Negros Oriental

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples en banc meets at Park Inn by Radisson in Iloilo City on Tuesday  to approve the establishment of a regional office in the Negros Island Region. *  The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) will soon open a regional office in the Negros Island Region (NIR) to boost service delivery to an estimated 140,000 indigenous peoples in Negros and Siquijor. The Commission en banc approved the establishment of the NCIP-NIR during its meeting at Park Inn by Radisson in Iloilo City on Tuesday, May 26. "This is an important step to strengthen programs and services for indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) in the region," the NCIP said in a statement. The move responds to "the growing ...

Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., NTF-ELCAC executive director* PIA photoNegros Island is the epicenter of spy-tagging killings of civilians perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front,  a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) official said  Tuesday, May 26..From 2021 to May 2026, at least 59 documented spy-tagging killings and summary executions have been recorded across the country. Of these, 51 victims were killed in the Negros Island Region—consisting of 41 in Negros Occidental and 10 in Negros Oriental. Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., NTF-ELCAC executive director, said in a press statement.Torres called on  Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to fulfill its universal manda...

PCapt. Wilma Silva of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region*PNA/Mary Judaline Partlow photo   Negros Oriental recorded the highest incidence of violence against women and their children among the provinces and a highly urbanized city (HUC) in the Negros Island Region (NIR) in 2025, a police official said on Tuesday, May 26. Police Capt. Wilma Encomienda Silva, chief of the Regional Women and Children Protection Desk (RWCPD) of the Police Regional Office-NIR, credited the increased number of reported cases to women being more conscious of their rights and no longer hesitating to seek assistance and report these abuses to authorities. She presented the data on domestic violence during the Regional Dissemination Forum on Key Indicators of the...

A high-value individual was arrested after police seized about P1.36 million worth of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation in Bacolod City early Friday, May 15.The Bacolod City Police Office identified the suspect only as alias “Ramel,” a resident of Brgy. 1.Police said the operation was conducted at around 3:28 a.m. in Purok Lison, Brgy. 1, by operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit.Authorities confiscated about 200 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P1,360,000.The operation was led by the City Drug Enforcement Unit, under the supervision of Bacolod City Police Office.The suspect is now under police custody for proper disposition.Meanwhile, a 37-year-old high-value individual was arrested after police seized P374,000 worth of ...

Commodore Christopher Auro (left), commander of the Coast Guard District Southern Visayas, checks on yachts anchored in Tambobo Bay, Siaton, Negros Oriental, on Tuesday afternoon.*PNA/ Mary Judaline F. Partlow photoThe Coast Guard District Southern Visayas (CGDSV) has tightened security measures and increased monitoring of yachts in Tambobo Bay, Siaton, Negros Oriental, to prevent unlawful activities, including the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband.Commodore Christopher Auro, CGDSV commander, said on Tuesday, May 12, that security cameras have been installed and Coast Guard personnel deployed at the bay's entrance."The role of the Philippine Coast Guard here at Tambobo Bay is to monitor all yachts and other boats that enter or depart the area and check if they ...

The Land Transportation Office–Negros Island Region inaugurated its new district office in Dumaguete City on Wednesday, May 6.The blessing and inauguration ceremony was led by LTO Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao together with LTO-NIR OIC Regional Director Jeck Conlu and Assistant Regional Director Monico Puentevella Jr.Local officials and representatives from partner agencies attended the event, including Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria.Officials from the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard also joined the inauguration.In a press release, LTO-NIR said the new Dumaguete City District Office aims to provide more accessible, reliable, and efficient services to the public.The facility is expected to accommodate more clients and offer a mo...

A 52-year-old government employee was arrested after suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation in Dumaguete City on Tuesday night, April 7.Police identified the suspect as alias “Dondon,” tagged as a high-value individual.The operation in Barangay Candau-ay was conducted at around 7:21 p.m., the police said.About five grams of suspected shabu worth P34,000 were recovered, along with the buy-bust money and a coin pouch, the police said.The suspect is now under police custody while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared.*

The drug bust in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental*An incumbent barangay councilor and two other high-value individuals were arrested in a buy-bust operation that led to the dismantling of a drug den in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental, on Friday afternoon, March 20.Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office conducted the operation at around 2:35 p.m. in Sitio Nagbagang, Brgy. Poblacion.Police identified the suspects as alias “Daniel,” 29, a barangay councilor and alleged drug den maintainer; alias “Alex,” 27; and alias “Sheldon,” 23.Another suspect identified as alias “Joseph” remains at large and is the subject of a manhunt.Authorities said the operation stemmed from intelligence reports linking the group to ille...