Negros Oriental

Negros Oriental Governor Manuel Sagarbarria (right) meets with police officials during a pre-disaster assessment in Dumaguete City on Thursday.*PNA/Mary Judaline Flores Partlow photo  Negros Oriental suspended government work and all classes on Thursday and Friday as the province prepares for Tropical Storm Basyang's expected arrival.Governor Manuel Sagarbarria said the provincial disaster council is preparing for a worst-case scenario, with manpower, food packs, and equipment prepositioned.During a council meeting on Thursday, he clarified that the province cannot mandate private sector closures.“Our authority is just limited to the government. Thus, it is up to the management of the private sector companies and establishments to make the decision ...

Twenty transport workers face administrative sanctions after confirmatory tests validated positive drug results following a surprise "Oplan Harabas" operation conducted in Dumaguete City last week. Of the 193 workers screened during the January 29 operation, the confirmed cases include 14 truck drivers, one truck helper, one jeepney driver, three tricycle drivers, and one e-trike driver. The final findings will serve as the formal basis for penalties under existing regulations, the Land Transportation Office – Negros Island Region (LTO-NIR) said on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Similar inter-agency operations will continue to help ensure road safety and keep public transport free from illegal drugs, the LTO- NIR said.*

PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay and PCol. Timmar J. Alam (l-r) at the assumption of office ceremony*The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) installed PCol. Timmar J. Alam as the new officer-in-charge of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) during an assumption of office ceremony held on Monday, February 2.The transition, conducted at Camp Lt. Col. Francisco C. Fernandez Jr. in Barangay Agan-an, Sibulan in Negros Oriental was presided over by PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas C. Ibay, Regional Director of PRO NIR, and attended by key provincial and city officials.Alam was previously the PRO NIR Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division head.Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel "Chaco" L. Sagarbarria and Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel "Chiqui...

A man was arrested after police recovered a stolen motorcycle in Dumaguete City, recently.The male suspect was found in possession of a red Honda Click 125 motorcycle, the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) reported on Sunday, Jan. 18.The PNP-HPG said the arrest was made on Jan. 13 after a private complainant reported seeing the stolen motorcycle at a gasoline station in the city.Personnel from PHPT Negros Oriental, with support from the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office and Dumaguete City Police Station, responded to the report.Police said the suspect failed to present documents proving ownership or a legitimate purchase of the motorcycle.Verification confirmed that the motorcycle matched records of a unit reported stolen several months ea...

Police recovered cartons of suspected illegal cigarettes worth an estimated P75,000 in Brgy. Lo-oc, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Thursday night, Jan. 8.The Dumaguete City Police said the cartons were found at around 9:25 p.m. after the PNP Provincial Intelligence Unit, Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, and city police responded to an intelligence report.Verification of the report led to the recovery of cigarettes bearing unauthorized tax seals and without the required graphic health warning labels.Authorities said the items are considered contraband for violating Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.The recovered cigarettes were brought to the Dumaguete City Police Station for proper documentation and disposal.*

Police arrested two regional-level most wanted persons in separate operations in Negros Oriental for rape-related offenses and murder, on Tuesday, Jan. 7.The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office said a suspect ranked No. 7 in the regional most wanted list was arrested at around 4:04 p.m. in Brgy. 3, Siaton town.Police said the arrest was conducted by the Siaton Municipal Police Station with support from the 5th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion–NIR.The suspect is facing five counts of attempted qualified rape of a minor and one count of acts of lasciviousness based on warrants issued by the Family Court Branch 13 in Dumaguete City on Jan. 6.Authorities said the court recommended a total bail of P780,000 for the charges.In a separate operation, ...

A backhoe removes debris after a landslide in Bindoy, Negros Oriental on Saturday* Bindoy DRRMO photoA woman died and several others were affected by flooding in some Negros Oriental towns due to extreme weather conditions that triggered moderate to heavy rainfall over the weekend, authorities said on Monday, Dec. 5.Capt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), said the fatality, 58, was a resident of Sitio Bay-ang in Barangay Tabon, Vallehermoso.Her remains were found at a sugarcane field in Sitio Bay-ang around 5:50 p.m. Saturday, as reported by village councilor Randy Cadorna.Investigation showed the victim attempted to cross a creek to follow her husband, who left to secure their livestock. She was carried downstream by st...

Police seized more than ₱1.02 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested a high-value individual during a buy-bust operation in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on Friday, Jan. 2.The Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region said operatives of the Dumaguete City Police Station conducted the operation at Purok 7, Diversion Road, Brgy. Batinguel.Police identified the suspect as alias “Melsac,” 46, married, and a resident of Purok Santan, Barangay Taclobo, Dumaguete City.Authorities said the operation was launched after a confidential informant reported that the suspect was actively selling illegal drugs in the area.Police added that validation revealed the suspect had a previous arrest for illegal drug-related offenses.During the operation, police recovered a sachet ...

A portion of the PHP143 million worth of suspected shabu confiscated in Negros Oriental for 2025*Police in Negros Oriental seized over PHP143 million worth of suspected shabu in 516 operations this year, a provincial officer said Tuesday, Dec. 30.Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office spokesperson Capt. Stephen Polinar said 541 individuals were arrested, including 66 high-value targets.“This year, we have observed that shabu is being distributed in larger quantities, compared to previous times when it was sold in smaller amounts. In some instances, police seized about a kilogram or more from just one buy-bust operation,” Polinar told the Philippine News Agency.He attributed the trend to increased demand, with the drugs commonly sourced from Cebu and Manila. Dumag...

A total of 248 individuals underwent random drug testing during a series of coordinated search and seizure operations conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in three detention facilities in Negros Oriental this December.The operations were carried out by the PDEA Regional Office–Negros Island Region through its Negros Oriental Provincial Office as part of efforts to keep jails drug-free.At the Bayawan District Jail, 97 individuals were tested during the operation on Dec. 10, composed of 50 Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel and 47 persons deprived of liberty.In Mabinay Municipal Jail, 59 individuals were subjected to random drug testing on Dec. 12, including 32 BJMP personnel and 27 detainees.In Manjuyod District Jail, 92 individuals underwent dru...