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The drug buy-bust in Purok Nami-Nami, Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City.*PNP photoMore than P7.6 million worth of suspected shabu was seized in separate anti-illegal drug operations in Bacolod City and Manapla, Negros Occidental, resulting in the arrest of two alleged high-value drug personalities Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21.In Bacolod City, operatives of the Bacolod City Police Office City Drug Enforcement Unit arrested a 21-year-old suspect during a buy-bust operation in Purok Nami-Nami, Brgy. Banago, at about 7:16 a.m. on Sunday.Arrested was Jonel Ayes, alias “Ren,” an unemployed resident of the area.Police said the suspect allegedly sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer, leading to his arrest.Recovered from his possession were 10 sachets and two knot-t...

Winona Balagosa was sworn in as a United Negros Alliance member by Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, UNegA chairman.*Bilis Cadiz photoA former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) head will assume the post of Cadiz City councilor on June 30.Winona Balagosa was sworn in as a United Negros Alliance member by Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, UNegA chairman, in the presence of Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, UNegA secretary-general, on Friday, June 19.She will fill the post vacated by Councilor Frances Guanzon, who recently resigned due to health reasons.Balagosa will officially be sworn in as a councilor on June 30 when Guanzon's term  officially  ends, Escalante said.Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, Rep. Alfredo Marañon III, Winona Balagosa and Councilor Frances ...

Residential consumers in southern Negros will see higher electricity bills this month, driven primarily by a sharp surge in market prices following the resumption of the spot market.The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) announced on Friday, June 19, that its total residential electricity rate for June 2026 has been set at Php 12.3656 per kWh, reflecting a net increase of Php 0.9146 per kWh from May.According to the cooperative, the primary driver for the adjustment is the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) rate, which soared to Php 7.4098 per kWh—a steep Php 2.9895 increase—after the market suspension was lifted in May."While transmission charges saw a slight decrease, it was unfortunately not enough to offset the broader generation and fuel spikes currentl...

A 19-year-old farmer was arrested after he allegedly hacked a 55-year-old man to death following a dispute over cut trees in Murcia, Negros Occidental, Thursday,  June 18.The victim, identified only as alias “Anton,” was found dead at his residence in Purok Kinabong, Brgy. Minoyan, while the suspect, alias “Wiwi,” was arrested during a joint hot pursuit operation by the Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto police.Police said the victim and the suspect had a heated argument on June 16 regarding trees that were allegedly cut down by the suspect.Investigators said the victim allegedly warned the suspect that bloodshed could occur if he continued cutting the trees.At around 10 p.m. that day, the suspect allegedly went to the victim’s house armed with a bolo, waited for him, a...

A 64-year-old woman drowned while fishing in the coastal waters of Brgy. Cadiz Viejo, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.The victim, identified only as alias “Cecil,” was declared dead  at the Cadiz City Emergency Clinic after she was retrieved from the water on Thursday, June 18.The  Cadiz City police said  the incident happened at about 11:40 p.m. Wednesday,  June 17, while the victim and her three nephews were engaged in night fishing using a torch in the coastal area of Cadiz Viejo.Her companions and responding units immediately launched a search operation.After several hours, the victim was located and retrieved from the water unconscious before she was rushed to a medical facility.Her cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning, police said.*

Two alleged high-value drug personalities were arrested while about P408,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized in a buy-bust operation in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, on June 15.Arrested were aliases “Samuel,” 62, and “Rogelyn,” 48,  from Brgy. 2 , who were tagged as high-value drug personalities,   the  PDEA-NIR  reported Friday, June 19.The operation was conducted at Purok Bucros, Brgy. 2 by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region Northern Occidental Provincial Office, together with the PDEA Special Enforcement Team, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Drug Enforcement Unit, and the La Carlota City Police Station.Authorities recovered five heat-sealed plastic sachets and one knot-tied plastic bag c...

A 59-year-old laborer was arrested after police recovered an unlicensed .45-caliber pistol during the implementation of a search warrant in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday morning, June 18.Police identified the suspect only as alias “Nandi,” a resident of Purok 6, Brgy. Linao.The operation was conducted at about 5:50 a.m. by personnel of the Kabankalan City Police Station and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.Authorities said the operation stemmed from information received from a concerned citizen alleging that the suspect was in possession of an unlicensed firearm.Police conducted surveillance and firearms verification, which allegedly confirmed that the suspect was not a licensed firearm holder.Based on the findings, authorities secured a ...