Marchel P. Espina

A senior citizen was killed when a vehicle rammed into her house in Bais City, Negros Oriental, Wednesday, February 10.Killed was 64-year-old Milagros Jueves.Chief Master Sgt. Edelberto Euroba III, public information officer of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said the vehicle driven by 38-year-old Levi Garsula of Barangay Sab-ahan, rammed into the house of the elderly victim after he lost control of it.The brake of the vehicle malfunctioned, he said.The victim was feeding her pigs when she was hit by the vehicle. Her legs were severed and was immediately brought to the Bais City District Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival, Euroba said.“After the incident, the driver immediately fled going to an unknown direction,” he added.*

City PIO photoBacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued an executive order, Wednesday night, February 10, suspending the celebration of the Bacolaodiat Festival and all revelries to usher in the Chinese New Year tomorrow, February 12, to curb the spread of coronavirus.This after BacoLaodiat Festival chair Oddette Ong-Gomez earlier said that they will forgo the holding of the 16th edition of the festival.In the EO, all activities and celebrations for the Chinese New Year in February are suspended, and that all permits/licenses issued prior to the order are deemed revoked, the mayor said.Leonardia said those who fail to follow the EO will face administrative and criminal sanctions.SENTIMENTALLeonardia, in a statement today, February 11, said it was with “mixed feelin...

There will be no BacoLaodiat Festival for the Year of the Ox.*BacoLaodiat Inc. photoThis year’s edition of the BacoLaodiat Festival will not push through to prevent the spread of coronavirus.The annual festival is held in Bacolod City to usher in the Chinese New Year, which falls on Friday, February 12, this year.BacoLaodiat Festival chair Oddette Ong-Gomez, in a statement today, February 10, said: “in consonance with the muted festival flares nationwide amid the global pandemic, the Board Members of the BacoLaodiat Inc. and the organizers of the BacoLaodiat Festival deem it proper to forgo the holding of the 16th BacoLaodiat Festival this Lunar year of the Metal Ox.”However, she pointed out that even without the fireworks displays and the spectacle of dragon and lion dance...

BCPO photoA man was killed on the spot while another was injured in a shooting incident at Barangay 2, Bacolod City, Tuesday night, February 9.Killed was 42-year-old Salvador “Badong” Regalado, while wounded was Glomer Mampag, 39, of Passi City, Iloilo.Based on the initial police investigation, Regalado was talking to bystanders in the area when he was shot multiple times by motorcycle-riding suspects, who fled after the shooting.The victim was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.The nurse attending to Regalado recovered a sachet containing suspected shabu, a pentel pen, and coins from his pocket.Mampag, who was at the scene, was also hit by a stray bullet on the left side of his abdomen, and was ...

File photoMembers of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod are asking the Department of Public Works and Highways for an explanation on the “never-ending construction and repair of roads” along the Circumferential Road near the Government Center.The resolution asking DPWH-Bacolod Engineering District Engineer Jaime Javellana to update the body in writing on the “repeated” construction works, which was authored by Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., was passed during the SP regular session today, February 10.In the resolution, Gamboa said these road constructions or repairs are causing traffic congestion along the Circumferential Road and compromises motorists’ safety.In another resolution, the SP also requested the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to update the body...

San Carlos LGU file photoThe border between San Carlos City in Negros Occidental and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental has been open for months now.This was confirmed today, February 9, by San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo, who said that residents from Negros Oriental could enter the province through the San Carlos-Vallehermoso border since last year.This is contrary to the earlier statement of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson that the borders between Negros Occidental and Oriental remain closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.The mayors of Negros Occidental have also opposed the reopening of the borders.But Gustilo said that the city has withdrawn its border checkpoints and realigned its forces to focus on curbing the local virus transmission inside the city.He p...

Bayan-Negros photoMilitant groups in Negros Occidental renewed their call to junk the Anti-Terror Law today, February 9.The groups led by BAYAN Negros and Karapatan trooped to the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City for an indignation rally as the oral arguments on the Anti-Terrorism Act were being heard at the Supreme Court.The progressive groups reiterated that the measure will continue to silence government critics and dissent.Danilo Ramos, chairperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said at least three farmers, including a sugar worker from Escalante City, were killed since January this year and several others were slapped with trumped-up charges as a result of the government's continuing implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Law.Ramos claimed that such killings...

A former member of the Civilian Armed Auxiliary (CAA) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines was shot dead in Barangay Trinidad, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Sunday, February 7.Police identified the victim as 45-year-old Lander Garde.The victim was walking towards his neighbor’s house when he was waylaid and shot at by four unidentified suspects, who were wearing black jackets with hoods and caps, the police said.The assailants then fled to the mountainous part of the barangay, while the victim was rushed to the Guihulngan City Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.Recovered from the scene were 14 fired cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol and one fired cartridge of a 9mm caliber pistol.In another development, a 40-year-old man was gunned down at Barangay...

PDEA photoAgents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Occidental arrested nine people during a buy-bust operation at a suspected drug den at Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, on Sunday, February 7.Arrested were drug den “maintainer” Ramil Infante, Joel Benjamin, Sunshine Naingue, Stephen Dalia, Rodel Espuerta, John Lyn Gumata, Jake Pitalla, Jobert Apel and Evalyn Jauod.Shey Tanaleon, PDEA-6 information officer, said that 14 sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, and the buy-bust money were confiscated from the suspects during the operation.The suspects are now facing drug charges.*