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The New People’s Army (NPA) denied that a rebel was killed in an encounter with the 94th Infantry Battalion at Purok Maliko-liko, Sitio Cunalom, Barangay Carabalan in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, January 9.Ka Maoche Legislador, Apolinario Gatmaitan Command spokesperson, in a statement Wednesday said no encounter took place and killed was farmer Jose Gonzalez, 49, of Purok Maliko-liko.Gonzalez' daughter said her father was taken by eight personas who presented themselves as NPA members on the evening of January 8. After her father left she and her common-law husband heard gunshots around midnight, Legislador said.The call for "local peace talks” by Col. Michael Samson, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, is a murderous psychological warfare that is a failed attem...

The rockslide at the Eco-Translink Highway in San Carlos City Thursday morning.*San Carlos City LGU photoFlooding brought on by heavy rains has affected 3,301 residents, 1,038 of whom evacuated, in three cities and two towns in Negros Occidental, a Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) report said Thursday, January 12.A rockslide also rendered one lane of the Eco-Translink Highway in San Carlos City impassable Thursday morning.Passengers and rolling cargo were also stranded at the San Carlos City port.Flooding affected 1,116 families with 3,301 members in Sagay, Bago and Cadiz cities, and Valladolid and Cauayan towns, the PSWDO report as of 2 p.m. Thursday said.In Sagay City 161 persons were affected and two houses were damaged, while in Bago City 115...

Flooding in Sitio Moog, Barangay Vista Alegre, Ilog, Thursday.*Gilbert Pineda Belnas photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has ordered the suspension of all classes in Negros Occidental on Friday, January 13, to ensure the safety of students amidst continuous heavy rainfall.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez also extended the suspension of classes in all elementary and high schools in Bacolod City to Friday.Lacson in Executive Order No. 23-02, Series of 2023 suspended classes at all levels provincewide starting 4 p.m. on Thursday to 11:59 p.m. Friday.However, the majority of the Negros Occidental town and city mayors had issued orders suspending classes for the whole day Thursday.Lacson said he ordered the suspension of classes “in order to protect our students whose health and saf...

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson*It is good news that the substitute bill creating the Negros Island Region was approved by the House Committee on Local Government, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday, January 12.However, “this is just very preliminary, this is just a first step. What will be more difficult I think is when this will be elevated to the Committee on Appropriations,” Lacson said.“But it’s moving toward the creation of the NIR”, he added.Lacson said he has not been able to reach Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo to set a meeting on the NIR.Degamo is opposed to its creation.“We’re still hoping that at the end of the day Gov. Degamo will support the idea of an NIR,” he said.The substitute bill seeks the creation of an NIR...

The Negros Occidental provincial government is aiming to start its bulk water project this year to ensure water security for the province, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday, January 12.Under the project water will be sourced from rivers and treated before being supplied to consumers, he said.Lacson said from January to May a feasibility study will be conducted, which among others will determine the potential sites for the project, he said.After which the Public-Private Partnership Center will bring in potential investors and bidding will be conducted, Lacson said.He said the push for water security comes hand in hand with the push for food security in Negros Occidental.*

Doronila, Dangarang and Anacleto (l-r)*Three Negros Occidental towns have new acting police chiefs.PMaj. Eric Doronila was named acting police chief of Valladolid replacing PMaj. Wilfredo Benoman, who will be assigned at the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOCPPO) headquarters.PCpt. Emman Anacleto, who was previously deputy police chief of Pulupandan, will assume the post of acting chief of the town replacing PMaj. Ryan Villasario who will be designated Cadiz deputy police chief.PCapt. Ar-jay Dangarang who will assume the post as the acting Isabela police chief from PMaj. Joseph Partidas who will be assigned at the NOCPPO.PCol. Leo Pamittan, Negros Occidental police director, presided over the turnover rites at Camp Afredo M. Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City ...

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo*It is not true that Pryde Henry Teves is returning as governor of Negros Oriental.“There are rumors circulating which has again stirred noise in the province, saying that the previous administration will be back to office…This is not true,” Gov. Roel Degamo said in a Facebook post on Thursday, January 12.Degamo said when he went to Manila as a devotee of Jesus, the Black Nazarene, some misinterpreted it as a sign that he would leave leave his gubernatorial post.“I would like to clarify that it is not true. The COMELEC en banc has issued a final decision and this is executory, a reversal is highly unlikely,” he said.Degamo urged Negros Oriental residents to “rely only on credible information and not to worry about groundless issues”.“...

Flooding in Sitio Tanao, Brgy. Poblacion 2, Sagay City, Wednesday.* Sagay PIO photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson placed Negros Occidental on blue alert and classes in almost all of the local government units in the province were cancelled as rain continued to pour on Wednesday, January 11.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez also suspended elementary and high school level classes in Bacolod City on Wednesday.Lacson suspended work at provincial government offices, except for those tasked with emergency response, at 4 p.m. Wednesday “for the safety of everyone.”Mayor Neil Lizares said the suspension of classes at all levels in Talisay City would continue until Thursday to give Talisaynons “a chance to recover from the after effects of the heavy downpour and because of the continuing for...