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The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region seized more than P45.2 million worth of suspected shabu and arrested 89 wanted persons in operations conducted from May 18 to 24.Based on its weekly accomplishment report released May 25, PRO-NIR conducted 53 anti-illegal drug operations that led to the arrest of 53 persons.Authorities confiscated about 6,660.52 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of P45,291,536.Police also arrested 89 wanted persons during the same period.Of the total, 16 were classified as most wanted persons, while 73 were other wanted persons.In the campaign against illegal gambling, PRO-NIR conducted 28 operations that resulted in the arrest of 48 persons and the confiscation of P8,361 in bet money.Police also reported o...

Two men were found dead in La Carlota and Bago cities in Negros Occidental on Monday, May 25, police said.In La Carlota City, a 53-year-old farmer was found dead beside a sugarcane field at Hacienda Paz, Brgy. Batuan at around noon.Police said the victim was discovered by his wife and was already in the early stage of decomposition.Initial investigation by the La Carlota City Police Station showed the victim was last seen alive by his family at around 6 a.m. on Sunday when he left their house to go to their sugarcane field.He failed to return home until his body was found the following day.Police said further inquiry showed the victim had been suffering from hypertension and had previously suffered two mild strokes, which authorities said may have contributed to his dea...

Cadiz City Councilor Frances Guanzon, who is currently serving her second term, tendered her resignation today, May 26, due to health reasons.Guanzon, 72, a former prosecutor and outstanding Regional Trial Court judge, said she submitted her resignation to the Cadiz City Sangguniang Panlungsod, which will take effect on July 1.Guanzon said  Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante had asked her not to resign, but she assured him that even without her council seat, she will continue to serve the people of Cadiz.Escalante described Guanzon as an irreplaceable public servant and a motherly figure to Cadiznons. He praised her for being an active, hardworking and performing councilor.He said Guanzon promised to remain "just a text away" whenever her help is needed, which will enable...

Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, Negros ACE president.*Negros Occidental officials are willing to be part of localized peace talks with communist rebels in the province, Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante said on Monday, May 25.“We are willing to sit down and be part of the peace process on the local level,” Escalante, Negros Association of Chief Executives (Negros ACE) president, said.Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who was in Negros Occidental on Saturday, rejected peace talks on the national level."There are localized peace mechanisms already, so why is there a need for peace talks on the national level?" Teodoro said.He also said that the government remains open to assisting returning rebels.Escalante also cited a call issued by Negros ACE following the Ap...

The Provincial Development Council meeting last week.* Richard Malihan photoThe Provincial Development Council has endorsed a Department of Agriculture (DA) proposal for the allocation of ₱12 billion for farm-to-market roads in Negros Occidental for the approval of the Regional Development Council (RDC), Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante said on Monday, May 25..The DA proposal includes farm-to-market roads for all local government units in Negros Occidental, said Escalante, who is also the president of the Negros Association of Chief Executives (Negros ACE).Negros ACE, which is composed of the mayors of Negros Occidental, will meet on Thursday to also pass a resolution supporting the DA proposal to the RDC, Escalante said.They will also submit their resolution to Agriculture ...

Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez *Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said the House the Committee on Health and the Committee on Persons with Disabilities approved House Bill 3379, or the National Autism Program Act on Monday, March 25, marking an important step in strengthening support for individuals with ASD and their families.The bill seeks to expand access to free assessment and therapy, PhilHealth coverage, early detection programs, inclusive education and barangay-based therapy centers, for every Filipino with ASD, he said.It also grants TESDA training opportunities, additional leave benefits for parents, and other measures that promote dignity, inclusion, and better opportunities for Filipinos with ASD, he added.“We will continue to push ...

The  48-year-old general manager of the Sipalay City Water District, who was listed as the No. 2 most wanted person at the city level, was arrested in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday night, May 21.Police said the accused, whose name was withheld, was arrested at around 7:44 p.m. in Brgy. 3.The tracker team of the Sipalay City Police Station conducted the manhunt operation led by Police Lt. Col. Jesus Mesahon Jr., Sipalay police chief.Authorities said the accused was arrested by virtue of warrants for two counts of rape with no bail recommended.He is also facing a charge for rape by sexual assault, with bail set at P120,000.Police said the warrants were issued on May 21 by a Regional Trial Court in Sipalay City.The accused is now detained at the &nbs...

Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco*Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco slammed the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) for its lack of transparency in the election of the members of its board of directors.He said the election of the NONECO director in the Toboso area is overdue.The NONECO board and general manager should request for the holding of an election from the National Electrification Administration (NEA), and he does not know why this has not been done, Jaojoco said.He also noted that NONECO charges the highest electric rates among the three cooperatives in Negros Occidental.Jaojoco said he is open to a 70-30 privatization of NONECO to improve its services, similar to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative-Negros Electric and Power Corp. joint venture agreement (...

A 12-year-old Sagaynon athlete delivered the first gold medal for the Negros Island Region in its Palarong Pambansa comeback after topping the Elementary Girls Javelin Throw in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on Monday, May 25.Marjen Iwayan of Brgy. Vito, Sagay City ruled the event at the D.O. Plaza Government Center Sports Complex on the first competitive day of the national games.Iwayan, a graduating elementary student of Vito Elementary School, is the daughter of Jennylyn, a child caretaker, and Mario, a construction worker.She recorded a 47.20-meter throw, coming close to the 49.77-meter Palarong Pambansa record set last year.Iwayan said this was her second Palarong Pambansa appearance and her second gold medal, after also winning gold in the Elementary Girls High Jump repr...