Top Stories

A firefighter putting out the blaze.* BFP photoA fire damaged four houses and left a teenager injured in Bangga Alit, Purok Laurel, Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Saturday, Sept. 5.The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bacolod reported that the blaze broke out at 7:25 a.m. destroying two houses and damaging two others.The incident affected six families, comprising 15 individuals.A 14-year-old resident sustained burns to his upper left arm during the incident.Fire investigators estimated the structural damage at ₱22,500.*

A 35-year-old butcher was found dead with  gunshot wounds inside his home in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, early Friday, Sept. 4.The Himamaylan police identified the victim only as  “Josh,” a resident of Sitio Daan Banua, Brgy. Su-ay.Police said the victim’s live-in partner tried to wake him at around 4:30 a.m. so he could butcher pigs but received no response.When she switched on the light, she allegedly found him lifeless on the bed with blood pooling around him.She sought help from a neighbor, who then notified barangay officials and police.The victim was brought by the Himamaylan Rescue Unit to the Governor Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead.Initial examination showed possible gunshot wounds on the right side of h...

The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region has issued a show cause order against the operator of a public transport company in Bacolod City following a passenger complaint involving alleged reckless driving and discourteous conduct.LTO-NIR said its Intelligence and Investigation Unit served the order at around 1:50 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, in Brgy. Granada.The order was received by an authorized representative of the transport operator.The complaint alleged reckless driving, arrogant and discourteous behavior, and refusal to drop off a passenger at a designated stop during a public transport trip.LTO-NIR said the show cause order requires the operator to explain the circumstances surrounding the complaint and why administrative sanctions should not be imposed.T...

Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez *Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said proposed bills setting the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years and postponing the Nov. 2 elections are expected to be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.House Bill No. 10971, which fixes the term of office for barangay and SK officials to five years, passed on second reading in the House of Representatives this week.Under the measure, barangay officials will be allowed to serve up to two consecutive terms, while SK officials will be limited to a single term.Benitez noted that because there are no major differences between the Senate and House versions, the bill could pass swiftly without requiring a bicamera...

The rescued birds. *CIDG NegOcc photoLaw enforcement operatives led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested a 65-year-old man and rescued 19 protected birds valued at ₱200,000 during an entrapment operation in Barangay 30, Bacolod City,  on Thursday, September 3.The suspect, identified by authorities only as alias "Ancheto," was caught in a buy-bust sting operation.He faces charges for the illegal possession and trading of wildlife under Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.During the operation, operatives recovered marked buy-bust cash and boodle money, alongside 11 bird cages containing five Philippine Serpent Eagles, eight Martanico birds, two Green Parrots, two Coleto birds, a G...

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Albee Benitez meeting with the fire victims on Friday.*Richard Caballero photoDeputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Albee Benitez on Friday, Sept. 4, personally provided financial assistance to 23 families whose houses were destroyed by fire in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City.The fire hit their houses in Purok San Jose 2, which the Bureau of Fire Protection classified as a red zone, or a congested area difficult for firefighters to enter, on Sept. 1.Benitez distributed P5,000  from his personal funds and food packs to each family.He said the fire victims are also expected to receive additional assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.Benitez said that because the area where the fire victims lived is often...

Haze at Kanlaon Volcano Firday morning.*Remuel Lajo photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday, Sept. 4, urged Negrenses to wear face masks in areas where haze is present.The Environmental Management Bureau – Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) on Friday continued to monitor ambient air quality levels in Bacolod City, La Castellana, and other areas within the Negros Island Region amid the presence of haze associated with smoke from ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia.The air quality  in La Carlota City and La Castellana was fair, and good in Canlaon City at noon on Friday, the EMB reported.The air quality at 8 a.m. Friday in Bacolod City and La Castellana was very unhealthy, La Carlota City – unhealthy for sensitive groups, and Canlaon City – good, the EMB...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.*“I never had an illusion of becoming a kingmaker.”That was the response of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday, September 4, when asked if he will act as a mediator between Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) to determine whom the coalition will field for governor in 2028.“If you want to be a kingmaker, you must also have the resources,” he said. “I will not be the one to decide on who the lone candidate of the coalition will be.”Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District) of Love Negros and Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Negros Occidental, 2nd District) of UNegA are rumored to be the top contenders for governor in 2028.There might be a need for Love Negros and UNegA to hold a meeting where the pr...