Mark L. Garcia

A 74-year-old woman was fatally stabbed near her home in Sitio Tala-tala, Brgy. Napacao, Siaton, Negros Oriental, on Saturday morning, July 19.The 74-year-old farmer of Sitio Tala-tala was stabbed by an unidentified person.She was rushed to the Cong. Lamberto Macias Memorial Hospital where she was declared dead.The stabbing incident occurred at about 8:45 a.m. near the victim’s nipa hut, where she had gone to prepare breakfast with her grandson, the police said.The grandson, who was sent to fetch water, told investigators that upon returning, he saw a man running toward his grandmother barefoot, wearing a black jacket and black pants.The man then stabbed the elderly woman in the chest and fled toward the nearby sugarcane plantation.Investigators are still determinin...

The Siquijor Police Provincial Office (PPO) ranked first in the Philippine National Police’s performance evaluation for Police Provincial and City Police Offices in the Negros Island Region for two consecutive months.Based on the Unit Performance Evaluation Rating (UPER) released by the Regional Plans and Programs Division of Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), Siquijor PPO recorded an 89.946 percent rating in April 2025 and 89.134 percent in May 2025, topping the list both months.Siquijor PPO was followed by the Bacolod City Police Office, Negros Occidental PPO, and Negros Oriental PPO.The UPER is a monthly assessment tool used by the PNP to measure the performance of its units in terms of crime prevention, operations, administrative management, and communit...

The body of a 30-year-old fisherman who went missing amid rough seas in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, was found Sunday morning, July 20, three days after he was reported missing.The victim was identified as Glen Francisco Trejero , 30, of Purok Crotons A, Barangay Old Sagay, Sagay City.Jorge Cabalag, operations and warning officer of the Sagay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said that the body was discovered by two  fishermen in the waters of Panal Reef, part of the Sagay Marine Reserve.The victim was last seen around 3 a.m. Thursday, July 17, by fellow fishermen.His motorized banca was later found drifting near Suyac Island in Sagay after strong winds and heavy rain.Cabalag said the fisherman’s family  identified the body.Initial ...

Search and recue operations.* photo courtesy of Provincial Administrator Rayfrando DiazA 12-year-old boy died after he suffered an epileptic episode and was swept away by strong currents while crossing an overflow in Sitio Mangahoykahoy, Brgy. Santol, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, Saturday morning, July 19.Capt. Joelan Vinson, Binalbagan Police Chief, said the incident happened around 7 a.m. amid heavy rains brought by Tropical Depression Crising.Initial investigation revealed that the boy and his mother were crossing the overflow when the victim’s bag slipped into the water.As he attempted to retrieve it, the child reportedly suffered a seizure and was carried away by the rushing current.He was rushed to the Ignacio Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela but was...

The drug bust in Barangay Marina, Binalbagan, on Sunday.*Law enforcement officers seized P1.7 million in suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Marina, Binalbagan, on Sunday, July 20.Authorities arrested a 65-year-old jobless resident of Barangay Marina, identified only as "Roming."Police reported that 250 grams of suspected shabu were seized from him.The police also arrested a high-value individual on the illegal drug watchlist and seized suspected shabu worth P408,000 in a buy-bust operation in Purok Maya, Barangay 16, Bacolod City, on Saturday night, July 19.The suspect, identified as "Cedrick," 30, a resident of Barangay 16, was apprehended by operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office.Police recovered around ...

The police arrested high-value individual on the illegal drug watchlist and seized suspected shabu worth P408,000 in a buy-bust operation in Purok Maya, Brgy. 16, Bacolod City, on Saturday night, July 19. The suspect, alias “Cedrick,” 30,  of Brgy 16,  was arrested by operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Bacolod City Police Office. The police recovered around 60 grams of suspected shabu. Cedrick is now facing charges for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.* 

Search operations were ongoing on Friday*Sagay DRRMO photoAuthorities continue to search for a 30-year-old fisherman who went missing off the coast of Sagay City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, July 17, amid rough sea conditions.Seaborne operations are ongoing after the fisherman's motorized boat was found drifting near Suyac Island, Jorge Cabalag, Operations and Warning Officer of the Sagay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said Friday.The missing fisherman is a resident of Barangay Old Sagay and was last seen by fellow fishermen around 3 a.m. Thursday.The incident occurred as strong winds and rainfall, brought about by an orange rainfall warning, battered northern Negros Occidental.Cabalag warned local fishermen to refrain from venturing ou...

The crash at the San Sebastian Cathedral sidewalk.*An alleged argument between a driver and his passenger led to an early Friday morning crash that left the San Sebastian Cathedral sidewalk and railings in Bacolod City damaged and a passenger injured.The incident occurred on Rizal Street when an MG ZS subcompact crossover veered off the road and collided with the metal barriers fronting the cathedral.Traffic investigators revealed that the driver lost control of the vehicle during the alleged argument with his female passenger.The SUV, which was traveling from Brgy. Villamonte towards Brgy. 26, sustained major engine damage in the crash. The city government-owned railings were also heavily damaged.The passenger sustained a forehead injury and was transported to the hosp...

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) seized an estimated P2.46 million worth of suspected shabu in a series of anti-illegal drug operations conducted from July 7 to 13. The BCPO operatives confiscated 362.2 grams of suspected shabu with  street value of P2,462,960. These came from 14 operations that also led to the arrest of 20 suspects, the BCPO reported. In their campaign against wanted persons, the Bacolod police  captured two persons on the most wanted list and eight other wanted suspects. BCPO’s intensified operations against illegal gambling resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals and the confiscation of P1,954 in bet money during six separate raids. Meanwhile, the city police’s efforts to curb the proliferation of loose firear...