesday afternoon, March 16, was 49-year-old Henei Maalat, a businessman from Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City.He was on board a pickup truck when he was shot to death by unidentified suspects along the highway in Barangay Ma-ao.Maj. John Joel Batusbatusan, Bago police chief, said they have yet to establish the motive of the killing.The police said 70-year-old Alejandrito Emeterio was also gunned down outside his residence at Barangay Bacong Monday night, March 15.Based on the police report, the victim was at the hollow block stockpile outside their house when he was shot by an unidentified person several times...

City PIO file photoThree barangay captains of Bacolod City are set to return to their posts on Wednesday, March 17, after serving their six-month suspensions over complaints on the implementation of the first tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) subsidy.This was confirmed Tuesday, March 16, by Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, Department of Interior and Local Government-Bacolod director.She said that village chieftains Noli Villarosa of Barangay Tangub, Evelyn Ta-asan of Brgy 11, and Kim Piramo of Brgy 19 were already informed about their reinstatement.She said their case is still with the Office of Ombudsman, which has yet to issue a resolution.The three village officials were among the 89 barangay captains in the country who were suspended over alleged e anomalies...

PDEA-6 photoA text message sent to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) hotline led to the arrest of a drug pusher at Ylagan Extension in Barangay 5, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, March 14.The suspect was identified as Erlinda “Inday” Escobar Palabrica, who yielded five grams of suspected shabu worth P34,000.The suspect will be charged for violation of Sections 5 and 11, or sale and possession of illegal drugs, of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.Shey Tanaleon, PDEA-6 information officer, said PDEA operatives got the tip from a text sent to “Isumbong Mo kay Wilkins!” platform, which was created to allow the public to report illegal drug activities in their neighborhood through the agency’s 24/7 call and text hotlin...

Screen grabbed from Aksyon Radyo Bacolod FB livePolice are appealing for witnesses in the shooting incident at the Northbound Terminal in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City, on Friday, March 12, that killed a relative of convicted drug lord Jose Kim “Boy” Cuadra.Maj. Richard Fajarito, Police Station 3 chief, said they have no witnesses and suspects yet on the killing of Lino Cuadra, 62, of Purok Sigay, Barangay 2.Cuadra was supposed to meet a female friend at the terminal when he was waylaid and shot by unidentified suspects who were on board a red Toyota Innova.“We’re having a hard time in our investigation because we have no witnesses, unless they will surface so we can identify the gunman,” Fajarito said.He said that the victim was a “close relative” of Boy Cuadra, whose so...

The worsening economic situation in the country makes the workers the “biggest losers,” labor leader Wennie Sancho said Sunday, March 14.“The labor sector are among the biggest losers, as factories and plants are closing. A falling peso in terms of purchasing power robs the Filipino workers of their income as more business companies closed shop, resulting in shattered lives,” Sancho, secretary-general of the General Alliance of Workers Association, said.He said that more workers have lost their jobs and faith in a government that could not provide them with employment opportunities.“Workers are moving from high-paying jobs into lower-paying jobs which contribute less in income taxes. The worsening economic situation is compounded by a deepening crisis in agriculture due to libe...

BCPO photoPolice operatives recovered more than P500,000 worth of illegal drugs and arrested two suspects, including a high-value individual, during a buy-bust operation at Barangay 2, Bacolod City, Saturday night, March 13.Police identified the suspects as high-value individual Mark Dayon, 29, and street-level individual Rose Chavez, 27.Based on the police report, the two yielded 15 sachets of suspected shabu weighing 75 grams with an estimated market value of P525,000.They also yielded the marked money and several non-drug items during the bust.The two are now detained at Police Station 2 and will be facing drug charges.*

Screen grabbed from Aksyon Radyo Bacolod FB liveA 62-year-old man was gunned down by unidentified suspects at the Bacolod-Talisay North Terminal in Bacolod City Friday night, March 12.Police identified the victim as Lino Cuadra of Purok Sigay, Barangay 2. He died on the spot after he succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.Major Richard Fajarito, commander of Police Station 3, said the victim was supposed to meet a lady friend at the terminal when he was waylaid and shot by unidentified suspects who were on board a Toyota Innova.He said police beat patrollers at the terminal ran after the suspects, who quickly fled after the incident.“It was quick. They were not able to determine if how many were the perpetrators since it was already dark and raining,” he said.He said ...