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The PCG continues surface and aerial search and rescue operations in the reported distressed vicinity.*PCG photoPhilippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan on Monday, Jan. 26, called the missing captain of a ship that sunk 141 nautical miles west of Sabangan Point in Agno Bay, Pangasinan, a "hero" for his selfless leadership.The PCG is continuing its search for Captain Elimar Jucal of San Enrique, Negros Occidental, who is one of four missing after the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier MV Devon Bay capsized and sunk  on Thursday, January 22.The PCG said cargo liquefaction may have triggered a weight shift within the 55,000-ton nickel ore shipment, ultimately causing the MV Devon Bay to lose stability and capsize.Fifteen crew members were rescued and t...

The scene of the crime*A barangay kagawad was shot dead by still unidentified suspects in Purok Puncian, Brgy. Sta. Rosa, Murcia, Negros Occidental, Monday morning, Jan. 26.Police identified the victim as a 59-year-old male barangay kagawad of Brgy. Sta. Rosa and a resident of Purok Relocation in the same barangay.Murcia police investigation showed that the victim had just alighted from a Mitsubishi Highlander after a clean-up drive when unidentified suspects suddenly shot him, hitting him in the head.The suspects immediately fled the scene toward Murcia proper following the attack.The victim was rushed to the Murcia Health Unit but was declared dead by attending physician.The Murcia Police Station has launched hot pursuit and dragnet operations with neighboring pol...

Firefighters battling the blaze in Brgy 26 Monday morning.*Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade photoAnother fire left 65 residents homeless at Purok Masanag, Brgy. 26, Bacolod City, at 5:20 a.m. Monday, January 26, Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga said. There were nine houses destroyed and three damaged, updated DSSD data as of 6 p.m. Monday showed. The Bacolod Fire Department initially reported nine houses destroyed and 4 damaged, valued at P150,000. The fire affected 18 families with 65 individuals, Verdeprado-Mangga said. The fire started from the house of Linda Barba and was caused by “electrical ignition due to arcing”, Fire Inspector Jemarie Tapiru, deputy city fire marshal, said. Electrical arcing is described as a phenomenon that occu...

A motorcycle rider was killed in a hit and run incident at the Bacolod–Silay Airport Access Road in Brgy. Efigenio Lizares, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday afternoon, January 25.Police identified the fatality as alias “Rex”, 35, of Brgy. Cabatangan, Talisay City, who was driving a Kawasaki Fury motorcycle at the time of the incident.Initial investigation by the Talisay City Police Station showed that Rex and an Isuzu Giga truck driven by alias “Jet,” 52, of Quezon City, were traveling in the same direction from Bacolod City toward Silay City when the truck allegedly lost control and hit the rear of the motorcycle.The impact caused the motorcycle to hit the gutter and fall, after which the truck reportedly ran over the rider and the bike.Responding personnel from ...

The rescued fishermen finally return home.*PCG photoThree fishermen, who were rescued in the waters off Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, safely returned to their homes in Barangay Culipapa, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, early Monday morning, Jan. 26.Mayor Daph Reliquias said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) brought them back to Hinoba-an at about 1 a.m. Despite their grueling experience at sea, the mayor confirmed that all three men are currently in good health.The municipal government will give them financial aid of P10,000 each for loss of livelihood and food packs, Reliquias said.The trio’s motor banca, the Princess Henna, sank, leaving them adrift in the Sulu Sea for two days and one night, the PCG reported.The PCG said that their ordeal ended on Sunday when they were s...

Human skeletal remains believed to belong to a man reported missing during Typhoon Tino were discovered in a sugarcane plantation in Sitio Simboryo, Brgy. Bulad, Isabela, Negros Occidental, on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 25.Police identified the remains as those of a 59-year-old married man from Hacienda Pilar, Brgy. Crossing Magallon, Moises Padilla, after his younger brother positively identified the clothing found at the site.The Isabela Municipal Police Station said barangay officials reported the discovery at around 4:30 p.m. after a sugarcane worker found scattered skeletal remains while harvesting sugarcane in the area.Responding police officers conducted an ocular inspection and confirmed that the remains were spread across a portion of the plantation, indicating prolonged e...

A community-driven renewable energy project was launched that aims to provide electricity to around 150 households on Matabas Island in Brgy. Molocaboc, Sagay City, alongside livelihood and energy-based programs designed to benefit women and strengthen island resilience.The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) formally launched the “REPower Matabas” project at the State University of Northern Negros Hotel, coinciding with the celebration of International Clean Energy Day on Monday, Jan. 26.NICE Secretary General Joshua Villalobos said the launch underscores that renewable energy should serve communities that have long been excluded from reliable electricity, stressing that clean energy must benefit people and not only large corporations.Project Manager J...

The Commission on Elections on Monday, Jan. 26, said 80,383 Negros Island Region residents have registered to vote in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for November 2.They registered to vote from Oct. 20, 2025 to Jan. 24, 2026, the Comelec said.The data showed that Negros Occidental led the region in registration volume, accounting 68.18 percent of the total applications processed during this period.ProvinceMale ApplicantsFemale ApplicantsTotal ApplicationsNegros Occidental25,86328,94454,807Negros Oriental11,48112,90324,384Siquijor6015911,192REGION TOTAL37,94542,43880,383Female applicants (42,438) slightly outnumbered male applicants (37,945), reflecting a trend seen in previous registration cycles where women have shown high particip...