Marchel P. Espina

Photos from Bilis Cadiz Ugyon Cadiznon FBThe Cadiz City government has opened its public park.Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., in an executive order issued on March 10, lifted the temporary closure of the Cadiz City Park and it will be open to the public with the observance of the basic health protocols.This includes the presentation of the Cadiz Contact Tracing System (CCTS) QR card upon entry, wearing of face mask and face shield, observation of social distancing at all times, and proper disposal of waste to the designated garbage bins, the EO said.The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the City Enforcement Unit personnel will be deployed to ensure that the basic health and safety protocols are enforced, it added.Persons or establishments violating the EO will face adm...

The provincial government of Negros Oriental has eased the requirements for its returning residents and travelers.Governor Roel Degamo issued an executive order on Wednesday, March 10, amending the previous order that requires mandatory Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests for locally stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipinos.The governor’s new order adopted national Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution No. 101, which sets uniform travel protocols for land, air and sea.Travelers are no longer required to present a negative RT-PCR result, the EO said, adding the guidelines shall be binding in all component cities and municipalities within the province.“Upon arrival, if a traveler manifests signs and s...

A resident of Sagay City was shot to death inside his home at Barangay Rizal Wednesday night, March 10.Police identified the fatality as 57-year-old Antonio “Boboy” Gallo.The victim was inside his house watching TV when the motorcycle-riding suspects arrived at his residence and shot him without any provocation, a police report said.The victim was hit on the right side of his jaw.The suspects fled in an unknown direction, while the victim was rushed to the Alfredo Marañon District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.Recovered from the crime scene was one deformed slug of an unknown firearm.Police have yet to establish the motive of the killing.*

An official of the Philippine Army urged activists in Negros Island to seek government help for protection if they feel there is a real threat on their lives.That was the reaction of Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, when sought for comment after local activists, who are vocal against the Duterte administration, said they received death threats early this week.Human rights group Karapatan, through its national public information desk, said it received a text message Sunday, March 7, that named the 10 activists in Negros Island alleged to be the next targets of the “Kill, kill, kill” program.Karapatan Negros claimed that the threats came from state forces, as they are the only ones who have the motive as shown by their relentless attacks and intimidation....

Photos from Silay Mayor Mark Golez FBThe Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office has intensified its campaign against rabies as it pushes for responsible pet ownership and a rabies-free community.Dr. Renante Decena, PVO head, led the launching of this year’s Rabies Awareness Month, with the theme “Maging Responsableng Amo Huwag Hayaang Gumala ang Alagang Pusa’t Aso,” in Silay City early this week. He was joined by Silay City Mayor Mark Golez and other local officials.During the launching, the PVO also distributed 40,000 doses of rabies vaccines for the local government units in the province and led an information education campaign about rabies at the Silay City Public Plaza covered court.Decena underscored proper dog care and responsible pet ownership for a rabies-f...

File photoTen activists in Negros Island, who are vocal against the Duterte administration, have received death threats following the government’s aggressive crackdown on dissenters, a human rights group claimed Tuesday, March 9.Karapatan, through its national public information desk, said it received a text message Sunday, March 7, that named the 10 activists alleged to be the next targets of the “Kill, kill, kill” program.The activists in the alleged “kill list” are:*Iver of Bacolod (believed to be Iver Larit of Kadamay Negros)*Butch of Bacolod (believed to be John “Butch” Lozande, secretary-general of National Federation of Sugar Workers)*Erning of Bacolod (believed to be Ereneo Longinos, spokesperson of Bayan Negros)*Clarissa of Bacolod (believed to be Clari...

Glazyl Masculino file photoThe Bacolod City Regional Trial Court voided the search warrants issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against the activists who were arrested in 2019.RTC Branch 41 acting presiding judge Ana Celeste Bernad, in her resolution dated February 18, said that the decision to quash the search warrants against John Milton Lozande, secretary-general of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), was because of the failure to describe the place to be searched.The voided search warrants were issued by Quezon City Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert in October 2019.Bernad said the search warrant “failed to describe the place with particularity for the manifest intention thereof is that the search shall be confined strictly to the place so ...

PAWSSion Project photoBacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an executive order creating an Animal Welfare Task Force.In the EO, that was signed on March 1 and released Monday, March 8, the mayor said the city recognizes the concerns of animal rights groups advocating responsible dog ownership and safeguarding the welfare of impounded animals in the City Dog Pound.There is a need to establish a task force aimed at identifying, reassessing and acting on animal welfare concerns in the city with the primary goal of ensuring responsible pet ownership, Leonardia said.The Bacolod City Animal Welfare-Task Force will be composed of Leonardia as chair, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran as co-chair, the city veterinarian as vice chair; and with members from the Bacolod City Police...

PDEA-6 photoAgents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 6 Special Enforcement Team dismantled a suspected drug den inside the Vendor’s Plaza in Barangay 12, Bacolod City Monday, March 8.The eight arrested individuals were identified as suspected drug den “maintainer” Jovie Bermudes, Danny Rodriquez, Brian Alison, Reynard Villamor, Hermel Taghoy, Roy Ageña, Jayhan Mission, and Joshua Cagalcal.The suspects yielded 10 grams of suspected shabu worth around P40,000 to P55,000, drug paraphernalia, and the buy-bust money.The team leader of the buy-bust operation, who only identified himself as “Agent Bamboo,” said the back part of the Vendor’s Plaza had been used by the suspects as a drug den for almost a year now.They earlier thought that these people were only us...