Mark L. Garcia

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...

A household helper and a painter who tried to rescue her died after being electrocuted at a house at Purok Daisy, Brgy. Talacagay, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, on Thursday morning, July 17.The victims were identified as Jornalyn Omaque, 36, a house helper from Brgy. Bongalonan, Basay, Negros Oriental, and Florante Janoy, 40, a painter from Brgy. Talacagay,Maj. Jaynick Bermudez, Hinoba-an Police Chief, said Omaque was hanging laundry at the residence of her employer, Kenny Villanueva, when she accidentally touched a clothesline that had come into contact with an exposed live electrical wire.Janoy, who was nearby, rushed to help her but was also electrocuted after grabbing the same clothesline.Both victims were immediately brought to the Eleuterio Decena Memorial Hospital, w...

The newly created Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Negros Island Region (PDEA-NIR) kicked off its operations arresting three persons, including a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) kagawad, in separate anti-drug operations in Siquijor and Negros Occidental.Records from PDEA showed that joint operatives from PDEA-NIR Siquijor Provincial Office and local police arrested a 23-year-old SK councilor, alias “Lhemar,” in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Ibabao, Siquijor, Siquijor, on Monday, July 14.Confiscated from him were two sachets of suspected shabu weighing approximately 0.15 grams, a mobile phone, a motorcycle, and marked buy-bust money.A day later, alias “Arco,” 43, unemployed, and alias “Benjie,” 47, a tricycle driver were arrested in a similar operation in Zone 1, Jacinto Street, Brg...

A heated argument during a drinking session between three cousins in Brgy. Mansablay, Isabela, Negros Occidental, turned violent, leaving two of them injured on Wednesday night, July 16.Involved in the fight were alias “Abel,” 34, and alias “Ben,” 40, who were injured, and alias “Joe,” 36, all of Brgy. Mansablay.The trio were drinking alcohol at around 8:45 p.m. when a verbal altercation escalated, Lt. Idelfonso Leonardo, Isabela Deputy Police Chief, said.Ben allegedly hacked Abel on the head with a bolo, and in retaliation, Joe struck and hacked Ben on the shoulder.Abel was brought to the Ignacio Lacson Arroyo Memorial District Hospital, while Ben, who sustained a minor injury, and Joe were taken into police custody.Police said that all three later agreed to a settleme...

A 5-year-old boy was found dead in a well near his home in Sitio Bita, Brgy. Suay, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, July 15. Rence, 5, was discovered by his father, Reymart Medez, at around 6 p.m. while searching for the child who had gone missing hours earlier, the police said.Initial investigation by the Himamaylan City Police Station revealed that Rence was last seen playing near the well around noon.When his father decided to check the water source later that afternoon, he found the boy floating face down.Medez immediately pulled his son from the well and rushed him to the Governor Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead.The child’s remains were later brought to Soledad Funeral Homes and a post-mortem examination has b...

A delivery rider on his way home died after he crashed into the center island along Mabini Street in Brgy. Zone 15, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Monday,  July 14.The 38-year-old rider was reportedly headed home to Bacolod City when he lost control of his motorcycle and slammed into the concrete island in the middle of the road, Maj. Rhazl Jim Jocson, Talisay Deputy Police Chief, said on Wednesday.Due to the strong impact, the victim suffered serious head and body injuries.He was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod where he was declared dead.*

Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director*The man who allegedly pointed a gun and mauled a civilian in front of police officers in Bacolod City has been charged, while three police officers, including a station commander, remain under investigation  for apparent inaction during the incident.Col. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director,  confirmed during a press conference on Wednesday, July 16, that the suspect has been charged with grave threats and slight physical injuries at the City Prosecutor’s Office.The charges stem from a confrontation along Gonzaga Street in Brgy. 27, in the early morning of July 9.The incident began when the victim reportedly shouted at someone else, but the suspect, thinking it was directed at him, confronted the victim.The...