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Sep272026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Former rebel surrenders firearm to police in Silay

A 55-year-old man identified by police as a former member of a communist rebel group voluntarily surrendered to authorities in Silay City, Negros Occidental, on Friday, Sept. 25.Police identified the man as alias “Janjan”, a backhoe operator and resident of Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City.He surrendered at the headquarters of the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company (NOCPMFC) in Purok Sunshine at around 10:40 a.m. and turned over a .38-caliber revolver without ammunition.According to police, Janjan had previously been associated with the Northern Negros Front and said he had renounced his support for the group.He also sought assistance in clearing his name, police said.The surrender was facilitated by personnel of the 1st NOCPMFC led by its officer-in-charge...

Sep272026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Mass interrupted after man climbs cathedral altarpiece in Bacolod

Police, Top Stories

Ronnie Baldonado photoAn afternoon Mass was interrupted after a man climbed onto the ornate altarpiece behind the altar, prompting a rescue operation that lasted more than four hours at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City, Saturday, Sept. 26.Churchgoers were moved to safety as police and emergency responders secured the cathedral, while traffic along the road in front of the church was temporarily restricted.Rescuers set up an inflatable safety cushion and spent several hours persuading the man to climb down safely before he jumped onto the cushion at around 9:13 p.m.According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, its personnel arrived at the cathedral at around 4:37 p.m. and began assessing the situation.The inflatable safety cushion was set up at around 4:50 p.m. ...

Sep272026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod gears up for MassKara, Batang Pinoy, MMFF Parade of Stars

Community, Sports, Top Stories

Bacolod City is preparing to host three major events in the final quarter of 2026, with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 athletes and delegates expected for the Batang Pinoy national youth sports competition.Mayor Greg Gasataya announced the city's preparations for the MassKara Festival in October, Batang Pinoy 2026 and the Metro Manila Film Festival's first simultaneous Parade of Stars in December during Bacolod Day at the 40th Negros Trade Fair in Taguig City, Sept. 26.Gasataya said the events are expected to bring more visitors to Bacolod and generate opportunities for local businesses.“This will be a very busy quarter for the City of Bacolod, and this will redound to the benefit of the people of Bacolod and, as much as possible, every business in Bacolod and Negros Occidental,...

Sep262026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Javi secures P110M in PAGCOR school buildings for Talisay, Murcia

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Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez*Rep. Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd Dustrict) has secured two school buildings from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for Talisay City and Murcia on Friday, Sept. 25.Each building is worth Php 55 million for a total of Php 110 million, a press release from his office said.Benitez lobbied for the inclusion of the two Third District LGUs in PAGCOR's school building program. Outside the district, La Carlota City is the only other local government unit granted a building.Both projects are three-storey, 12-classroom buildings covered by memoranda of agreement (MOA) among PAGCOR, the Department of Education (DepEd), and each LGU, the press release said.PAGCOR will release each Php 55-million allocation i...

Sep252026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

GAB revokes licenses of 5 Bacolod MassKara players over MPBL game

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The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has revoked the professional licenses of five former Bacolod MassKara players and permanently disqualified them from participating in professional basketball games sanctioned by the board following an investigation into their July 28 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) game against the Bulacan Kuyas.In its Sept. 16 decision, the GAB Professional Sports and Games Division found five of the nine respondents liable for conduct unbecoming of professional athletes, according to the Bacolod City Communications Office.The investigation followed a request from Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya after Bacolod MassKara lost to Bulacan, 100-64, in a game that drew allegations of possible manipulation.Bacolod went scoreless in the final 7:48 of the fo...

Sep252026 by Nanette GuadalquiverNo Comments

Adjustments cut Sept. 2026 power rate in Bacolod City, adjacent areas

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The Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) said on Thursday that some adjustments reduced the average residential electricity rate for September here amid the increase in the cost of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).In an advisory, it announced that the rate for September 2026 is set at PHP14.24 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), down PHP0.03 per kWh from the August rate of PHP14.27 per kWh.The power rate covers consumers in the highly urbanized Bacolod City as well as the neighboring cities of Talisay, Silay, Bago and municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental."While the cost of electricity from the WESM increased, the application of the secondary price cap (SPC) and its staggered payment scheme helped reduce the immediate impact on cons...

Sep252026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Onions allegedly used to conceal P8.8M cigarettes seized in Isabela, 3 arrested

Police, Top Stories

Three men were arrested after authorities seized P8.8 million worth of cigarettes allegedly concealed behind sacks of red onions inside a wing van truck in Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Friday, Sept. 25.The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) also confiscated 150 sacks of red onions found at the rear of the truck during an entrapment operation in Brgy. 3.Authorities are verifying whether the onions were used to conceal the cigarette shipment, as well as their source, ownership and compliance with transport and importation requirements.Police identified the arrested suspects as aliases “Rey,” 32, and “Virgil,” 32, both residents of Zamboanga del Norte, and “Gery,” 46, of Valenzuela City.The operation began at around 2:15 a.m. when CIDG operatives posing as buy...

Sep252026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Sugarcane worker found dead in Talisay, possible lightning strike probed

Police, Top Stories

A 36-year-old sugarcane worker was found dead in a field in Brgy. Dos Hermanas, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday morning, Sept. 24, with investigators looking into a possible lightning strike.Police identified the victim as alias “Rudy,” a married laborer and resident of Hacienda Sto. Niño Agho.According to the Talisay City Police Station, Rudy left home at around 2 p.m. Wednesday to work in a sugarcane field and was expected to return at around 6 p.m.When he failed to return, his family checked places he usually visited but could not find him.His mother and elder sister went to the sugarcane field the following morning and found him lying on the ground with injuries on different parts of his body.Barangay officials brought Rudy to the Talisay City Health Of...

Sep252026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

16-year-old student drowns in Kabankalan creek

Police, Top Stories

A 16-year-old student drowned while crossing a creek in Brgy. Tampalon, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, Sept. 24.Police said the student, a resident of Purok Amian Ilaya, had gone swimming with his classmates following the suspension of classes that day.Initial investigation showed that the student was attempting to cross a creek in Purok Narra Tree on his way home when he began struggling in the water and failed to stay afloat.The victim was retrieved and brought to the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.His uncle reported the incident to the Kabankalan City Police Station at around 6 p.m.Police said the victim’s family believed the drowning was unintentional and did not suspect foul play.The body was brought ...

Sep252026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Construction worker shot dead outside home in Talisay

Police, Top Stories

A 21-year-old construction worker was shot dead by an unidentified gunman outside his home in Brgy. Bubog, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday night, Sept. 24.Police identified the victim as alias “Marko,” a resident of Purok Sapa, Sitio Nacab of the said barangay.According to the victim’s father, Marko went outside their house at around 11 p.m. after their dogs suddenly barked, prompting him to check whether someone was nearby.His father and younger sibling followed him outside as he used a flashlight to inspect the surroundings.Police said the younger sibling reportedly saw an unidentified person wearing an orange shirt hiding near a tree before several gunshots were heard.The family fled for safety and later found Marko with multiple gunshot wounds.Scene...