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RPDEU-6More than P800,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized and 10 suspects, including two high-value individuals, were arrested in separate drug bust operations in Negros Occidental.In Bacolod City, the joint buy-bust operation at the Carlos Hilado Highway, Marapara Heights in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City, on Saturday, March 27, led to the recovery of more than P700,000 worth of illegal drugs.Police identified the suspects as high-value individuals Mark John Tanique, 32, Rodel Vasques, 25, both of Zone 5, Talisay City, and street-level individual Dave Dumip-ig, 18, of Barangay 10, Bacolod.The suspects sold two sachets of drugs worth P28,500 to a police poseur buyer.The police also recovered 12 sachets of drugs worth P748,000, a motorcycle, and other belongings.The ...

PEMO photoNegros Occidental and Bacolod City joined the world in marking Earth Hour by turning off lights at key government buildings from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, as a show of support for the worldwide fight against climate change.As the lights at the provincial Capitol and park in Bacolod City went out, participants lit candles forming the number 60 that represents the minutes of Earth Hour.They also shouted “Happy Earth Hour, Abase Negrense.”Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia also ordered the switching off of lights at city government facilities, including the Bacolod City Government Center and public plaza.All Bacolod City government employees were also asked to join Earth Hour in their homes by switching off lights as their own contribution to saving en...

The Cadiz City Hall 2 in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, will reopen Monday, March 29, Mayor Salvador Escalante said.Only the Business Processing and Licensing Office (BPLO) will remain closed, as five of its staff tested positive for COVID-19. It will reopen on April 5.The Cadiz City Hall 2 was closed for disinfection on March 24 after a department head, three BPLO employees, and two policemen tested positive for COVID-19, Escalante said.On contact tracing, two other BPLO employees also tested positive for the virus.*

Ronnie Baldonado photoSugar Regulatory Administration Board Member Emilio “Dino” Yulo said he fully supports the call of the country’s sugar groups “to terminate the current 7 percent allocation for the US quota in light of the fact that the industry may not be able to reach its targeted sugar output for this crop year”.The projected national production of 2.190 million metric tons appears to be a long shot based on simple mathematics, Yulo said in a statement issued Sunday, March 28.The Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines, Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, and the Luzon Federation of Sugarcane Growers are all calling for the scrapping of the 7 percent sugar allocatio...

3ID photoSoldiers involved in an encounter that left 10 alleged rebels dead in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on March 23 received military merit medals.Soldiers from the 62nd Infantry Battalion, 33rd Division Reconnaissance Company (33DRC), and 16th Scout Ranger Company were commended for the meritorious acts they displayed that resulted in the death of 10 suspected members of the New People’s Army, and the recovery of 11 high-powered firearms and subversive documents with high intelligence value.The rites held at the 62IB headquarters in Barangay Libas, Isabela, on March 25 was led by Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.“I want to congratulate all the troops involved for the display of bravery and heroism coupled with their...

3ID photoAbout 210 villagers in Calatrava and Toboso, Negros Occidental, strongly denounced the violence and atrocities committed by the communist terrorist group (CTG) during peace rallies on Thursday and Friday, March 25-26, a press release from the Army said.The activity commenced with a film-showing and information drive aimed to give awareness to the residents regarding insurgency, deception and recruitment strategies of the Communist Terrorists Group (CTGs) and to address the issues and concerns of the residents, its said.Former rebel "Ka Joross" also shared his testimony about his worst and miserable experiences when he was still in the armed group and how the government helped him after he surrendered.Participants of the activity, mostly youth and parents, led by Br...

A Bacolod Regional Trial Court judge has suspended the criminal proceedings against businessman Ricardo V. Yanson Jr. and held in abeyance a warrant of arrest issued against him, his lawyer Carlo Joaquin Narvasa said Saturday, March 27.Bacolod RTC Branch 45 Judge Phoebe Gargantiel Balbin in an order dated March 1 granted the petition for certiorari filed by Yanson against Abraham Bayona in his capacity as presiding judge of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities – Bacolod Branch 7.The assailed orders issued by Bayona dated July 23 and August 5, 6, 17 and 27, 2020 are annulled and set aside for having been issued with “grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction,” Balbin ruled.The proceedings in Criminal Case No. 20-07-34724 entitled People of the Philippi...

The offices of the governor and provincial administrator have temporarily been locked down.*Richard Mailhan photoPart of the Negros Occidental provincial Capitol, including the Office of the Governor, in Bacolod City was locked down starting Friday morning, March 26, after the head of the Provincial Incident Management Team (PIMT) and three of his staff tested positive for COVID-19, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.Also locked down are the Provincial Administrator’s Office and Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD), while the Provincial Health Office is operating on a skeletal force.The lockdown for disinfection is expected until Monday.Zeaphard Caelian, PIMT and PDMPD head, and three of his staff tested positive when they were swabbed for RT-PCR tests in prep...