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Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon*Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, will be joining the 19th Congress as representative of the P3PWD (Komunidad ng Pamilya, Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities) Party-list.The Comelec en banc approved the withdrawal of P3PWD's five initial nominees and her entry as first nominee on Wednesday June 15.“To those who voted for me and P3PWD, thank you,” Guanzon said in a Tweet Wednesday.Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said “congratulations, she would be a strong voice for PWDs”.The Comelec in its en banc meeting Wednesday approved the recommendation of its Law Department on June 14 to grant the withdrawal of P3PWD nominees Grace S. Yeneza, Ira Paulo A. P...

Pete Pico and Diego Malacad (l-r) air the driver's grievances at the start of the Drivers' Holiday on Wednesday, June 15.Some jeepney drivers who joined a “Drivers Holiday” in protest against the rising fuel prices expressed disappointment at Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya’s failure to show up for an expected meeting on Wednesday, June 15.Gasataya said there was a mix up in the schedule but he will meet the drivers on Thursday, June 16.About 30 percent of the jeepney drivers have stopped operating, Diego Malacad, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center secretary-general, said.Malacad said they were disappointed that Gasataya did not show up for the meeting despite their having informed his office about it.If Gasataya does not have the time to face them they will seek the...

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) has asked the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) to deny and dismiss the appeals of eight business groups versus the new wage hike in Western Visayas for “utter lack of merit”.The RTWPB, in its consolidated comment to the appeals of the WV business groups dated June 13, said the board did not commit any abuse of discretion when it issued the assailed wage order.“There was no capricious or whimsical exercise of judgement,” it said, adding that there is no sufficient ground or reason to disturb the new wage order.The consolidated comment was signed by Labor Regional Director Sixto Rodriguez, RTWPB VI chairman.The NWPC had directed the RTWPB to comment on the appeals filed by the Western Visayas busine...

The two brothers who surrendered*Two brothers who claimed to be members of the New People’s Army surrendered to the Army and the police in Brgy Nagbinlod, Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental, on Wednesday, June 15.They were identified only as Ka Daniel and Ka Aguilos who joined the NPA in 2015 and 2021, respectively, in Sta. Catalina, the 3rd Infantry Spearhead Division reported.On June 10 a couple who were formerly members of the NPA also surrendered in Sta. Catalina and reunited with their 1 year old son. The couple confirmed the identities of the two siblings as members of the terrorist group, the Army said.There are now six NPA members who have surrendered in the 3ID Area of Responsibility since May 23.MGen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd ID commander, said they will continue to ...

The P13.6 million in drugs seized in San Carlos City on Tuesday.*It is not new information that drugs enter the province through the port of San Carlos City, what is important is that apprehensions are made, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, June 15.“The problem of drugs coming through San Carlos has always been there for so many years but many times they have been caught”, he said.Lacson said because of the profitability of the drug trade there are really people who are willing to risk their lives just to make some money.“What is important is that our men in uniform, especially the PNP and Coast Guard, are vigilant,” he said.Rex Villamin Baron, an alleged right-hand man of a top drug personality was arrested with P13.6 million worth of suspecte...

Vice President Leni Robredo (center) with Kris Aquino and Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao delivering relief assistance in Himamaylan City after typhoon "Odette".*The Himamaylan City council has unanimously passed a resolution thanking outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo for her assistance and support, Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said Wednesday, June 15.The Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday thanked Robredo for her “impactful programs extended to the City of Himamaylan and invaluable presence in support of Himamaylanons during our time of need”.The resolution was introduced by Gatuslao and sponsored by Councilor Janet Villafranca.“We detailed her establishing community learning hubs in Himamaylan, support for farmer groups and Indigenous Peoples, as well as her relief and recovery...

The police found the lifeless body of businessman Jeffrey Espeleta Keng Seng in his Nissan Patrol SUV*A businessman on board an SUV was killed by motorcycle riding assassins at the busy intersection of BS Aquino Drive and Lacson Street in Brgy. 5, Bacolod City, at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14.Jeffrey Espeleta Keng Seng, 40, of Gatuslao and 27th streets in Barangay 1, Bacolod City, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.Keng Seng was on board his Nissan Patrol SUV going west when gunmen on board two motorcycles shot at him, PLt. Jovito Pastrana, Police Station 2 deputy chief, said.The wounded victim continued to drive westward until his vehicle crashed into a vacant lot at the intersection of BS Aquino Drive and Gatuslao Street, he added.A witness said one of the gunmen on ...

A Drivers’ Holiday in Bacolod City is set to start Wednesday, June 15, because it is no longer viable for many to continue operating amid the rising prices of fuel, Diego Malacad, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center secretary-general, said on Tuesday.About 1,800 jeepney drivers in Bacolod are joining the Driver’s Holiday starting 10 a.m. Wednesday until fuel prices drop to a profitable level for them, he said.The drivers are joining a dialog with Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya to air their concerns at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Malacad added.The Drivers’ Holiday is not expected to paralyze public transportation in Bacolod City as other groups are not joining it.Albert Villanueva, Sentrong Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Negros (SSTONE) chairman, said his group and the Federat...

Dr. Enrico Elumba*Dr. Enrico Elumba, a three-term mayor of La Castellana town in Negros Occidental, suffered from a cardiac arrest while on the way to a Bacolod hospital and died at past 9 p.m. Monday, June 13.He was 68.Elumba had diabetes and suffered from difficulty in breathing, his nephew Fernando “Nonoy” Elumba said.On Monday night he complained of chest pains at his home in La Castellana and asked to be brought to the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod where he was declared dead on arrival, his nephew said.Mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan said she ordered the flying of the Philippine flag in La Castellana at half-mast in honor of Elumba staring Tuesday morning.Elumba served as mayor of La Castellana for three terms from 1998 to 2007.He then returned to private ...

Rex Villamin Baron and the seized shabu.*San Carlos PNP photosAn alleged right-hand man of a top drug personality was arrested with P13.6 million worth of suspected shabu in Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental at 4:48 a.m. Tuesday, June 14.Nabbed was Rex Villamin Baron, 49, of Fatima Village in Brgy Rizal, after the San Carlos police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency personnel conducted a buy bust operation, Lt. Ruby Aurita, San Carlos City Police Station spokesperson, said.Baron allegedly is a right-hand man of San Carlos City’s top drug personality who is at-large, Aurita said.Seized during the buy bust operation at a safehouse of the drug personality was 2,000 grams of suspected shabu valued at P13.6 million, a laptop bag and the P6,600 in buy-bust money...