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Captain Elimar Jucal (left) and Third Officer Jejanfer Partosa Marfa are still missing.*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday, Jan. 27, called on all concerned authorities and maritime stakeholders to continue and intensify search and rescue operations for Captain Elimar Jucal of San Enrique and Third Officer Jejanfer Partosa Marfa of Cadiz City.The two Negrenses are among four who remain missing following the sinking of the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier MV Devon Bay 141 nautical miles west of Sabangan Point in Agno Bay, Pangasinan, on Thursday, January 22, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)  said.Two others on board the ship died and  15 others,  including two from the 6th District of Negros Occidental, were rescued.“The Provincial Government of N...

The Commission on Elections has deleted 93,281 voters in Negros Occidental from its list, Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said on Tuesday, Jan. 27 They were deleted as of the Jan. 19 Election Registration Board hearing, he said. Ananoria said 89, 843 were deactivated for failure to vote in two consecutive elections and 31 were excluded based on court orders. Also deleted from the list were 2,765 by reason of death, 639 voters who transferred their registration to another area and three for double registration, he added. The deletions leaves Negros Occidental with 1,614,561 voters, 819,703 of whom are female and 794, 858 are male. Ananoria said that those who have been deactivated can still reactivate their status through the ongoing registration for the 2026 Barangay and Sa...

A high-value individual was arrested and illegal drugs worth more than half a million pesos were confiscated during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. 1, Bacolod City, 2:11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27.The suspect was identified as alias “Boynoy” or “Bor,” 26, a resident of Brgy 1, who was arrested in Purok Bolinao by operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office.Police said operatives recovered about 80 grams of suspected shabu from the suspect, with an estimated standard drug price of P544,000.The operation was led by Lt. Richard Legada, officer-in-charge of the City Drug Enforcement Unit, following a buy-bust transaction.The suspect was arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.The suspect is cu...

A total of 2,131 residents across Bacolod City’s barangays received medical, burial, and financial assistance totaling ₱8,274,000 on Sunday, January 25, through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD)-Bacolod City.The program delivers direct support to individuals and families facing emergencies or hardships, with aid covering medications, food, burial needs, transportation, education, and other basic necessities tailored to beneficiaries’ requirements, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.“We are committed to helping our residents in times of need. Our support also includes aid for fire victims and families who have been relocated, ensuring that help reaches those who n...

A 27-year-old motorcyclist was killed after he crashed in a gutter along Araneta Avenue beside the flyover in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, early Tuesday morning, Jan. 27.The police identified the victim as Leomar Alpetche, a resident of Purok Tuburan, Brgy. Cayhagan, Sipalay City, who was driving a gray Yamaha Sniper motorcycle.The police said the motorcycle was traveling from south to north along Araneta Avenue at around 1:15 a.m. when the rider lost control, swerved to the right, and hit the road gutter.The impact threw the victim off the motorcycle, causing his body to strike a concrete post before hitting the gutter and road surface, resulting in severe injuries to different parts of his body.Personnel of the Barangay Singcang-Airport Disaster Risk Reduction...

The Bacolod City Anti-Mendicancy Task Force at work*DSSD photoThe fine for persons giving alms to mendicants in Bacolod City has increased from ₱50 to ₱500, Councilor Israel Salanga reminded the public on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The increase is contained in City Ordinance No. 1112, which establishes an Integrated Program for Regulating Mendicancy. Authored by councilors Salanga and Celia Flor, the ordinance was approved in December 2025 as an amendment to the city's 1995 mendicancy regulation. The ordinance that is now in effect aims to curb the increase in mendicancy and exploitation of children, Salanga said. The ordinance states that any person who encourages or abets mendicancy by giving money directly to mendicants, exploited infants, or minors on streets, public roads, sidewalks, and pa...

The Bacolod City government, through the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed aid on Monday, Jan. 26, to families displaced by fires that hit three barangays.Acting on Mayor Greg Gasataya’s directive, immediate aid was extended to affected households from Barangay Singcang-Airport and Barangays 10 and 26, who are currently sheltered in evacuation centers, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said. .Each family received food packs containing eight kilos of rice, canned goods (corned beef and sardines), snacks, and coffee.Additional assistance included family kits with basic kitchenware, cloth...

The Margaha Film Festival has officially announced the 24 short films selected to compete in its 7th edition, marking another milestone in the festival’s commitment to grassroots, community-based cinema rooted in heritage, place, and people.Set to run from Feb. 19 to 28, the festival continues to position Sagay City as a vital cultural hub for regional and grassroots cinema, bringing together filmmakers from Negros Occidental and other parts of the country for screenings, dialogs, and community engagements.This year’s festival carries the theme “LokoMo7ib”, an imaginative reworking of the word locomotive that also signifies the festival’s seventh year.Inspired by the Legendary Siete, the historic train that once carried logs and lumber across Sagay during the Insular Lumber Com...

A 46-year-old laborer died after he was stabbed multiple times during a confrontation in Brgy. Mambugsay, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, on Monday night, Jan. 26. The police said the victim, whose identity was withheld, was stabbed by alias “Nardo,” 37, a fellow laborer and resident of the same barangay, who fled the scene after the incident. Initial investigation revealed that the victim was inside his house when the suspect passed by, allegedly shouting and challenging him to come outside, according to the victim’s wife and an eyewitness. Police said the victim went out of the house, where he and the suspect grappled, and the suspect later drew a knife and stabbed the victim several times in different parts of his body. The victim was able to walk a short distance but eventually collapsed a...

Three individuals were arrested and a suspected drug den was dismantled during a buy-bust operation conducted in Brgy. Magatas, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on Monday afternoon, Jan. 26.Arrested were alias “Tufi,” 26 - identified as the alleged maintainer of the drug den, and alias “Romeo,” 20, and alias “Mitz,” 26, who were identified as visitors at the time of the operation.The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office Negros Island Region–Negros Oriental Provincial Office, together with the PDEA Seaport Interdiction Unit Negros Oriental and the Special Operations Unit of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, conducted the operation at around 3:45 p.m. in Purok 4, Barangay Magatas.Authorities seized 14 sachets of suspected shabu weighing about six grams, one sachet with trace...