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Red-striped soft-scale insects (RSSI)-infested sugarcane in a farm in Negros Occidental*SRA photoThe Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) on Thursday, May 29, assured close monitoring to contain the red-striped soft-scale insects (RSSI) infestation in Negros Occidental.The RSSI, which was initially recorded in Luzon in 2023, poses a potential reduction of sugar content by almost 50 percent.In an interview, SRA Administrator Luis Pablo Azcona said there are “favorable” responses from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to help mitigate the situation.“The DA is helping the SRA, we are also working with the DA-NIR. So, we have a fast reaction,” he said.He, however, noted that there’s a containment challenge amid the harvest season.“So, the sugarcane, trucks, and the pe...

Homicide charges have been filed against a farmer who stabbed another farmer to death in Brgy. Cansilayan, Murcia, on Monday, May 26, the police said Thursday .Maj. Sherwin Fernandez, Murcia Police Chief, told DIGICAST NEGROS that a case was filed against alias “Marlon”, 38, of Brgy. Cansilayan on Tuesday, May 27.He allegedly stabbed alias “Francisco”, 49, of Brgy. Damsite, Murcia to death.Investigation revealed that the victim was tying his carabao when the suspect approached him to stop him from doing it.A heated argument ensued resulting in the suspect suddenly drawing his bolo and stabbing the victim several times, the police said.The victim was brought to the Murcia Health Unit where he was declared dead, while the suspect was arrested after a hot pursuit operation...

Five more scholars from Negros Occidental graduated from a globally recognized two-year Early Childhood Education and Care Program at Alana Kaye College in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, on Thursday, May 29.The five Negrense graduates are Kristine Irish G. Esclares of Victorias City, Artmarie J. Getonzo and Riva May D. Manuel of Sipalay City, Chloe Napaton of Moises Padilla, and Pamela Joie T. Sobrebiga of Binalbagan.They were among students from 25 countries who completed the rigorous competency-based course designed to equip future educators with globally aligned skills and knowledge, a press release from the Negros Occidental provincial government said.Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson was among speakers during the graduation rites attended by Alana A...

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III.*PNA file photoPresident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has chosen Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III to be the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced the President’s choice in a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, May 29.The turnover of command will take place on June 2,  Bersamin said.Torre will replace outgoing PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil who is set to retire on June 7.A member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Tagapagpatupad class of 1993, Torre also served as the director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) and the Davao Regional Police Office where he led the suc...

A 62-year-old woman bound for Bacolod City was arrested with P13.7 million worth of shabu concealed inside a box at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Wednesday, May 28, the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group (PNP-AVSEGROUP) reported.The PNP-AVSEGROUP and members of NAIA-Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group discovered the suspected shabu in a "Bonakid Carton Box" packed inside a pink bag during x-ray screening. Upon inspection, authorities uncovered multiple plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance, the PNP-AVSEGROUP reported on its Facebook page. A K9 paneling and field testing by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu, estimated at 2,02...

Former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. being  arrested by the Timor-Leste immigration police on Tuesday.*Video grab from Axel Teves’ Facebook post         Former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo "Arnie" Teves Jr.  who was arrested at his home in  Timor-Leste on Tuesday will be deported, the Timorese government said on Wednesday, May 28.          Teves “will be deported from Timor-Leste by administrative decision of the Ministry of the Interior, as he is in the country without a valid visa, lacking legal authorization to remain, and holding a passport that the Government of the Philippines has cancelled,”  the Timor-Leste government announced in a statement....

Two Siquijor residents hit with glanders disease have died, Dr. Nikka Hao, regional director of the Department of Health-Negros Island Region, confirmed Wednesday, May 28.She said the two males who died were among the six patients from Siquijor with confirmed glanders disease who were brought to a hospital in Dumaguete City.The two male fatalities had comorbidities, which were combination of hypertension and diabetes, she said.“What is important for glanders is early detection and treatment. Now that people are more aware of it treatment can be started faster,” she said.Hao said they are conducting contact tracing for others who may have been hit by glanders disease in Siquijor.They only have six laboratory confirmed glanders cases from Siquijor, but contract tracing ha...

Iloilo City has recorded its first confirmed case of monkeypox (Mpox), but no cases have been detected in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.Dr. Mary Ann Diaz, Iloilo City Health Officer, said that as of Tuesday, May 27, one Mpox case has been laboratory-confirmed, while four additional suspected cases are being closely monitored by the Iloilo City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.The identified individuals are currently in isolation and receiving medical care, with all patients reported to be in stable condition, she said.In Negros Occidental and Bacolod City there are no recorded Mpox cases, Adrian Hort Ramos, the head of the Provincial and City Department of Heath office, said.The public is advised to follow precautionary measures against Mpox, he said.Mpox sprea...

A 23-year-old man died while his companion survived after they were allegedly abducted and shot at in Sitio Km. 113, Brgy. Dancalan, Ilog, Negros Occidental, Wednesday afternoon, May 27.Alias “Kirt”, 23, of Hacienda Manaol, Brgy. Matab-ang, Talisay City, died while his companion, alias “Niko”, 24, of Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City, survived.The friends were in Kabankalan City to play billiards, however, they were abducted by the suspects who forced them to ride a white van.Niko told the police that their hands were cable tied and they were driven to Brgy. Dancalan where they were dragged out of the vehicle.He said the suspects shot Kirt in the head while he was allowed to run while the suspects were shooting at him until he asked for help from the residents nearby.Ilog ...

About P823,500 worth of marijuana was surrendered to Bacolod City Drug Enforcement Unit and La Carlota City Police Intelligence Unit operatives on Tuesday, May 27.CDEU head Lt. Col. Antonio Benitez Jr. said that this voluntary surrender was an offshoot of the buy-bust operation conducted in Bacolod on Monday.Alias “Nene” surrendered to the authorities six kilos of dried marijuana and liquid marijuana, he said.The police said that this is the first time that they have recovered liquid marijuana, which is considered a dangerous drug based on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency briefing.Liquid marijuana is a ready-to-use drug, which is usually bought at about P4,500 to P5,000 a container, Benitez said.They are still determining who are the customers of this kind of dang...