Marchel P. Espina

Karapatan photoMembers of progressive groups trooped to the Hall of Justice in Bacolod City today, December 3, for a silent protest to call on the government to release political prisoners.“Amid the environment of extreme political persecution and criminal negligence of the Duterte regime, political prisoners in the Philippines continue to languish in jails because of trumped-up charges, political harassment and criminalization of political dissent,” said Clarizza Singson, secretary-general of Karapatan Negros, a human rights group.She said that there are 94 political prisoners in Negros Island who are languishing in different jails, adding that all of them were arrested under the Duterte administration.She claimed that the political prisoners were victims of trumped-up cha...

BCPO photoA septuagenarian was arrested by the police for alleged molestation of a neighbor’s minor-child in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City.Nabbed was 70-year-old Anastacio Mesa.Armed with an arrest warrant issued on October 14 by Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Maritess Gumahin, personnel of Police Station 3 swooped down on the house of the suspect to apprehend him today, December 3.In the police report, the suspect was charged for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, for an act of sexual intercourse of lascivious conduct with a child exploited in prostitution or subject to other sexual abuse when the victim was under 12 years of age.Cpl. Ian Joy Brinquez, the investigato...

Talisay PNP photoA man was shot dead at a sari-sari store near a mountain resort at Barangay Cabatangan in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, late Tuesday afternoon, December 1.Killed was construction worker Julieto Rosalem, 57, of Binalbagan town and was temporarily residing at a farm in the area.Initial police investigation showed that the victim was drinking beer at the store when he was shot by the suspects at the next table.According to a police report, the store owner said that the suspects asked him to change their P50 paper bill into coins. When he went inside, he heard two gunshots.The two unidentified suspects, between 30 to 40 years old, then fled from the scene. The tall one was wearing a gray jacket and brown shorts, while the short-built one was wearing a ye...

A court subpoena officer in Negros Oriental was shot to death by unidentified assailants in Barangay Poblacion, Tayasan town, late Tuesday afternoon, December 1.Killed was 57-year-old Roger Serna, a subpoena officer of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Tayasan and Jimalalud towns.Based on the initial investigation, Serna, onboard a motorcycle, was on his way home to Barangay Poblacion in Tayasan when he was tailed by motorcycle-riding suspects, Chief Master Sergeant Edilberto Euraoba III, public information officer of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said.The victim slowed down his motorcycle on reaching the corner of Ruperto and Balasabas streets, where he was shot several times by the suspects, he said.He died on the spot, while the unidentified perpetrato...

PeacePond photoOrganic farmer Jesus Antonio “Jet” Orbida is pushing for an easier way for growers to get certifications so they can sell their produce.Orbida took his oath virtually as small farmer representative for the Visayas to the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) for 2020-2023 today, December 1, before Agriculture Secretary William Dar.He succeeded Jerry Dionson from Bago City.Orbida, president of PeacePond Farmers Association that is based in Binalbagan town and winner of last year’s Regional Organic Agriculture Achievers’ Awards in the outstanding small farmer category, said that certification issues should be addressed as soon as possible.He talked to some organic farmers and found out that they have switched back to conventional farming due to certific...

BCPO photosThe Bacolod City Police Office held a symbolic candlelighting in the hope of ending the local communist armed struggle, Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, BCPO spokesperson, said today, December 1.He said the activity was a directive from the national headquarters and that the candlelighting on Monday, November 30, was done simultaneously by all police units around the country.In Bacolod, it was held at the San Sebastian Cathedral.Pico said that they lighted candles and the officiating priest prayed for them.“We prayed for the government’s campaign to end the local communist armed conflict,” he said.He added that “despite the programs and projects of the government against the armed struggle, sometimes, it needs divine intervention.”*

Ruel Bangoy photoA 34-year-old father was shot to death by an unidentified assailant in front of his minor son at Barangay Sta. Rosa in Murcia, Negros Occidental, Sunday night, November 29.Killed was Leonardo Garcia Jr., who was temporarily residing in the area.Based on the initial police investigation, the victim and his 10-year-old son were sitting outside the house of his mother when the suspect, on board a motorcycle, approached them and killed the father.The victim was rushed to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City where he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.Recovered from the crime scene were four fired cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol.Police are still investigating the motive of the killing.*

PRO-6 photoThe relief of Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan as Western Visayas police regional director is part of a massive revamp in the police force implemented by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Debold Sinas.This was confirmed by Lt. Col. Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, today, November 30, who said it was part of the regular movement of police officials holding key positions.Pamuspusan, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1988, will be assigned to Camp Crame as deputy director for PNP Directorate for Plans, she said.Pamuspusan will be replaced by Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda, who was the director of the Manila Police District, Malong said.Miranda, a member of PMA Class 1990, had also served in the defunct Negros Island Region Police Regional ...

CPG photosMembers of progressive groups in Negros Occidental trooped to the Fountain of Justice in Bacolod City today, November 30, to commemorate the 157th birthday of Gat Andres Bonifacio, Supremo of the Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK).The progressive groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)-Negros vowed to continue the revolutionary path of Bonifacio towards national democracy.“This Duterte regime continues to be a blatant puppet of imperialist forces. Our sovereignty is endangered by this regime's subservience to both the United States and China,” Bayan Negros said.“It is clear that Duterte and his ilk have turned their backs on the Filipino people and they are spitting at the legacy of Bonifacio. Our economic policies and our...

BCPO photoAn alleged “akyat-bahay” suspect was shot to death by an unidentified assailant in the wee hours of the morning today, November 30, in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.Killed was 17-year-old “alias RJ” of Barangay Villamonte.Based on the initial investigation, the victim was seen running in Purok Bayanihan at around 3:45 a.m. after several gunshots were heard.It was not known who shot the victim, who succumbed to several gunshot wounds.The minor-victim was a notorious “akyat-bahay” suspect, the police said.*