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Lawyer Rose Ann Montecalvo of the National Bureau of Investigation said the agency is probing about 30 investment scam complaints.*PNA/Judaline F. Partlow photo The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Negros Oriental is investigating at least 30 alleged investment/financial scams with some complaints already filed in court. Lawyer Rose Ann Montecalvo, Intelligence Agent III of the local office of the NBI, said Thursday, May 22,  that since she reported to Dumaguete City  on April 25, she learned that 40 percent of these complaints are estafa cases, “either large-scale or syndicated”. Montecalvo told reporters at a Kapihan sa PIA forum on investment scams and responsible borrowing that in most cases, “the harsh truth is that there is slim to no chance” ...

An operative of the Bacolod City Police Office-City Drug Enforcement Unit conducts an inventory of the 170 grams of shabu confiscated from a lone suspect in Barangay 2 on Thursday*BCPO photoThe police arrested a high-value drug personality and seized suspected shabu worth P1.1 million in a buy-bust operation at Purok Sigay, Brgy. 2, Bacolod City, 4:17 a.m. Thursday, May 22.Arrested was alias “Emil” or “Yen-yen”, 29, of Brgy. 6, Bacolod, the police said.City Drug Enforcement Unit cops who carried out the arrest seized 170 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street price of P1,156,000.The suspect is now in police custody and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.*

The Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) announced a P1.78 per kilowatt-hour decrease in its electricity rates for May.NONECO said its electricity rate for May is P13.2898/kWh, which is P1.7807 lower compared to last month that was at P15.0705/kWh.The cooperative attributed the decrease to lower prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates and fuel costs of the power suppliers.Earlier this month the Negros Electric and Power Corporation and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) also announced decreases in their electricity rates.Negros Power’s current rate is P11.6958/kWh, which is P0.6605/kWh lower compared to April that was at P12.3563/kWh.NOCECO’s electricity rate for May is P12.0262/kWh, which is P3...

The May 19 drug testing in San Carlos City* San Carlos City Facebook page photoMayor Renato Gustilo said he is eyeing legal action against two regular employees of the San Carlos City government in Negros Occidental who escaped undergoing random drug tests.He said 115 regular and job order employees of the San Carlos City government tested negative for the use of illegal drugs on Monday, May 19.The drug testing was led by the San Carlos Anti-Drug Abuse Council in order to maintain a drug free workplace in accordance with the guidelines of the Civil Service Commission, he said.Gustilo said two other regular city employees escaped during the conduct of the drug tests. They could not be found and they did not answer their phones, the mayor said.Both have a history of he...

The ash fall from the May 13 Kanlaon Volcano eruption has damaged P1.847 million in crops in Negros Occidental, OIC Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said.Genzola, in a report to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson released to the media on Thursday, May 22, said damage to rice in barangays Sag-ang and Camandag in La Castellana was P128,133.She also placed the damage to high value crops in barangays Tabao proper, Bagumbayan, Sagua Banua and Bayabas in Valladolid town at P1,718,947.The ash damage affected 75 farmers and crops on 13.57 hectares, Genzola said.Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, which means it is under intensified unrest. *

Malacañang has declared Friday, June 6, a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed Proclamation 911 on Wednesday, a copy of which was posted on the Official Gazette website on Thursday, May 22.Eid’l Adha, one of main holidays for Muslims, commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son to obey God's command.The issuance comes following the recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos to declare June 6 a holiday to allow Filipino Muslims to join the commemoration.Muslim Filipinos comprise about 6 percent of the population.*PNA

Comelec NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano*The deadline for the filing of election protests versus local candidates was Thursday, May 22, Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano of the Negros Island Region Commission on Elections said.Castillano said he did not know how many protests were filed in the NIR since filing was done directly with the Comelec main office in Manila or the Regional Trial Courts.Protest cases under the jurisdiction of the Comelec national office are those that involve the governor, vice governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, city mayor, city vice mayor, and Sangguniang Panlungsod members, he said.Election cases for municipal officials were to be filed before the Regional Trial Court of the municipality where local official ...

A senior citizen drowned in a river in Sitio Marikudo, Brgy. Camang-Camang, Isabela, Negros Occidental, Wednesday, May 21.The 67-year-old man who is a resident of Brgy. Camang-Camang was found floating in the river, a police report said.Two people who went to the river to fish discovered the body.The victim was rushed to the Ignacio L. Arroyo Memorial District Hospital in Isabela but he was declared dead on arrival.*

The police arrested a former member the New People’s Army who is facing child abuse charges in Brgy. Poblacion, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, on Tuesday, May 20.The suspect, whose name was withheld by the police, was arrested by operatives of the 704th Regional Mobile Force Battalion and Regional Intelligence Unit of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region.The arrest was conducted by virtue of a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 64 Presiding Judge Ma. Anna Priscila Pareja with bail recommended at P200,000.*

Pastor Allan Castigador of Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City, is set to launch his book on Friday, May 22.The book entitled, The Hunter and His Flock, is an autobiography of a pastor whose life has been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus.Struck by tragedy in 1968, his family moved to the wild rainforest in the mountains of Sitio Pataan in Bago City, Negros Occidental, where the young Castigador hunted wild animals with his father for survival, a press release said.He quit schooling due to poverty but his life was revived and filled with hope after he encountered Jesus Christ as his Savior during a Baptist Evangelistic Crusade in 1979.The Hunter and His Flock is a gripping and poignant narrative of a young man’s journey of faith; sacrifices to overcome poverty and achieve schol...