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Items recovered by the Army from the slain rebels.*303rd IB photoTwo alleged New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed in an encounter with government forces at Purok Yuring, Sitio Dash 7, Brgy Bulwangan in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, Saturday, April 17, Maj. Cenon Pancito, Philippine 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said Sunday, April 18.The two were killed in a 40-minute firefight between the Army's 15th Infantry Battalion and Platoon 3 of the KR-NCBS (Kilusang Rehiyon - Negros Cebu Bohol Siquijor) Southwest Front, Pancito said.The two fatalities identified as alias Micheal/ Nonoy, and alias Ken-ken, were brought to Porras Funeral Homes in Hinoba-an, he said.“The relentless efforts of the soldiers forced the enemies to scamper in different directions, leaving their...

The Negros Occidental COVID-19 cases continued to rise by triple digits during the weekend, the Department of Health reported.Negros Occidental had 131 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, April 17, and 133 on Sunday, April 18, the DOH report said.The province had a total of 2,181 COVID-19 active cases on Sunday, the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) also reported.San Carlos City still had the highest number of active cases at 274 and Salvador Benedicto remains COVID-free with no active cases, the PIMPT reported.The other areas with triple-digit active cases are Himamaylan City – 185, Kabankalan City -174, Cauayan – 133, Murcia – 123, Bago City -122, Binalbagan -120 and Cadiz City – 117.There are also active COVID-19 cases in Ilog - 91, La Carlota City - 90, Pulupan...

More Bacolod City government employees have tested positive for COVID-19.Among the latest to test positive are four employees at the City Mayor’s Office, City Administrator Em Ang said Saturday, April 17.Earlier, Ang said 51 city government employees also tested positive earlier.Bacolod City had 44 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, April 17, and 25 on Sunday, April 18, the Department of Health reported.On Sunday, Bacolod City had a total of 668 active COVID-19 cases and 197 deaths, the DOH report on Sunday showed.*

A 45-year-old man was shot to death outside his home at Barangay Mabini in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, Saturday night, April 17.Police identified the victim as Leticio Cordova.The victim was with his wife and brother in his home when six unidentified armed men arrived, a police report said.One of the suspects called the victim and told him to come out.When the victim went out, he was shot by one of the suspects.When he fell to the ground, he was shot again on the head, causing his instantaneous death.The suspects said “NPA ni (we’re NPA)” and fled to the mountainous area of the village, the police report added.Recovered from the crime scene were two fired cartridges of a .45 caliber pistol.Police are still investigating the incident.*

BCPO photoA 19-year-old was arrested and yielded P2.6 million worth of drugs in a joint buy-bust operation at Purok Sigay, Barangay 2 in Bacolod City on Saturday, April 17.The police identified the suspect as Dan Aldrick Ballesteros of Barangay 2.He yielded three sachets of shabu worth P2.6 million with an estimated weight of 396 grams, the buy-bust item, P1,000 in marked money and a weighing scale.The joint operation was conducted by the police and the National Bureau of Investigation.Three more persons were also arrested by the police in Barangay Alijis on April 16.The suspects were identified as Romulo “Jun Jun” Dipon, 32, Antonio “Tonio” Dipon, 32, both of Barangay Alijis, and Garry Velez, 32, of Barangay 34.The suspects yielded nine sachets of suspected sha...

The temporary suspension of activities in Salvador Benedicto town has been extended to April 25 as a precaution against COVID-19, Mayor Marxlen dela Cruz said.The town currently has no active COVID-19 cases.Suspended activities are seminars, trainings, rides, swimming, camping, hiking and excursions, he said.Mayor Melecio Yap has also issued an executive order restricting the admission of non-resident tourists and guests in beaches, resorts, floating cottages and other destinations in Escalante City starting Saturday, April 17, until further notice.Mayor Pedro Zayco has ordered the closure of resorts in Kabankalan City on Saturdays and Sundays.Hotels, pension houses and inns will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity, he added.*

The Murcia municipal government budget officer who died Thursday tested positive for COVID-19, Mayor Gerry Rojas said Friday, April 16.Rojas and 56 other government workers in Murcia have also been hit by the virus, and are in quarantine.Murcia currently has 123 COVID-19 active cases.The budget officer had gone on quarantine when she was identified as a close contact, after her colleagues tested positive for the virus.She died in her home on Thursday morning, Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.She was 44 years old.The budget officer was tested for COVID-19 on her death and the results turned out positive. Ten of 14 members of her household also tested positive, Rojas said.Rojas said since April 6 he, the budget officer and 56 governme...

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson is hoping the COVID-19 active cases in Negros Occidental will begin to drop next week with many graduating from their 14-day quarantines.However, there were 148 new COVID-19 cases in Negros Occidental Friday, April 16, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 2,035, the Department of Health reported.Bacolod City also had 59 new COVID-19 cases for a total of 618 active cases, and two additional deaths, the DOH added.Lacson said starting Friday Negrenses with COVID-19 cases were expected to graduate from quarantine.“For as long as the number of new cases do not match those that are graduating we hope to see the numbers going down next week,” he said.Lacson called on local government officials to exert more efforts to preven...