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Sep92026 by Marita MoajeNo Comments

DOJ names 3 linked to Degamo shooting convicted of firearm, explosives charges

Three individuals linked to the March 4, 2023 shooting of then Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo at his residence have been convicted in separate cases involving illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday, Sept. 9.In a news release, the DOJ said the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 40, found Joric Garrido Labrador, Joven Calibjo Javier, and Benjie Rodriguez guilty after prosecutors proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.“Labrador was sentenced to 8 to 10 years of imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition, while the two other accused were each sentenced to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years in prison) for unlawful possession of explosives,” the department said.The cases arose from t...

Sep82026 by Joann VillanuevaNo Comments

NGCP exec vows measures to help address Visayas power situation

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An official of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Tuesday, Sept. 8, vowed continued coordination with other energy sector stakeholders to help address low capacity in the Visayas grid.This comes as the Visayas grid continues to suffer from yellow and red alerts due to low supply that hinders it from meeting contingency requirements, consumer demand, and regulatory requirements.As of Tuesday, the Visayas grid recorded 97 yellow and 34 red alerts since the start of the year, while the Mindanao grid recorded 13 yellow and four red alerts. NGCP spokesperson lawyer Cynthia Alabanza said the Department of Energy (DOE) has tasked the transmission grid operator with tapping ancillary services, or battery facilities, to help boost capacity in the trans...

Sep82026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NegOcc kicks off 26th Tourism Week with food parade, focus on AI

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Participants in the parade of food.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe 26th Negros Occidental Tourism Week kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 8, with a food parade showcasing the culinary traditions of the province's towns and cities at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.The weeklong celebration, running until Saturday, Sept. 12, aims to promote the diverse culture, heritage, local products, and creativity of the province’s 32 local government units (LGUs), Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said in his speechAligned with the 2026 World Tourism Day theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” this year's celebration highlights the role of digital innovation and technology in enhancing visitor experiences and destination development, Di...

Sep82026 by Philippine News AgencyNo Comments

SC upholds graft conviction of ex-Siquijor mayor, 3 officials

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the conviction of Orville Fua, former mayor of Lazi, Siquijor, and other public officers for graft involving more than PHP4.9 million worth of fertilizer procurement.In a decision written by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, the SC’s Second Division affirmed the Sandiganbayan’s ruling that found former Lazi officials Fua, Rose Marie Tomogsoc, Natalio Bongcawel Jumawan Jr., and Sue Agnes Castillon, and private individual Merlyn Estallo Lu guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.In 2004, Fua signed a purchase request for the procurement of fertilizers or farm inputs for the town’s Fertilizer Program. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Lazi then entered into a memorandum of a...

Sep82026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NegOcc tourism surges past 2M mark in first two quarters

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Performers at the opening of the 26th Tourism Week at the Capitol Tuesday morning.*Richard Malihan photoNegros Occidental recorded a significant surge in tourism, reaching over 2 million arrivals in the first two quarters of 2026 alone — putting the province on pace to surpass its 2025 total of 3 million visitors.Raymond Alunan, Provincial Tourism Division officer-in-charge, announced the strong growth at the launch of the province's 26th Tourism Week at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Tuesday, Sept. 8.Alunan also noted that the mid-year milestone included 436,000 overnight tourists.Citing the contribution of the tourism officers provincewide to this growth, Alunan urged them to maintain diligent reporting, noting that accurate data ...

Sep82026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Sugar Group: SRA forecast an admission of failure of its own RSSI solutions

Business, Top Stories

RSSI hit sugarcane*SRA file photoA nationwide multi-sectoral group of sugarcane producers and workers slammed the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Tuesday, Sept. 8, calling its dismal production forecast a “complete admission of failure” of its own pest control programs.The group, in a press statement, rejected the SRA’s claim that the projected drop in raw sugar output for Crop Year 2026–2027 is due mainly to the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation, pointing instead to deeper economic and policy missteps.Their statement follows a BusinessMirror report on September 4, 2026, where SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona projected raw sugar output for Crop Year 2026–2027 to sink to a 20-year low of 1.662 million metric tons (MMT).While Azcona blamed the drop ...

Sep82026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Farmer found dead in Kabankalan canal, electrocution eyed

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A 57-year-old farmer was found dead in a canal, with police looking into possible electrocution while he was using an improvised electric fishing device in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Monday morning, Sept. 7.The Kabankalan City police identified the victim only as alias “Aldren,” a resident of Sitio Canlipot, Brgy. Linao.Police said the victim’s brother began searching for him after the family was informed that he had failed to return home.The victim was later found lying face down in a canal at around 6:30 a.m., still holding an electric fishing rod.PolicePolice investigation showed that Aldren had gone fishing at a nearby canal the previous day using an improvised electrical fishing apparatus.He reportedly returned home with his catch at around 11:30 ...

Sep82026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Motorcycle rider dies after falling into canal, swept by strong current in Murcia

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A 33-year-old construction worker died after he lost control of his motorcycle, fell into a canal and was swept by a strong current in Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Monday morning, Sept. 7.The Murcia Municipal Police Station identified the victim only as alias “Mike,” a resident of Brgy. Puso, La Castellana.Police said the road incident happened at around 7:40 a.m. along the Bypass Road of the national highway in Brgy. Blumentritt.Based on accounts gathered from motorists and bystanders, the victim was traveling from Murcia proper toward Bacolod City when he lost control of his Rusi TC 125 motorcycle.He fell in a canal and was swept away by the strong flow of water before being carried into a culvert, police said.Motorists at the scene attempted to revive the victim thr...

Sep82026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Reales takes helm of PRO NIR, orders return to ‘back-to-basics’ community policing

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Brig. Gen. Rudecindo L. Reales (3rd from left) during his arrival at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr.*PNP photoCalling for a return to "back-to-basics" community policing, Police Brig. Gen. Rudecindo L. Reales officially stepped into his role as the new director of the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) during an arrival honors ceremony at Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano Sr. on Tuesday, Sept. 8.The ceremony marked Reales’ first official engagement with the regional command following his formal assumption of office the previous day.He was received by members of the PRO NIR Command Group, regional and personal staff, provincial and city directors, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion commander, chiefs of national support units, and personnel from across the region. ...

Sep82026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

City gov’t gives aid to 29 fire-hit families in Sum-ag, Mansilingan

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Mayor Greg Gasataya spearheaded the distribution of financial assistance and rebuilding materials to 29 families displaced and affected by recent fires in Barangays Mansilingan and Sum-ag, Bacolod City.Gasataya stressed that the assistance is crucial to the immediate recovery of the affected families, particularly those in Purok Bakyas, Barangay Mansilingan, whose houses were gutted by fire on August 30, and Purok San Jose 2, Barangay Sum-ag, which was hit by fire on September 1.Seventeen families whose properties were destroyed received P15,000 in financial assistance and six pieces of long-span roofing materials to help jumpstart the reconstruction of their homes.Seven households with damaged homes were provided P10,000 and four roofing sheets, while sharers and renters...