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The area where the drowning occured.*  A 42-year-old man and his 9-year-old nephew drowned while fishing at the Nabinay River in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City in Negros Occidental on Tuesday morning, Feb. 17.Police identified the victims as Jesus Sadia Jr., a laborer, and a 9-year-old boy, of Hacienda Sampil, Brgy. Mabini.Authorities said the incident happened at around 10:40 a.m. but was reported to police at about 2:40 p.m. through a call from Cadiz City CREATE Rescue personnel.Initial investigation showed that the victims were fishing at the river with another minor when the child accidentally drowned.Police said Sadia immediately jumped into the river to rescue the child but was also swept away by the strong current.Both victims were reportedly carr...

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources lifted the three-month closed fishing season in the Visayan Sea on Monday, Feb. 16. The three-month ban that started on Nov. 15 was imposed for the conservation of sardines, herrings, and mackerels in the waters of the Visayan Sea. Commercial fishers may now resume their operations within the conservation area in the Visayan Sea, the BFAR said. The three-month ban had prohibited the catching, selling, and buying of sardines, mackerel, and herring in a portion of the marine biodiversity-rich Visayan Sea. The ban was imposed to conserve and protect the economically important species in the fishing ground during their spawning period, the BFAR said.* 

The police arrested a drug suspect and seized about P136,000 worth of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, Feb. 16.Alias “Vic,” 29 years old, single, jobless, and a resident of Brgy. Zone 6, was arrested in a police operation in Purok Diwal, Brgy. Zone 5 of Talisay, the police said.Authorities said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant that the suspect was actively selling illegal drugs in the area.After a surveillance and a test-buy confirmed the information, police proceeded with the buy-bust operation where the suspect handed a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer in exchange for marked money.Recovered from the suspect were four heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspec...

Ushering in the Chinese New Year at the Fo Guang Shan Yuan Thong Temple in Bacolod City.* Ronnie Baldonado photo Bacolod City welcomed the Year of the Fire Horse on Tuesday, opening the 21st edition of the Bacolaodiat Festival, one of the country's largest Chinese New Year celebrations.The Fo Guang Shan Yuan Thong Temple in Bacolod led midnight prayers and the traditional striking of the drum and bell on Monday to usher in the Lunar New Year. The temple is open to visitors daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Feb. 22.“As we unfold the festival’s 21st edition, we gather not only to celebrate the culturally rich revelries that await us, but also to recognize the energy and sustained momentum that have brought us to this point,” festival chair John Stephen Sy said...

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo led the initial rollout of financial assistance.*Moises Padilla  in Negros Occidental has officially started the distribution of ₱20 million in financial assistance from the Office of the President to the victims of Typhoon  “Tino”. The first batch of beneficiaries received their aid on Monday, February 16, during a kickoff event held at the Municipal Auditorium, a press release from the town said. Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo led the initial rollout, where 894 families from Barangays 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 each received ₱1,600.  Total disbursements on the first day reached nearly ₱1.5 million.  Distribution is scheduled to continue throughout the week, coveri...

The farmer was rushed to a hospital in Bacolod City where he  was declared dead.* A 31-year-old farmer was stabbed to death at the plaza of Brgy. Bi-ao, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, early Monday morning, Feb. 16, on the eve of the barangay’s fiesta.The victim, identified as alias “Ariel,” 31, a resident of Sitio Lumboy, Brgy. Bi-ao, was rushed to a hospital in Bacolod City but was later declared dead.Binalbagan Police Chief Capt. Joelan Vinson said the victim was stabbed multiple times by a suspect who was allegedly under the influence of liquor.Police identified the suspect as alias “Joeitin,” 33 years old and a resident of Sitio Candida 2 in the same barangay.Authorities said the suspect used a broken glass bottle in the attack.Barangay ...

A new officer-in-charge formally assumed the leadership of the Canlaon City Police Station in Negros Oriental during a turnover of office ceremony on Monday afternoon, Feb. 16.PLt. Col. Joevito P. Bose was installed as the incoming officer-in-charge, replacing PLt. Col. Florendo L. Fajardo.The turnover was presided over by PCol. Timmar J. Alam, officer-in-charge of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, and was witnessed by Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas.Also present during the ceremony were Police Lieutenant Colonel Nerito S. Lobrido of the Police Assistance and Reaction Management Unit.*

A 33-year-old man was shot dead inside a drinking establishment in Barangay Talubangi, Kabankalan City, Negros OccidentaL, early Tuesday morning, Feb. 17.Police identified the victim as Roe John Patiña, a resident of Brgy. 1, Kabankalan City.Investigators said the victim and the suspect were both drinking at the establishment when a commotion broke out between their groups.The suspect, identified only as alias “Toto,” allegedly shot the victim with an unidentified firearm.The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was declared dead.The suspect fled the scene after the shooting.Police have launched a hot pursuit operation and are still determining the motive behind the incident.*

Police arrested the top city-level most wanted person for murder during the service of a warrant of arrest in Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City on Wednesday night, Feb. 12.The suspect was identified as Allan Delector, 40, single, a barker, and a resident of Brgy. 20, Bacolod City.The arrest was carried out at around 7:14 p.m. along Banahaw Street by the tracker team of Police Station 4 of the Bacolod City Police Office.Police said the suspect was arrested by virtue of a warrant for murder under Criminal Case No. 26-63367.The warrant was issued on Feb. 5 by Regional Trial Court Branch 50, Bacolod City, Judge Jose Manuel A. Lopez.Authorities said the offense is non-bailable.The suspect is currently detained at Police Station 4 in Barangay Villamonte.*