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Jul172026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

6 fishermen apprehended in separate illegal fishing operations in NegOcc

Six fishermen were apprehended in separate anti-illegal fishing operations conducted by authorities in Binalbagan and Sagay City before dawn on Thursday, July 16.In Binalbagan, four fishermen were arrested at around 3:45 a.m. in the coastal waters of Brgy. Enclaro after they were allegedly caught using trawl nets in violation of Municipal Ordinance No. 12-02, Series of 2012.The suspects, identified only by their aliases “Joey,” “Rogelio,” “Norman,” and “Aljun,” are residents of Binalbagan and Himamaylan City.Seized during the operation were four trawl nets and eight trawling boards with a combined estimated value of P80,000.Police said each apprehended fisherman faces a corresponding fine of P2,500 under the municipal ordinance, while the recovered equipment remains under t...

Jul172026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Pedicab driver arrested after firing gun at barber

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A 34-year-old pedicab driver was arrested after he allegedly fired a gun at a barber along Bonifacio Street in Brgy. Zone 12 Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday evening, July 16.Police identified the suspect only by his alias “Roy,” while the intended victim was identified as alias “Jeniri,” 48, a barber.Initial investigation by the Talisay Component City Police Station showed that the victim was looking for his child’s cellular phone, which had allegedly been left inside a tricycle previously boarded from the terminal along Bonifacio Street.While heading toward the terminal, the victim reportedly encountered the suspect, who allegedly glared at him and threatened to shoot him.Fearing for his safety, the victim entered the barbershop where he worked and picked...

Jul172026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Former SunStar editor voluntarily surrenders, posts bail

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Marchel Espina (right) with her lawyer Abegail Bayona (center) being read her Miranda rights*CPG photoFormer SunStar Cebu and SunStar Bacolod Editor-in-Chief Marchel Espina voluntarily surrendered to authorities and posted bail on Friday, July 17, in connection with an unjust vexation case. The charge, filed before a Batangas court, stems from an opinion piece written by a contributor and published in SunStar Cebu in December 2024.Espina surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Negros Island Region in Bacolod City and posted a bail of ₱6,000. She was accompanied by her legal counsel, Atty. Abegail Bayona.Espina said she is fully cooperating with the legal process and issued a brief statement following her surrender.“I am v...

Jul162026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

3 linked to killing of American marine biologist in Sibulan in police custody,1 suspect still at large

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Three suspects are now in police custody following the killing of an American national in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, while authorities continue to hunt down another suspect who remains at large.On July 16, The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) said two suspects were arrested and another voluntarily surrendered following sustained hot pursuit operations by the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) “Carpenter.”Arrested were Mark Bucog Oracoy, 26, of Brgy. Ajong, Sibulan, at around 9:56 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, and Jal Piañar Filipinas, 40, also of Brgy. Ajong, at around 10:35 p.m. the same day.At around 4:06 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, Ciem Mansing Diputado, 21, likewise a resident of Brgy. Ajong, voluntarily surrendered to authorities.The s...

Jul162026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Afternoon classes suspended at UNO-R after bullet, handwritten note found on campus

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The bullet and the note that caused the suspension of classes.*PNP photoAfternoon classes and office operations at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) were suspended on Thursday, July 16, after a bullet and a handwritten note were found inside the campus.The university said it suspended classes and work as a precaution while it investigates the incident in coordination with authorities.Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Col. Eugene Rebadomia clarified that the incident did not involve a bomb threat.Students discovered the bullet and a handwritten note on a stairway inside the university’s Senior High School building at around 10 a.m., Rebadomia said.The note allegedly contained a threatening message related to retaliation against bullies.T...

Jul162026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Immediate intervention needed vs. RSSI, going natural not quick solution: SRA

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Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Pablo Luis Azcona*Negros Occidental is set to lose 33,000 hectares of sugar production, equivalent to 150,000 metric tons of raw sugar, or about eight percent of national output, if no immediate intervention is taken against the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation, Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona warned on Thursday, July 16.“Going natural control is not quick, and it is not cheap. My personal experience is that using bio-pesticides costs 4 to 5 times more than using off-the-shelf solutions, and control is not as quick, and our farmers may not have the capacity to cope,” Azcona said.Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Tuesday declared that the Negros Occidental provincial gove...

Jul162026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

CONFED advocates for large-scale intervention vs. RSSI

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The RSSI infestation in Negros*SRA photoThe Confederation of Sugar Producers Association (CONFED) on Thursday, July 16, said from the very beginning it has consistently advocated for immediate, large-scale intervention versus the Red Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation to prevent further losses to sugar farmers.“Our position has always been to support industry-wide, drone-assisted and manual ground-based spraying, together with other science-based measures that can be deployed safely and effectively to protect standing crops,“ a CONFED statement said.CONFED cautioned against airplane aerial spraying.“We believe that such an approach should only be considered after the necessary scientific, environmental, and regulatory evaluations have established its safety ...

Jul162026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

21 wanted persons arrested in Negros Oriental in a week

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Police arrested 21 wanted persons in Negros Oriental from July 7 to 13 as authorities intensified manhunt operations across the province.Based on the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) weekly accomplishment report, those arrested included one regional most wanted person, three provincial most wanted persons, two city or municipal most wanted persons, and 15 other wanted persons.During the same period, NOrPPO also conducted eight anti-illegal drug operations that led to the arrest of eight suspects and the confiscation of 32.75 grams of suspected shabu valued at P222,700.In its campaign against illegal gambling, police carried out 25 operations, resulting in the arrest of 28 individuals and the confiscation of P4,948 in cash and other gambling paraphernalia.Au...

Jul162026 by Marita MoajeNo Comments

DENR pays tribute to Kent Carpenter’s PH marine conservation legacy

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Renowned marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter.*Tubbataha Reefs Facebook page photoThe Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has honored internationally renowned marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter following his passing, recognizing his decades of research that helped deepen scientific understanding and advance conservation efforts of the Philippines' rich marine ecosystems and biodiversity.Carpenter, a Research Associate of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, was killed in his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, on Sunday.Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna extended the DENR’s condolences to the bereaved family, friends and colleagues of Carpenter, including the global marine science community.He said the scientist's work strengthened the country's marin...

Jul162026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod cops nab 2, seize P204K in shabu

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Two alleged street-level drug personalities were arrested while around 30 grams of suspected shabu worth about P204,000 were confiscated during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City.The operation was conducted by personnel of Police Station 3 of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), with support from the City Intelligence Unit, at around 7:14 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, in Purok Mahimulaton.Police identified the suspects only by their aliases “Yan Yan,” 44, and “Rod,” 26, of Purok Mahimulaton, Barangay Banago.The police said they received information from a confidential informant that “Yan Yan” was allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade in the area.After conducting validation, surveillance, and a test-buy operation, operatives carried out the bu...