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BCPO photoA street-level drug suspect was arrested in a buy-bust operation at Barangay 3 in Bacolod City Thursday night, May 13.Police identified the suspect as Dennis “Nido” Salazar, 36, of the barangay.The police said they seized seven sachets of suspected shabu worth P102,000, P500 in marked money, and a coin purse, from Salazar.The suspect, who is now detained at Police Station 2, will face drug charges.*

Courtesy of Dolly YasaArmed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana on Thursday, May 13, said “nobody wins a war” in response to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson’s plan to create a local peace panel.Lacson on Wednesday said he would create a peace panel for talks with local Communist rebels.The peace panel will be a multi-sectoral body that will include the private sector, including the Church and the academe, Lacson said.This is in compliance with a national government directive and they will be guided by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, he said.Sobejana, who was in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, said: “I don’t think that war is the solution to the security problem”.“There are other dimensions and factors to be addressed, so th...

Bacolod PIO photoThe Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will initially start the barangay mass vaccination against COVID-19 of health workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities in seven areas in Bacolod City on Friday, May 14, City Administrator Em Ang said Thursday night.They had initially targeted 21 barangays.The mass vaccination on Friday will be held at barangays 39, Villamonte, Mansilingan, Alijis, Punta Taytay, Mandalagan and at the Andres Bonifacio Elementary School in Barangay 3, said Ang, who is also EOC executive director.This will be held simultaneously with the mass vaccination at the SMX Convention Center and the Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, Ang said.Officials of 14 other barangays decided to start their mass vaccination on Mond...

La Carlota PNP photoA retired teacher was shot to death along the national highway of Barangay Haguimit, La Carlota City, in Negros Occidental Wednesday night, May 12.The fatality was identified as Irvi Ramos, 64, of Haguimit.The victim, along with his second cousin, was walking home from a sari-sari store when he was waylaid and shot five times by an unidentified suspect, a police report said.Ramos was rushed to Don Salvador Benedicto Memorial District Hospital for medical treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.Recover from the crime scene were three fired cartridge cases of a .45 caliber pistol and a deformed fired bullet.The police have yet to establish the motive of the killing.*

Dolly Yasa photoArmed Forces chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana led the unveiling of a bust in honor of a Negrense war hero at the Cabacungan Elementary School in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, Thursday morning, May 13.Honored was 1Lt. Lolinato To-ong Sr., a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Valor, the Philippines’ highest military award for courage.To-ong, a member of 39th Marine Company, was killed during an assault on heavily fortified bunkers of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front while providing suppressive fire to cover the medical evacuation of wounded fellow Marine personnel on April 30, 2000.Sobejana, who called To-ong a modern-day hero, said his sacrifice amidst the intense firefight against the MILF rebels prevented the enemies’ advance that saved the lives of his ...

Bacolod Councilor Dindo Ramos and his wife have recovered from COVID-19, his colleague said Thursday.Councilor Al Victor Espino said Ramos and his wife, Jean, had been discharged from the hospital.A source said the councilor, who had suffered from a severe case of COVID-19, was discharged Wednesday.Meanwhile, Bacolod City had 44 new COVID-19 cases Thursday for a total of 925 active cases, the Department of Health reported.Negros Occidental has 93 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 2,661 active cases, the DOH added.*

The Sipalay City government has eased its restrictions against COVID-19 as it opened its locality to tourists.Mayor Maria Gina Lizares in Executive Order 2021-013 signed Thursday, May 13, extended the Modified General Community Quarantine in Sipalay City to May 31 with amended guidelines.Under the new EO, which will take effect 12:01 a.m. Saturday, mass gatherings will be allowed up to 30 percent capacity of a venue, but establishments or venues will strictly comply with ventilation standards.The daily curfew will start from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., while those who are exempted are persons in need of emergency services, personnel of cargo vehicles, and authorized persons outside their residence.Under its amended travel guidelines, travel forms will no longer be required for outgoi...