Marchel P. Espina

Photo from BACIWA-PrimeWater FBA consumers’ group slammed the Bacolod City Water District-PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. today, March 2, for its “inadequate" service.Water Watch, a local advocacy group protecting the rights of the consumers, has expressed alarm over “the resurgence of our perennial water woes like turbid water, inadequate water supply, lack of pressure that limits water supply like a drop in the bucket.”Wennie Sancho of Water Watch, in a statement today, said: “We cannot save water at night because there is no water at all. We are again hounded by the same problems that PrimeWater promised to solve when it tied the knot with BACIWA in the so-called joint venture.”Following the joint venture, PrimeWater, which was owned by the Villar family, took over the o...

BCPO photoThe Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) anti-criminality operations resulted in the recovery of P1.76 million worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of 19 suspects in one week.A BCPO accomplishment report said that 15 buy-bust operations were conducted from February 22 to 28, which led to the seizure of 258.977 grams of shabu worth P1.761 million.The operations also led to the arrest of 19 persons, two high-value individuals and 17 street-level individuals. The suspects have been charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office.In the campaign against wanted persons the BCPO arrested 13 suspects, while nine persons were nabbed for illegal gambling, during the same period.For lo...

Screen grabbed from BFP-BacolodThe Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) kicked off Fire Prevention Month today, March 1.Bacolod Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi said many fire incidents are recorded during the summer, so they are doing everything to promote awareness and consciousness on fire safety.He said that fire safety is not only the concern of the BFP but the public as well.“We’re calling the cooperation of the people…we can’t work efficiently without their support and help,” he added.The opening salvo kicked off with the simultaneous blowing of horns of fire trucks all over Negros Occidental, including Bacolod, followed by a motorcade around the major thoroughfares, that was participated in by stakeholders, local government units, and volunteer fire brigade...

Calatrava PNP photoA policeman who was assigned in Toboso, Negros Occidental, was gunned down in the mountainous area of Barangay Patun-an in Calatrava Saturday night, February 27.Killed was Police Staff Sgt. John Daniel Gotera, 37, of the Toboso Police Station, and a resident of Barangay Buluangan, San Carlos City.The police officer was walking along the barangay road when he was waylaid by an unidentified suspect who shot him twice in the head, a police report said.The victim was rushed to the San Carlos City Hospital where he was pronounced dead.Recovered from the crime scene was one fired cartridge of a .45 caliber pistol.The Calatrava police have yet to establish the motive of the killing.Capt. Kenneth Paul Magan, Toboso police chief, said they are also con...

BCPO photoSix persons, including “Peter Pan,” were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in Bacolod City that led to the recovery of P1.47 million worth of drugs.Nabbed along Alijis Road in Barangay Alijis Thursday night, February 25, was 28-year-old Gino “Peter Pan” Inventor, a high-value individual, of Barangay 1.He sustained gunshot wounds after he resisted arrest.The suspect opened fire at policemen during the buy-bust operation, a police report said.Seized from his possession were the 12 sachets of suspected shabu worth P680,000, P5,000 in marked money, a .38 caliber revolver with three live ammunition and one fired cartridge, and other belongings.In another operation Thursday, street-level individual Romeo “Junior” Imperial Jr., 21, and Christian John “Jan-...

Photo from Frank CarbonLocal business groups were upbeat following their meeting with the top cop of Bacolod City, who assured them that the police will strengthen measures to prevent crimes.The meeting today, February 26, came after a series of shooting incidents in the city since the start of the year, which has alarmed the business sector.Present during the meeting with Col. Manuel Placido, Bacolod City police director, and Councilor Al Espino, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on police affairs today, February 26, were Frank Carbon and Roberto Montelibano, chief executive officer and president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, respectively, Fred Barcelona of the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., Roger Yap of the...

BAYAN Negros photoMilitant groups in Negros Occidental marked the 35th EDSA People Power anniversary today, February 25, with a protest in front of the Fountain of Justice at Araneta Street in Bacolod City.The groups led by BAYAN Negros marched through the major thoroughfares of the city, as they reiterated the call to continue the fight against the “tyrant.”They said, “35 years ago today, the Filipino people ousted a tyrant and until now EDSA remains a beacon of hope for all who resist tyranny.”“It is ironic that many of the issues hurled against the Marcos dictatorship are the same issues now hurled against (President Rodrigo) Duterte. Extreme hunger and poverty caused by the neoliberal policies in our economy,” they said.They stressed, “President Rodrigo Duterte is m...

BCPO photoMore than P200,000 worth of drugs were seized while three persons were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in Bacolod City, Wednesday, February 24.Nabbed in Barangay Singcang-Airport by operatives of the Police Station 8 Drug Enforcement Team was Eugene Pillada, 39, of Barangay 20.Confiscated from his possession were seven sachets of suspected shabu worth P207,000, and P2,000 in marked money.Meanwhile, John Paul Jovero, 35, and Adrian De la Peña, 39, were arrested in a drug bust at Barangay 27.Personnel of Police Station 4 seized five sachets of suspected shabu worth P6,800, P500 in marked money and P200 in cash proceeds.The suspects who are now in police custody are facing drug charges.*