Top Stories

There will be no Valentine’s Day color coding at the Negros Occidental Capitol, just a free night of love and music, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, February 13.The “Music and Hearts” featuring viral and TikTok sensation Limuel Llanes will be held at the Capitol Lagoon Park in Bacolod City starting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 14.“What is important is the purity of your heart for your respective loved ones,” Lacson said.Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Teodora Sumagaysay in a Facebook post said all personnel are enjoined to “wear your heart out” based on the color coding below:To mark Valentine’s Day numerous towns and cities are also set to hold mass weddings on Tuesday.*

The launching of the Panaad sa Negros Festival may be held on the last week of February or the first week of March, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, February 13.The launching of the April 17 to 23 festival that was initially set at the Capitol Lagoon and Park on Monday was postponed.It was postponed because they were not happy with the logo and music presented for the festival, Lacson confirmed.“We’re not happy…so we can take our time,” the governor said.The deadline for the submission of the entries for the festival music and logo was Monday afternoon, Charina Magallanes Tan, executive assistant to the governor, said.“Once we are happy with what is presented we can launch, but definitely the Panaad sa Negros Festival will be held in April”, Lacson said.*...

The Provincial Health Office has not recommended the declaration of a hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak in Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday afternoon, February 13.So there will be no declaration of an HFMD outbreak in the province, he said.While the reported increase of HFMD cases in Negros Occidental by 6,300 percent at the start of the year is very alarming, the PHO is in a better position to advise if a declaration of an outbreak is needed, Lacson said Monday morning.He said it was most likely that he would declare an outbreak, but he would follow the judgment of the PHO.A declaration of an outbreak will mean all city and municipal health units should exert more effort to inform their constituents about HFMD that is highly contagious and...

A19-year-old Himamaylan resident who tried stop a fight was stabbed to death 4:30 a.m. Saturday, February 12, the police reported on Monday.The victim was identified as Mark Gollegue Libo-on of Purok 4, Brgy Nabalian, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, while the suspect is a 17-year-old male whose name was withheld for being a minor.The victim was at a store at Purok 4 when he saw his friend being mauled by the suspect, the police said.Libo-on tried to pacify the two but the minor stabbed him several times resulting in his death, the police said.The suspect who was under the custody of the Himamaylan police Women and Children Protection Desk was set to be referred to the Department of Social Welfare and the Development.In San Carlos City Alberto Tranilla Sateniaman, 47...

The seized cigarettes in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.*PNP photoThe police confiscated P2 million in suspected smuggled cigarettes at Purok 3, Brgy. Isio, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, 3 a.m. Sunday, February 12.The police also arrested three suspects identified as Dandy Carbon Calago, 28, of Brgy. Polangco, Dipolog City, and Rolando Sanchez Lanario, 27, and Joel Absin Carvana, 42 , both of Brgy. Tuguis, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.The Cauayan police station received a phone call from their intelligence personnel on the presence of the smuggled cigarettes in Purok 3.The police immediately responded and confiscated about 100 boxes containing different brands of cigarettes estimated to cost P2 million.The suspects failed to present necessary documents for the cigarettes, the...

An elementary school teacher was stabbed to death while her 13-year-old granddaughter was injured at their home in Purok 10, Brgy. Poblacion, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, 3 a.m. Monday, February 13.Killed was teacher Nancy Malvas Oliverio, 61, the police said.Her 13-year-old granddaughter sustained a wound on the face and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, the police added.Oliverio sustained several stabbed wounds on different parts of her body.Police investigation showed that the victims were sleeping when the unidentified suspect armed with a knife entered their room. When they reportedly saw him he stabbed them and fled.The victims were brought by the Cauayan rescue personnel to the Cauayan District Hospital but Oliverio was declared dead or arrival.The police...

The police seized drugs and guns and apprehended four persons in Pontevedra and Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, February 12.Romeo Marfil, 23, was apprehended at the national highway in Barangay San Juan, Pontevedra, 1 a.m. Sunday.Marfil was caught in possession of a .38 caliber revolver loaded with four cartridges and without a license, the Pontevedra police reported.Also seized from him was .8 gram of suspected shabu estimated to cost P2,600, the police added.Meanwhile, Joseph Villanueva, 30, Joel Palermo, 39, and Elison Canonero, 42, of Bacolod City were apprehended along the national highway at Sitio Cubay, Brgy Talaban, Himamaylan City, 2:55 a.m. on Sunday, the police reported.The Himamaylan police said while conducting Oplan Bakal Sita visibility ope...

The burning of the 240,000 eggs.*Bacolod PIO photoPublic health and safety will always be the topmost priority of the Bacolod City government, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said on Sunday, February 12.Ting was reacting to questions raised on why representatives of the Bacolod and Negros Occidental veterinary offices, Bureau of Animal Industry and the Department of Agriculture burned 240,000 table eggs estimated at P1.4 million that were intercepted at the BREDCO Port on February 5.The destruction of the eggs was in accordance with the Joint Executive Order (EO) of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to fight the threat of the Avian Influenza, commonly called bird flu, Ting said.The governor on Sunday said “I understand the actions ...

Firefighters battle the blaze for about eight-hours.*Levi Trio photoAn about eight-hour fire hit two establishments in Bacolod City on Sunday, February 12, causing damage initially estimated at P20,234,400, Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) - Bacolod chief, said.Damaged by the fire were Jean’s Boutique owned by Jean Lumauag and Wan Li Marketing owned by Alex Choi.The BFP received a fire call at 8:33 a.m. that at a fire had hit Jean’s Boutique and firefighters were at the scene at 8:35 a.m. The fire then spread to Wan Li Marketing, Legaspi said.The fire at Jean’s Boutique was put out before 11 a.m. and at Wan Li Marketing at 4:14 p.m., he added.The smoke from the burning plastic hurt the eyes and the odor was difficult to endure, Chief ...

The accident in Victorias City on Saturday.*Victorias PNP photoA 19-year-old Cadiz City resident was killed and five others were injured in a collision between a refrigerated van and a dump truck at Osmeña Avenue in Barangay 5, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, 6:20 a.m. Saturday, February 11.Killed was Jun Jun Milleza of Brgy Andres Bonifacio, Cadiz City, who was a helper on board the refrigerated van, the police reported Sunday.The driver of the refrigerated van Gimbo Somiller Escordial, 40, of Brgy Luna, Cadiz City, remained in critical condition at the intensive care unit of the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod City on Sunday.The driver of the dump truck Francis Aster Poral, 48, of Victorias City, and his passengers Ireneo Asdolo Demapanag, 29, Jun Art Badajos A...