Top Stories

The recoveries from a drug bust at Barangay 35, Bacolod City, December 3.*BCPO photoTwo alleged street-level drug suspects were arrested in a buy-bust operation Saturday night, December 3, at Barangay 35, Bacolod City.Nabbed were 41-year-old Jake Jimenez and his partner, 24-year-old Eliza Mae Dejole.Recovered from them were 26 grams of suspected shabu worth P176,800, the P1,500 buy-bust money, the P200 cash proceeds, and other paraphernalia.Both are detained at Police Station 1, facing drug charges.*

The dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman against Barangay Captain Noli Villarosa of Tangub, Bacolod City, is not final and he still has the right to file a motion for reconsideration or an appeal before the Court of Appeals, his lawyer Caesar Distrito said Saturday, December 3.“It was purely a harassment case filed against Villarosa, and clearly a result of his performance of his lawful duty. This is not a case of graft and corruption,” Distrito said.The case against Villarosa was filed by Candido Medalla.Villarosa was charged because he allegedly demolished a cyclone fence that encroached on the right of way and sidewalk along Ramylu Drive in Tangub in compliance with an order of former President Rodrigo Duterte to clear all roads and sidewalks from obstructions, Dis...

A man allegedly killed his uncle, who was also his stepfather, in Barangay Gahit, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, December 3.Killed was Renante Tuting, 44.Police said the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Loyd Richard Tuting, got into a confrontation with the victim, who allegedly came home drunk.This apparently irked the suspect, which led him to stab the victim, who sustained wounds to his chest, the police said.The victim was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.The victim was the brother of the suspect’s father, but later became his stepfather after he married his mother.The police are looking at a grudge as the motive for the incident.The suspect is now in police custody, and will face homicide charges.*

CREBA immediate past president Roy Villa, Rep. Francisco Benitez, new CREBA and SHDA president Steven Brian Jison, and SHDA immediate past president Kenneth Tirthdas (l-r)*Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3r District), chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, urged officers and members of the two major housing organizations in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental to take seriously the dire need for building not only housing units but shelter and human settlements that are in harmony with the environment.Benitez was the guest speaker at the induction and turn-over ceremony of the Negros Occidental chapters of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA) and the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) in Bacolod City on Fri...

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez inspects the preparations for the lights on ceremony at the Bacolod Public Plaza on Sunday, December 4.*The Bacolod City government, in partnership with STI West Negros University (STI WNU), will kick off Christmas with a Festival of Lights, lights on ceremony, and the opening of a Christmas Village at the Bacolod City Public Plaza on Sunday, December 4.The Christmas Festival of Lights will initially begin at 5 p.m. with a float and lantern parade to be joined by various student groups of STI WNU, a press release from the city government said.The parade will commence from Lacson Street (Bangga Ramos) to Gatuslao Street, entering the Public Plaza (fronting Jollibee).The program is expected to start at 6:30 p.m. followed by the lights on...

The drugs recovered in Brgy. 27, Bacolod City, on December 1.*BCPOMore than P100,000 worth of drugs were seized in Bacolod City on December 1.Nabbed in Brgy. 27 was 52-year-old Ana Marie Soqueño, who yielded 15 grams of suspected shabu worth P102,000, the P500 buy-bust money, and a coin purse.In Bangga Metal, Brgy. Alijis, street-level individual Robert Serillo was arrested in a drug bust.Recovered from him were 8 grams of shabu worth P54,400, the P500 buy-bust money, and a pouch.Also arrested were 41-year-old Reynold De Guzman of Murcia, and 26-year-old Jason Miag-ao of Brgy. 7 in another buy-bust operation at Brgy. 2.Recovered from them were 5 grams of shabu worth P34,000, the P300 buy-bust money, and a coin purse.All suspects are in police custody, facing dru...

The slain security guard in Calatrava on Wednesday.*Calatrava PNP photoA security guard was shot to death by his unidentified companion at Barangay Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, November 30, Maj. Lidawan Lumayen, Calatrava police chief, said Friday, December 2.Killed was 45-year-old Ely Marcellana of Brgy. Hinab-ongan, who was shot in the head.Police said the victim was on his way home when he was shot by his rider, who fled the scene on board Marcellana’s motorcycle.The victim and the suspect reportedly fought before the shooting occurred.Two bullets of a 9mm caliber pistol were found at the crime scene.Police have yet to establish the motive for the killing.*

There were 16 COVID-19 related deaths in Negros Occidental in November, the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) reported.The PIMT also recorded 626 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental in November, with the highest number of active cases in a day recorded on November 25 at 308.There were four COVID -19 related deaths on November 29, two on Nov 16, and one each on November 4,5, 6, 9, 10,11, 13, 25, 26 and 27.Negros Occidental had vaccinated 78.55 percent of its target population against COVID-19 as of November 27, the Department of Health reported Friday.It had also vaccinated 60.87 percent of its target senior citizen population, the DOH added.Negros Occidental and Antique are the remaining provinces in Western Visayas under Alert Level 2 because of their low ...

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office is warning the public about the possible spread of fake money this holiday season.Lt. Judesses Catalogo, spokesperson of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, said that counterfeit money often circulates in December so the police are now monitoring it.The police also reminded residents to be vigilant when buying in markets and grocery stores.The NOCPPO has not yet monitored any fake bills circulating in the province.*