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Oct162026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

2 BADAC-listed suspects arrested, P564,400 in ‘shabu’ seized in Bacolod

Two persons on the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council watchlist were arrested and about 83 grams of suspected shabu worth P564,400 were seized in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, Oct. 14, police said.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the suspects only as aliases “Ding,” 48, tagged as a high-value individual, and “Jess,” 33, classified as a street-level individual of Purok Progreso Village 1 in Brgy. Vista Alegre.Police said the operation was conducted on Oct. 14 by the Bacolod City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit, with support from the City Intelligence Unit and Police Station 7.The police said the operation stemmed from information that “Ding” was allegedly involved in the sale of illegal drugs in Purok Abada Escay and...

Oct162026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

3 dead, 1 wounded in early morning Santa Catalina shooting

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Three men were killed and another was wounded in a early morning shooting incident in a remote area of Santa Catalina town in Negros Oriental on Friday, October 16.The Santa Catalina Municipal Police Station (MPS) reported that the shooting took place around 5:30 a.m. in Sitio Cang-alaw, Barangay Buenavista.According to police reports, all four victims—all adult males—are residents of Sitio Lobo-Lobo in neighboring Barangay Mansagumayon. Three of the victims died at the scene, while the fourth sustained injuries and required medical assistance.Authorities have identified two adult male suspects in connection with the shooting. Both suspects are reportedly residents of Sitio Caningay, Barangay San Isidro in the neighboring town of Pamplona.Upon receiv...

Oct162026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

15 finalists take stage for SingKara 2026: Teens Edition grand finals tonight

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Fifteen young singers will compete for the championship title in the grand finals of SingKara 2026: Teens Edition at the Bacolod Public Plaza 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16.The final showdown follows weeks of elimination rounds and preparation, providing young local performers with a platform to display their vocal abilities and stage presence, a press release from Gugma Foundation said.Rutha Rojo, an organizer from Gugma Foundation, said that the competition aims to highlight the potential of Bacolod's youth and boost their confidence through live performance."SingKara is an opportunity for our young talents to show what they can do and gain confidence through performing on stage," Rojo said. “We hope the public will come out tonight to support the finalists and celebrate the...

Oct152026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

El Niño causes crop moisture stress in 13 NegOcc LGUs

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A rice field in Escalante City affected by the dry spell.*OPA photoDry weather driven by El Niño has led to crop moisture stress in 13 towns and cities in Negros Occidental, Irene Bel Ploteña, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head, said on Thursday, October 15.Ploteña said an October 1 report from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist disclosed that 1,413.62 hectares of rice crops have been affected by moisture stress.The affected areas are located in San Carlos City, Toboso, Don Salvador Benedicto, Escalante City, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Moises Padilla, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Cauayan, Ilog, and Kabankalan City.She also said 91.93 hectares of corn crops in Don Salvador Benedicto have also experienced moisture stress....

Oct152026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Rise in pediatric respiratory cases triggers CLMMRH public health advisory

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The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City issued a public health advisory Thursday, Oct. 15., following a notable rise in pediatric respiratory illness consultations at its Emergency Department. According to data recorded from October 1 to 14, the hospital's Emergency Department treated 140 children with respiratory conditions. A majority of the patients, 120 children, were diagnosed with Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP). The remaining 20 cases involved viral infections or flu-like illnesses accompanied by fever, cough, and runny nose, the advisory said. Hospital authorities attributed the rapid transmission of pathogens among children to the ongoing continuous rainfall. To curve the spread of infectio...

Oct152026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez defends persons with autism, condemns podcast attack on Josh Aquino

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Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod City Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Thursday, October 15, strongly condemned the discriminatory and insulting remarks directed at Josh Aquino in a viral podcast, warning that freedom of expression is not a license to demean persons with special needs.In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Benitez emphasized that derogatory jokes directed at individuals on the autism spectrum perpetuate ableism and undermine human dignity.“As the author of House Bill No. 3379, the National Autism Care, Support, and Inclusion Act, I firmly believe that persons with autism deserve understanding, equal opportunities, and genuine acceptance, not cruelty and ridicule,” Benitez said.House Bill No. 3379, filed by Benitez to support an estimated 1.2 milli...

Oct152026 by Shiela Gelera-BragaNo Comments

PNP traces Hinigaran, Isabela school threats to single account

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Police inspect a school in Hinigaran on Thursday.*PNP photoClasses at all levels in both public and private schools in the towns of Hinigaran and Isabela, Negros Occidental, were suspended on Thursday, October 15, due to online threats.A police investigation found that only one person or account was involved in making the threats.Police personnel from Hinigaran and Isabela conducted security checks as well as mobile and foot patrols in the vicinity of schools starting Wednesday night.The Philippine National Police (PNP) is taking steps to trace and identify the owner of the social media account so the individual can be held accountable.The Isabela and Hinigaran police forces have submitted their report to the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU).“The onli...

Oct152026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Bacolod SP calls for intensified campaign vs. dengue, leptospirosis

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The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod City has unanimously approved a resolution urging key government agencies and local officials to intensify and institutionalize coordinated, community-based prevention, surveillance, sanitation, and public information campaigns against dengue fever and leptospirosis, particularly during the rainy season and periods of flooding, Councilor Caesar Distrito said Thursday, Oct. 15.The measure, authored by Distrito, emphasizes that the city government must adopt a proactive and sustained approach in preventing these diseases, especially in flood-prone communities. Distrito stressed that prevention must always serve as the first line of defense, noting that the city should not wait for cases to rise or lives to be lost before taking de...

Oct152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

715 personnel deployed for Buglasan Festival 2026 security

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

A total of 715 personnel from police, military, emergency response and other government agencies will be deployed across Negros Oriental to secure the Buglasan Festival 2026 to be held in Dumaguete City.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region held a send-off ceremony for the security forces on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Camp Lt. Col. Francisco C. Fernandez Jr. in Brgy. Agan-an, Sibulan.Of the total deployment, 362 personnel will come from the Philippine National Police, 90 from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 90 from the Civil Security Unit, 50 from the Provincial Health Office, 45 from the Traffic Management Office, 32 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 22 from the Philippine Coast Guard, 16 from the Bureau of Fire Protection, and eight from the...

Oct152026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Bacolod fire marshal among 20 finalists in search for nat’l outstanding firefighter

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Bacolod City Fire Marshal Supt. Jenny Mae Masip has been named among the Top 20 finalists in the Commissioned Officers category of the Search for the Ten Outstanding Firefighters of the Philippines (TOFF) 2026. Masip is representing the Bureau of Fire Protection-Negros Island Region in the national search, a press release from the Bacolod City Fire Station said Wednesday, Oct 14.The 20 finalists were selected from 58 nominees following the National Selection Interviews held on Oct. 7 and 8.Masip is set to undergo the final interview on Nov. 8 and 9 at the SM Prime Headquarters in Pasay City.She said reaching the Top 20 was already a significant milestone in her career and credited the personnel of the Bacolod City Fire Station, BFP-NIR and community partners for suppor...