Marchel P. Espina

The mayor of Moises Padilla has stopped cockfighting activities in her town as it has been gathering audiences and participants from other localities.Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo in a December 16 letter to Ma. Leonor Canje, proprietor of the JGA Memorial Sports Arena in the town, said that the cockfighting activity in their arena every week since November has gathered audiences and participants within and outside their municipality.“The resumption of cockfighting operations is part of our government's recovery plan since this pandemic also affected our economy, but the operation is still depending on the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases,” she said.According to government guidelines for areas under modified general community quarantine,...

Paniqui PNP photoNegrense netizens have expressed their outrage after a policeman was caught on video killing an unarmed elderly mother and her son on Sunday, December 20, at Paniqui, Tarlac.The video, that was making rounds on social media today, December 21, detailed how the confrontation between neighbors led to the killing of Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son, Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25.Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, 46, who was assigned at the Parañaque City Police Crime Laboratory, went to the house of the victims following a noise complaint, which quickly escalated into a heated argument.As seen in the video, the mother held her son tightly to prevent him from confronting the policeman, whose minor-daughter also joined the commotion.The policeman asked the vi...

Screen grabbed from the video of the incident that is making rounds in social media.A policeman shot dead his two neighbors, a mother and a son, at Paniqui, Tarlac on Sunday, December 20.The fatalities were identified as Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son, Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25.Based on the initial investigation, Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, 46, who was assigned at the Parañaque City Police Crime Laboratory, got into a confrontation with the victims in their house, then shot them in the heads at point-blank range.This happened in front of the policeman's minor daughter, as seen in the video that is making rounds on social media.Mugshot of Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca, the policeman who killed Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio in Paniqui,...

Two men died while two others were injured in separate shooting and hacking incidents in Negros Occidental today, December 20.The first incident happened at Hacienda Guinsang-an in Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City, past midnight.Killed was Fernando Marcelino, 36, of Tibao, Antique, who succumbed to multiple hacked wounds. He expired five hours after the incident.Joemar Canarias, 33, and Rayan Eria, 33, meanwhile, sustained gunshot wounds.Police identified the suspects as Warren Delicana, 33, and Edmond Moratas, 38, both of Barangay Luna, Cadiz City, who were arrested later. They are now in police custody.In Himamaylan City, tricycle driver Ricky Morales, 52, of Barangay 3, was shot to death by unidentified suspects along the national highway in Barangay 4 at about 2:35 a.m...

A septuagenarian was hacked to death by two unidentified suspects inside his home at Barangay San Agustin in Isabela town, Negros Occidental, Saturday night, December 19.Killed was 79-year-old Rodolfo Galay, a laborer.Based on the police investigation, the victim was assaulted by two unidentified men with a cane cutter, who escaped onboard a motorcycle.The victim, who sustained multiple hacked wounds, was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead.Police are still investigating the motive of the incident.*

A 31-year-old man was found dead at Barangay Zone 16 in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, early Friday morning, December 18.The fatality was identified as Fernando Manapo of Hda. Santa Maria in Barangay Zone 16, a police report said.Residents called the police after they found a motorcycle in the canal.When the police responded, they also discovered the body of Manapo.Police investigation showed that the driver might have fallen asleep while driving his motorcycle then fell into the canal, which caused serious physical injuries that led to his death.*

A sexagenarian who was allegedly carrying a gun was arrested at a police checkpoint in Barangay Talacagay, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, Saturday, December 19.Nabbed was Marlon Aliguin, 65, of Barangay 1, Hinoba-an.A police report showed that the suspect was on board a tricycle and the policemen at the checkpoint saw the handle of the gun, which was tucked in his waist, protruding.The suspect yielded a revolver loaded with five live 9mm ammunition without a serial number. He also failed to present the pertinent documents for the firearm, police report showed.The suspect is now detained at the police station.*

Two unidentified suspects robbed a delivery van driver at gunpoint at Barangay Tapi in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, Friday night, December 18.The victim, identified as Noel Bañares, 44, of Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City, was collecting payment for his delivery in the area when the two perpetrators approached him, a police report said.The suspects pointed an improvised shotgun at him and declared a hold-up. They then grabbed his bag containing an undetermined amount of cash.The robbers, who wore black jackets and masks, fled from the scene onboard a motorcycle.The incident was reported to the Kabankalan police four hours after it happened, the report said.*

Senator Risa Hontiveros. Photo from senate.gov.phEight senators are seeking an investigation into the spate of brutal killings in the country, including the murder of a Guihulngan City health officer and her husband.Senator Risa Hontiveros, in Senate Resolution 599 that was filed today, December 18, said: “This attack is only one of the many horrific killings in the country, legitimized by an administration that has distorted the meaning of human rights.”Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan, who was also the local Inter-Agency Task Force incident commander, and her husband Edwin Sancelan, a local government employee, were on their way home when they were shot dead by an unidentified suspect on December 15.Dr. Sancelan was number one on the hit list of local anti-communist vigilante group...