Negros Oriental

Queenie Roda Futalan,*NORSU photoQueenie Roda Futalan, a magna cum laude graduate of Negros Oriental State University, achieved a perfect score of 800 on her first attempt at the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), placing her in the 99+ percentile, NORSU announced on Friday, June 12.Futalan is an alumna of the Pharmacy Department under NORSU's College of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences (CNPAHS).The NMAT is a standardized examination required for admission to all medical schools in the Philippines.NORSU, in  a Facebook post, said  Futalan’s academic excellence spans her entire college career.She has been a Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) scholar, a consistent dean's lister, and an active student l...

The Negros Oriental provincial government is returning to a standard five-day work week, officially lifting the four-day Compressed Work Week (CWW).The transition back to regular government hours, mandated under Executive Order No. 38, Series of 2026, issued by Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria, takes effect today, June 8.Under the new directive, all departments and offices under the provincial government are ordered to revert to the standard schedule. Officials and employees are required to report for work from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to ensure public services are fully available throughout regular operational hours.The CWW was originally implemented under Executive Order No. 28 as an energy conservation measure, in line with the Office of the President's...

A farmer  tagged as the Negros Island Region’s No. 1 most wanted person for the alleged rape of a minor was arrested in Sitio Layawan II, Barangay Bago, Tayasan, Negros Oriental, on Saturday, June 6.Operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) arrested as alias "Jim," 42 of  Sitio Layawan II by virtue of a warrant of arrest for four counts of rape.The PRO NIR said  the suspect allegedly sexually assaulted the minor on several occasions while she was tending to his goats.He reportedly threatened to kill the victim and her parents if she disclosed what he did  to anyone.The suspect was turned over to the Tayasan Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and custodial disposition.*

Policemen at a school in Ayungon, Negros Oriental.*PRO NIR photoThe Philippine National Police is deploying 1,612 personnel across the Negros Island Region to ensure the safety of students and teachers for the opening of classes on Monday, June 8.Officers will be stationed at public and private schools, major thoroughfares, transportation terminals, and pedestrian crossings to maintain order and provide immediate assistance, the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) assured on Saturday.These personnel will staff Police Assistance Desks and conduct foot and mobile patrols in support of Balik Eskwela 2026 activities, it said.The PRO NIR added that teams will assist in traffic management, monitor high-density student areas, and coordinate closely with school au...

Two men listed among the most wanted persons at the regional level were arrested in separate manhunt operations in Negros Oriental on Friday, June 5.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said the No. 3 regional most wanted person was arrested in Brgy. Kalamtukan, Bayawan City.Police identified the accused as alias “Ontoy,” 31, single, and a resident of Purok 2, Brgy. Kalamtukan.The Bayawan City Police Station arrested him by virtue of a warrant for rape in relation to Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.Police said no bail was recommended for the case.In San Jose, police also arrested the No. 7 regional most wanted person during an Oplan Tracker operation in Brgy. Tapon Norte.The accus...

The arrest in Pamplona, Negros Oriental,* PRO NIR photoSearch warrant operations conducted by police led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of unlicensed firearms, ammunition, and illegal drugs in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, the Philippine National Police Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) reported Friday, June 5.In Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, joint operatives from the Cadiz City Police Station, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOcPPO), and the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU NIR) raided a residence in Hacienda Tagud, Barangay Luna, on Thursday, June 4.The operation, launched by virtue of a search warrant for violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), resulted in the arrest of a 41-year-old construct...

 A red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) attack on  sugarcane* National Crop Protection Center photoRed-Striped Soft Scale Insects have hit  1,788.93 hectares  of standing sugarcane in Negros and Panay affecting 869 farmers in 172 barangays,  a  Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) report showed  Thursday, June 4.Negros Occidental is the hardest-hit accounting for 1,586.90 hectares,  followed by  Negros Oriental 134.20 hectares,  Iloilo-  45.80 hectares and  Capiz 22.03 hectares.The scale insect saps vital nutrients from the standing canes, threatening to severely stunt crop growth and diminish sugar  yields.In Central and Northern  Negros Occidental,  880.01 hectares are currently affected, disrupting 324 far...

Police in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, seized nearly PHP7 million worth of suspected shabu on May 16.*NORPPO photoPolice in Negros Oriental seized approximately PHP8.4 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested 65 suspected drug personalities during enhanced anti-illegal drug operations in May, a police official said Wednesday, June 3.Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said the accomplishments resulted from relentless operations ordered by police director Col. Timmar Alam."The biggest of the drug haul is the incident in Zamboanguita town, where the suspect is a 'repeat offender,' previously serving a jail term before he was released due to some technicalities," Polinar said.NOrPPO records showed that ...

A high-value individual and a street-level suspect  were arrested in a joint buy-bust operation in Lazi, Siquijor, on Monday, June 1.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said the operation was conducted in Brgy. Simacolong by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Siquijor and Lazi Municipal Police Station.The suspects were identified as alias “Ric,” 46, a fisherman and resident of Brgy. Simacolong, and alias “Ar,” 23, jobless and resident of Brgy. Catamboan, Lazi.Authorities seized about five grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P34,000.Also recovered during the operation were a belt bag, weighing scale, cellular phone, scissors, improvised tooter, Click motorcycle, and P1,000 buy-bust money.Police said the suspects are now ...