Negros Oriental

The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) has authorized the transfer of Certificate of Candidacy (COC) filing venues in several local government units (LGUs) to accommodate the expected surge in aspirants for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR regional election director, said in an interview Friday, Sept. 18, that COC filing is typically handled by the Office of the Election Officer in each town or city.However, he said larger venues have been designated in some areas in anticipation of the number of candidates who will file their COCs.“The Office of the Election Officer is not suitable to accommodate the large number of potential candidates; that is why we have to look for a venue with...

A Negros Oriental police officer was formally promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel during an oath-taking and donning of ranks ceremony in Bacolod City on Thursday, Sept. 17.Lt. Col. Nelson Lamoco, acting chief of the Provincial Police Strategic Management Unit of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, received his new rank during the ceremony at Maringal Hall, Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Brgy. Estefania.Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region Director Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales led the ceremony attended by members of the regional command and staff, police personnel and Lamoco’s family.PRO-NIR said Lamoco’s promotion recognized his service, performance and qualifications while giving him greater leadership responsibilities in the police organization....

 Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales, director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), talks to reporters during a meet and greet event at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Jr. in Bacolod City, Wednesday.*PRO-NIR photo Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales, director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), underscored the shared mission of the police and the media in serving the public, but urged the latter to always hold the Philippine National Police accountable."But partnership does not mean that you stop asking difficult questions. Quite the opposite. Ask us. Challenge us. Hold us accountable," Reales said during his meet and greet with reporters at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Jr. in Bacolod City Wednesday night.The PRO-NIR chief, who assumed the post on Sept. 7, said th...

Lt. Col. Ian Paul Arapols has assumed office as the new acting chief of police of the Guihulngan City Police Station in Negros Oriental following a turnover ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 16.Arapols succeeded Lt. Col. Nerito Lobrido, the outgoing officer-in-charge of the city police station, according to the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.The turnover ceremony was held at the Guihulngan City Police Station in Brgy. Poblacion and was attended by Negros Oriental acting police director Col. Jonathan Abella, Deputy Provincial Director for Administration Lt. Col. Joeson Parallag, and Guihulngan City Mayor Filomeno “Mikoy” Reyes.During the ceremony, Lobrido formally relinquished his post and transferred the office symbol and documents covering the station’s existing operation...

Police in Negros Oriental seized more than P830,000 worth of suspected shabu and arrested 26 wanted persons in separate operations from Sept. 8 to 14.The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office said 14 anti-illegal drug operations resulted in the seizure of 122.097 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P830,259.60.Police operations involved two individuals classified as high-value individuals and 12 street-level individuals.NOrPPO also reported the arrest of 26 wanted persons during the week, including one provincial-level most wanted person and three city or municipal-level most wanted persons.Twenty-two others classified as other wanted persons were also arrested.In its campaign against loose firearms, police conducted 10 operations and accounted for 11...

The water flow in Calaon City being monitored on Tuesday*Canlaon City DRRMO photoAt least 167 residents in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental preemptively fled their homes Tuesday  as heavy rains triggered lahar flows along the slopes of Kanlaon Volcano, an Office of Civil Defense official  said Wednesday, Sept. 16.The OCD has requested the Negros Occidental provincial government to assist with a drone survey of areas around the volcano to check for artificial damming caused by accumulated volcanic debris, OCD Negros Island Region Director Donato Sermeno III said.Sermeno warned that a collapse of possible  temporary debris blockages   under mounting water pressure, could unleash deadly flash floods.He compared the threat to disasters in Nepal, wh...

DOT-NIR Concurrent Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez,*Ronnie Baldonado photoTourism receipts in the Negros Island Region increased to P32.40 billion in 2025 despite a decline in tourist arrivals, prompting the Department of Tourism to push for a regional strategy focused on longer stays, higher visitor spending and interconnected destinations.DOT-NIR Concurrent Regional Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez presented the region’s tourism outlook during the 2nd Negros Occidental Tourism Summit at STI West Negros University in Bacolod City on Wednesday, Sept. 16.Rodriguez said the challenge for the newly established region is to turn its existing tourism assets into a competitive regional economy that is connected, compelling, high-value and resilient.“A competitive...

A 27-year-old motorcycle rider died after crashing into the rear of a truck parked along the national highway in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, late Tuesday night, Sept. 15.The Kabankalan City police identified the victim only as  “Jojo,” a resident of Brgy. 2, Himamaylan City.The road incident happened at around 11:30 p.m. in front of Jeamac Diagnostic Center in Sitio Mohon, Brgy. Binicuil.Police said a Fuso truck driven by alias “Jay,” 27, was traveling from Dumaguete City toward Bacolod City when its driver temporarily parked along the roadside to take a coffee break.The truck’s hazard lights were reportedly activated while it was parked.The truck driver told investigators that he saw the approaching motorcycle being driven in an apparently unstable manner ...

A 42-year-old man classified by police as a high-value drug suspect was arrested while about P738,480 worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation in Valencia, Negros Oriental, on Monday, Sept. 14.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspect only as alias “Dondon,” a resident of Brgy. Cadawinonan, Dumaguete City.The operation was conducted in Purok 1, Brgy. Balugo, by personnel of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office’s Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and Provincial Intelligence Unit, with support from the Valencia police in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.Police said the operation stemmed from intelligence reports that the suspect was allegedly involved in distributing illegal drugs in Dumaguete City, Ba...

The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region served a show cause order on a motorist in Dumaguete City over an alleged reckless driving incident that circulated on Facebook.LTO-NIR said Monday, Sept. 14, that its Intelligence and Investigation Unit served the order after the incident was brought to the agency’s attention through the social media post.The respondent was directed to submit a written explanation and appear before the LTO Dumaguete District Office.The agency did not immediately disclose further details of the alleged incident or the identity of the motorist.LTO-NIR said the show cause order forms part of its enforcement of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.The issuance of the order does not by itself determine liability a...