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Two persons listed in a barangay drug 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, Wednesday night, Oct. 14.The Bacolod City Police Office identified the suspects only as aliases “Ding,” 48, tagged by police as a high-value individual, and “Jesson,” 33, classified as a street-level individual.Both are residents of Barangay Vista Alegre and were listed in the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council watchlist, police said.The operation was conducted at around 10:42 p.m. in Purok Progreso Village 1 by the BCPO City Drug Enforcement Unit, with support from the City Intelligence Unit and Police Station 7.Police recovered eight heat-sealed sachets and a knot-tied transparent plastic ...

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the Philippine Air Force officials.*Utilizing 38 flight sorties and 11,400 kilograms of salt, government agencies have concluded a 28-day cloud seeding mission to induce rainfall over moisture-stressed farms in Negros Occidental and neighboring provinces.Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson met with officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Air Force (PAF), and partner agencies on Thursday, October 15, for an exit conference at the Provincial Capitol to review the execution, achievements, and key outcomes of the month-long initiative.Conducted from September 7 to October 14, the cloud seeding operations aimed to induce and enhance rainfall over agricultural lands suffering from reduced ...

The CLMMRH Emergency Department* PIA file photoThe Emergency Department of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City has issued a "severe congestion alert" after reaching a 212 percent occupancy rate Wednesday, October 14. A CLMMRH  public health  advisory said  there are currently 138 patients seeking treatment in a facility designed with a 65-bed capacity.  In response to the influx, hospital officials are urging the public not to wait until health conditions worsen before seeking medical attention  and to utilize local healthcare alternatives for non-life-threatening conditions.  Patients experiencing minor or non-emergency symptoms are advised to visit their nearest City Health Office (CHO)...

 Residents gathering tiny shrimps at the Sipalay beach on Wednesday morning.* Screengrab from Donna Valdez videoTiny shrimps (hipon) have turned the beach front in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, into pink for four  days now.The tiny shrimps have  blanketed  about  a half kilometer of the shoreline   from Barangay 2 to 5 every morning since Sunday, with the largest amount seen on Wednesday, October 14, Dionilo Bogtae, coordinator of the  Sipalay City Disaster Risk Reduction  Management office, said.He said more than a hundred residents  carrying various containers were seen on the shoreline  gathering the tiny shrimps.The rint shrimps are brought in by the tide before dawn and  are washed back into the sea when the hig...

The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) issued a warning on Wednesday, Oct. 14, against individuals impersonating key police officials and personnel to fraudulently solicit financial assistance or induce money transfers through calls, text messages, and online platforms.The PRO-NIR urged all PNP personnel and the public to remain vigilant against such fraudulent schemes."The names and identities of PNP officials and personnel must never be exploited to deceive others or solicit money for personal gain," it said.Everyone is reminded not to entertain suspicious requests, to verify authenticity through official channels, and to promptly report unauthorized solicitations to the proper authorities, the PRO-NIR added."These actions are vital to preventing fraud,...

Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales*Police are investigating a series of online threats directed at at least five schools in Negros Occidental, with authorities identifying a student responsible for one incident in Victorias City while cybercrime investigators trace the remaining suspects.Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region director, Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales, said during a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 14, that several threats have been reported through Facebook and Messenger, requiring coordination with the PNP-MORAnti-Cybercrime Group to identify the account holders.The incidents involve Ramon Torres National High School-Senior High School and Ramon Torres Louisiana National High School in Bago City, Victorias National High School and Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias in...

Two persons were arrested and about 20 grams of suspected shabu worth P136,000 were seized during a buy-bust operation in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Tuesday night, Oct. 13.Police identified the suspects only as aliases “Niel,” 34, married, unemployed, and a resident of Barangay 1; and “Rica,” 33, married, an entrepreneur, and a resident of Brgy. Rizal.The operation was conducted by the Silay City Police Station Drug Enforcement Team at about 7:46 p.m. along Antonio Luna Street in Brgy. 1.Police said the suspects allegedly handed a sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer in exchange for buy-bust money.Operatives recovered six heat-sealed sachets containing suspected shabu, including the buy-bust item, with an estimated total weight of 20 grams.The seized substanc...

The winners* Gugma Foundation photoThe rain did not stop the smiles, creativity, and larger-than-life spectacle as ten artists brought some of the Philippines’ most beloved icons to life at Mega Puppets, a legacy MassKara Festival event held  at Megaworld The Upper East Wednesday, Oct. 14.Under the theme “The Icons of the Nation, Reimagined the Bacolodnon Way,” the competition transformed celebrated Filipino personalities into towering puppets, blending artistry, cultural pride, and the unmistakable MassKara spirit.Co-presented by Megaworld The Upper East and supported by Boysen, the event celebrated the enduring legacy of Mega Puppets as one of MassKara’s signature creative showcases.City Councilors Em Ang and Bobby Rojas graced the competition.Taking the champion...