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The Bacolod City government will begin its drive against about 10,000 illegally operating tricycles when the uniforms and identification cards of its deputized agents are all distributed, Councilor Al Victor Espino said Sunday, February 19.The operations against the colorum tricycles for failure to avail of franchises and business permits were scheduled to start Monday, February 20.However, because of the delay in the distribution of uniforms and IDs the operations were suspended but he will know on Monday when they can begin, Espino said.They hope it can be done at the soonest possible time, he said.The deputized agents who compose the apprehending teams are presidents of about 60 groups under the Tricycle Operators and Drivers' Associations (TODA), Espino said.There a...

The scene of the crime in Barangay Guinpanaan, Moises Padilla.*PNP photoA Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit member was shot dead at Barangay Guinpanaan, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, 3 a.m. Sunday, February 19.Killed was Bon Lopez Cadigal, 42, an active CAFGU member and a resident of Sitio Lower Mamballo, Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla.Lopez was found lying on the ground with a gunshot wound on his head that resulted to his instantaneous death, the police said.The victim was at a “peryahan (fair)” watching a game while under the influence of liquor when he was shot by an unidentified suspect without any provocation, the police said.The suspect then immediately fled, the police added.*

Policemen point to the wanted poster.*CIDG photoThe Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Friday, February 17, released wanted posters of six accused security guards, including four with addresses in Negros Occidental, believed responsible for the disappearance of missing “sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts)” in the Manila Arena.A reward of P1 million is being offered for the arrest of each of the six or a total of P6 million, the CIDG announced on its Facebook page.The four from Negros Occidental on the poster are Mark Carlo E. Zabala, 29, of Barangay II (Poblacion) Hinigaran, and Barangay Enclaro, Binalbagan; Roberto G. Matillano Jr., 54, of Talisay City and Bacolod City; Johnry R.Consolacion, 33, who was born in Kabankalan City; and Virgi...

A woman was found dead with a belt around her neck at Purok Makawiwili, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, at about 1:50 p.m. Saturday, February 18.The victim identified as Roselyn Gallasa Destua, 33, of Barangay Zone 6, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, was found with a belt on her neck and a blanket over her body in a room of a house in Purok Makawiwili, the police reported.The police apprehended her partner Josan Destua, 30, of Purok Makawiwili.Witnesses said at about 9 a.m. Friday the suspect and the victim were heard having an argument.At about 10:45 a.m. witnesses saw the sweating suspect buy a cigarette and ice water at a store and appeared to be panicking as he left his house on his motorcycle at 11 a.m. Friday, the police report said.He was later apprehended by the pol...

The crowd at the scene of the crime in Bayawan on Saturday.*PNP photoA policeman and a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) employee were shot to death by motorcycle riding gunmen at Peping Gamo Street in Tinago, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, 7:35 p.m. Saturday, February 18.Killed were Pat. Rhulin Mar Abrasaldo of the Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 and Edwin Laag, 55, of the Bayawan BJMP.Injured was 56-year-old Winchita Villaluz Jamin.The two unidentified suspects were on board a yellow Yamaha MIO 125 motorcycle.The police on Sunday said they had persons of interest in the shooting but did not reveal their identities.*

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) lifted the closed fishing season for the conservation of sardines, herrings, and mackerels in the waters of the Visayan Sea on Thursday, February 16.Commercial fishers may resume their operations within the conservation area in the Visayan Sea, following the three-month ban on catching said fish species, the BFAR in Western Visayas announced on its Facebook page.The fishing ban was implemented over national and municipal waters in the provinces of Masbate, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Cebu.No closed fishing season violators were reported, the BFAR said in a statement.“No violation was committed against the three-month ban on catching, selling, and buying of sardine, herring, and mackerel species in the Visayan Sea...

A Bacolodnon was shot to death at Charito Heights Subdivision in Brgy Granada, Bacolod City, 9:35 p.m. Friday, February 17.Killed was Harold John Gepolane Suarez, 37, of Hermilinda Subdivision in Brgy Mansilingan, Bacolod City.The police identified the suspects as Matt John Espoli, Rodzel Gonzales Espoli, Mark Torres and alias "Kalbo".The motive for the killing was jealousy and personal grudges, the police said.Suarez was drinking at Jezrel Sari Store when the four male suspects suddenly approached and shot him three times that led to his instantaneous death, an initial police investigation report showed.The suspects fled after the incident onboard a Toyota Highlander and a hot pursuit operation was ongoing, the police report added.*

The evacuees are staying in tents at the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports (BAYS) Center at San Juan Street.*Bacolod PIO photoAn open live electrical wire hanging over the roof of a house is believed to have triggered the fire that hit Purok Magtiayon, Brgy. 10, Bacolod City, on Thursday, Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, Bacolod fire marshal, said Friday, February 17.The wind may have caused the wire touching the roof of the house of Edson Lorania to spark and cause a short circuit that triggered the fire, he said.No one was at the house of Lorania when the fire broke out, he said.Barangay 10 Captain Melvin Bravo said the fire destroyed 22 houses and damaged four, affecting 34 families with 117 individuals.The Bureau of Fire Protection initially said that 21 houses were dest...