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Public school classes will resume on November 3.* Levi Trio photoPublic schools will have a “wellness break” from October 27 to 30, Almyr Caezar Dequiña, spokesperson of the Department of Education, Negros Island Region, said on Friday.The break will cover learners from pre-schools, elementary to high schools, he said.A similar break at private schools will be at their discretion, Dequiña said.October 31 has also been declared a public holiday.The break is to give students and teachers time to rest and recover from the impact of the recent disasters, Dequiña said.Public school classes will resume on November 3.*

A suspect was injured when a gun went off while he attempted to resist arrest during a drug bust that led to his apprehension along with two others in Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City, Friday morning, Oct. 24.Bacolod Police Station 3 operatives were about to serve a warrant of arrest in Purok Langis, Brgy. Banago, at around 7:25 a.m. when they reportedly saw the three suspects in the middle of a drug transaction.Upon noticing the approaching law enforcers one of the suspects, identified as alias “Joe”, 49, attempted to dispose of a sachet believed to contain shabu.A policeman saw a firearm tucked in the suspect’s waist and tried to disarm him. Joe resisted and attempted to grab the officer’s service firearm, which accidentally discharged, hitting him on the left side of his face, the...

A 43-year-old farmer was wounded after being shot by two unidentified assailants outside his store in Brgy. Kumaliskis, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental, on Thursday night, Oct. 23.The victim was standing in front of his store when two suspects on a black motorcycle approached and fired at him before speeding off toward the direction of Murcia town, a police report said.The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen and was rushed to the Don Salvador Benedicto Municipal Health Unit.He was later transferred to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.*

 Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino* The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino for six months, Vice Mayor Kalaw Puentevella confirmed on Thursday, October 23. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bacolod Director Christian Nagaynay verbally informed him of the suspension before the Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) regular session on Wednesday, Puentevella said. However, the vice mayor has not received an official copy of the Ombudsman’s order or any documents from the DILG. The Ombudsman’s ruling is reportedly based on a complaint filed by PMaj. Junji Liba, former head of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, against Espino for profanities he hurled while at the BTAO office in 2023. Espino said he ha...

The body of the teenager was found in this area.*Romeo Subaldo photo    The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has created a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to focus on solving the case of a 17-year-old trainee who was found dead in a grassy section of the reclamation area in Brgy. 12, Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 22. Capt. Francis Depasucat , Police Station 1 commander, told DIGICAST NEGROS on Thursday that an autopsy was conducted and that the SITG was formed to concentrate on the investigation and expedite justice for the victim. The victim, identified only as “Inday”, was a trainee at a construction company and a resident of Bacolod City.  Inday was discovered hogtied and half-naked, with her underwear miss...

Fr. Filomeno Duaban, Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, Fr. Armando Onion and Fr. Michael Cuenca (l-r) at the press conference on Thursday*The retreat and recollection for Bacolod City officials dubbed the “Moral Recovery Initiative” set in November will be held in abeyance for further review, Fr. Aniceto Buenafe said on Thursday,   Oct. 23. Buenafe, Fr. Armando Onion, Fr. Filomeno Duaban and Fr. Michael Cuenca held a press conference at the Negros Press   Club on Wednesday to make the announcement.  Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Monday that he had met with the priests and they had agreed to hold recollections for elected officials and government employees for moral renewal. Buenafe, however, said that after conferring with several priests, who were not present durin...

Provincial tourism officer Cheryl Decena* Negros Occidental  Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said provincial tourism officer Cheryl Decena and the four former disbursing officers of the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary can always file their objections to their six-month suspensions before the Civil Service Commission (CSC).           The governor said Decena can use her claim that there is a "pattern of harassment" against individuals who have honestly served the provincial government as the reason for their appeal.          "If they feel that way, they can shorten the process by going directly to the CSC to file an appeal," Lacson said, pointing out that the harassment claim is “...

Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr.* Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. announced on Thursday, October 23, that demand letters have been issued to accountable officers of various provincial government departments to liquidate cash advaces.  There were numerous demand letters issued but he cannot give the exact number because they have not initiated administrative  proceedings yet, he said. “Based  on our demand letters there is a deadline of Nov. 30, 2025. I would advise everyone who received such demand letters to start complying,” he said. The demand letters were issued to almost all departments as part of their financial housekeeping because the Commission on Audit is also calling their attention, Nellas said. The unliquidated ...

The Land Transportation Office Region 6 (LTO-6) is seeking the permanent revocation of a Bacolod City motorist’s license after he fled from an inspection checkpoint, citing public safety as its top priority. The case stemmed from an incident on July 3, when the driver of a white Suzuki Multicab van refused to stop at an LTO-6 checkpoint at the old airport area in  Brgy. Singcang, Bacolod City, LTO-6 said in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Oct. 23. LTO-6 Investigation and Intelligence Unit Chief Shiela Mae Alulod issued a show-cause order to the motorist, who, along with his father, appealed for leniency.  They explained that the driver suffers from anxiety and was rushing to a job interview at the time, claiming the act was unintentional.&...