Top Stories

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...

A garbage truck picking up waste at the Libertad Public Market in Bacolod City.* Levi Trio photoMayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said he is exploring ways to convert biodegradable waste from Bacolod’s markets into organic fertilizer.A separate disposal system will be set up for biodegradable waste and income generated from the organic fertilizer produced will be used for the markets, he said.He has spoken to sugar groups about the city’s producing organic fertilizer, Benitez said.Meetings are also being held to make the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program operational as soon as he assumes office, which will cover all Bacolodnons, Benitez said.His legal team is coordinating with private hospitals and working on how to operationalize the program immediately, Benitez s...

Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara*The rehabilitation of the water system in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, will be his priority project, re-elected mayor John Rey Tabujara said Tuesday, June 14.The water is no longer potable because of salt water intrusion, Tabujara said.The rehabilitation will be funded with a bank loan, but the actual cost that could range from P50 million to P100 million has yet to be determined, Tabujara said.The water system serves 400 to 500 residents but with the rehabilitation it can be expanded to cover more households, he said.Also among his priorities is a housing program for retired town employees, he added.A big portion of the town’s budget has also been allocated to boost local agriculture, he said, pointing out that fishing and farming are...

The recipients of the NHA aid in Cauayan*Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson distributed P19.9 million from the National Housing Authority (NHA) to 3,989 residents of Cauayan town who lost their homes to Typhoon “Odette” at rites on Tuesday, June 14.The distribution in Cauayan was the last of the P91 million NHA assistance released to the typhoon victims in Negros Occidental, he said.The provincial government has also been releasing P41 million from the national treasury for the typhoon victims, he said.The beneficiaries were identified by the Cauayan municipal government.Mayor John Rey Tabujara thanked Lacson for facilitating the distribution of the financial assistance worth P5, 000 for each recipient.Tabujara said aid given to Cauayan victims of “Odette” f...