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The protesting drivers in Bacolod City on Monday.* Romeo Subaldo  photo  Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya assured protesting public transportation drivers on Monday, March 23, that he will raise their call for the equitable distribution of aid to all—amid soaring fuel prices—before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in order to find solutions. The drivers held a protest near the flyover at Barangay Bata in Bacolod City and a caravan to the Bacolod City Government Center, where their leaders held a dialog with Gasataya to air their grievances and seek his help. The Monday morning protest failed to totally cripple public transportation in Bacolod City, as modern and some traditional jeepneys...

The police have arrested two suspects in the killing of a 57-year-old Turkish national whose body was found in a sugarcane field in Brgy. Canlamay, Ilog, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, March 22.The victim, a resident of Brgy. Cabug, Bacolod City, was found lifeless at around 2 a.m. with fatal head injuries.Investigation showed the victim had been drinking with a female companion before the incident.Authorities said the victim was attacked while traversing a sugarcane field.The police arrested a 34-year-old male and a 35-year-old female, live-in partners and residents of the area.Investigators said the male suspect admitted to the killing and revealed the motive was robbery.The police said the crime was premeditated, with the female suspect luring the victim before th...

Police investigators are eyeing drug-related and political angles as possible motives in the fatal shooting of a Negros Occidental radio block timer on Friday.The victim, Julito Calo, 49, was standing outside his house on the side of the road in Sitio Kawayanan, Barangay Robles, La Castellana town, when a white SUV stopped and a passenger shot him in the head, causing his instantaneous death, the police said.PMaj. Romulo Gepilango, La Castellana police chief, said on Monday, March 23, that they are looking at possible drug-related , personal, and political angles in the killing of Calo.Calo was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation on Oct. 5, 2018, but was released after availing of a plea bargaining agreement, Gepilango said.They are looking for CCTV footage and witnesses ...

Sixteen Bacolodnon overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East have sought help from the city government to return home.City Administrator Mark Mayo on Monday, March 23, said more than 160 concerns have been raised at the Bacolod City OFW Help Desk.Only about 10 percent of these cases involve requests for repatriation, he noted.Mayo explained that most of the requests were for financial assistance because relatives abroad have had difficulty sending money home.The local government has submitted the names of the 16 OFWs requesting repatriation to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).Among those seeking a return to the Philippines is a woman in Bahrain battling cancer. She has already been contacted by the DMW.The city government also promised to provide fi...

The police investigating the Escalante shooting.* One person was killed while five others were injured in a shooting incident during a fiesta in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, early Sunday, March 22.Police identified the fatality as alias “Michael,” while the suspect was identified as alias “Jeofrey,” both residents of the area.Investigation revealed that the suspect earlier warned fiesta attendees that anyone causing trouble would be brought to his house.Authorities said the victim approached and punched the suspect, prompting the latter to draw a firearm and open fire.Five other individuals, including a minor, were hit during the shooting.All six victims were brought to the hospital, but Michael was declared dead.Police immediately launched a res...

Jennylind D. Cordero has been appointed DOT NIR Chief Tourism Operations Officer.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe Department of Tourism has appointed a Negrense to a key post at the DOT Negros Island Region office in Dumaguete CityJennylind D. Cordero, former Negros Occidental provincial tourism officer, has been appointed DOT NIR Chief Tourism Operations Officer.Cordero, a veteran in the field who previously served as the Chief Tourism Operations Officer for Regulations of DOT Western Visayas, brings extensive experience in managing accredited establishments and regional tourism recovery.Her new role is central to the tourism development and NIR's goal of institutionalizing tourism standards across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.Cordero is a Mass Communic...

The Army’s 3rd Infantry "Spearhead" Division (3ID) said on Monday, March 23, that the three rebels killed in an encounter in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, were high-ranking remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA). The rebels killed during a clash with troops from the 47th Infantry (Katapatan) Battalion in Sitio Santol, Barangay Tampalon, on Saturday were remnants of the dismantled NPA South West Front and the Regional Strike Force (RSF) under Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, the 3ID said in a statement. The 3ID identified the slain rebels as Ritchie Verano (alias Makoy and Akiro), 26, the vice commander of the NPA Regional Striking Force (RSF) and a resident of Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan City; Milky Sampini (alias Gorting), 27, the RSF finance and logistics officer and a resident of Brgy. La...

The beaches of Sipalay, Negros Occidental, all set for the summer..* Ronnie Baldonado photoThe weather bureau announced on Monday the termination of the northeast monsoon and the start of the warm and dry season.Generally fair weather will prevail across the country and gradually warmer days and isolated thunderstorms are expected, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.Some areas in Northern Luzon may still experience occasional northeasterly winds, it noted.The bureau, in a statement, urged the public to take precautionary measures to minimize heat stress and optimize the use of water for personal and domestic consumption.PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando said the bureau will continue to monitor and pr...

The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod is urging the national government to accelerate the development and implementation of renewable and alternative energy programs in response to rising global oil prices, Councilor Caesar Distrito said on Monday, March 23.The SP resolution, authored by Distrito, cites the country’s continued dependence on imported oil, which exposes the Philippine economy to external shocks, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting global fuel supply.“Fuel price volatility directly impacts the daily lives of our people, from higher transportation fares to increased food and commodity prices. This is a systemic issue that requires long-term solutions,” Distrito said.The measure calls on the national government, through the Department of Ene...

The scene of the crime * A 58-year-old man was hacked to death in Brgy. Kapitan Ramon, Silay City, Negros Occidental, late Sunday night, March 22. Police identified the suspect as alias “Anding,” 44. Initial investigation by Silay police showed the victim was having a drinking session when the suspect went to his house and stabbed him in the stomach. Authorities said the victim tried to resist and grappled with the suspect. Police said the suspect was initially pulled away by his wife, but later returned armed with a bolo and attacked the victim again, hitting him in the face and hand. The victim sustained multiple injuries and was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead. The suspect fled after the incident but later voluntarily surrendered to the barangay chairman and was ...