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The removed campaign materials of Team Asenso Bacolod are up for recycling, Bacolod Mayor-elect Greg Gasataya said.*Greg Gasataya Facebook page photoThe Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, May 20, expressed dismay over the failure of candidates to remove their campaign materials past the deadline of five days after the May 12 elections."We said that five days after the election, they (campaign materials) should be removed. Now it's been more than five days," Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said.Campaign materials in numerous public areas, especially on posts, in Bacolod City had not been removed as of Tuesday, despite the Comelec’s Saturday deadline.Garcia warned the candidates that they may be held criminally liable for not complying with the law, noting that t...

A man previously accused of frustrated murder was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in a river in Purok 5, Brgy. Pinggot, Ilog, Negros Occidental, on Monday, May 19.The victim was identified as Reymundo Agaze Jr., 47.Recovered in the area were two empty shells and one fired bullet of .45 caliber pistol, which was believed to have been used in killing the victim.Maj. Randy Babor, Ilog Police Chief, said based on their investigation, the motive of the incident was due to personal grudge as the victim was imprisoned for frustrated murder charges and released after serving his sentence.The police are looking for persons of interest.*

Lt. Col. Michael Aquino (left) shakes hands with Lt. Col. Sol Zaulda, who replaces him as commanding officer of the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, during the turnover ceremony in Siaton, Negros Oriental on Tuesday. Maj. Gen. Michael Samson (center), 3rd Infantry Division commander, presided over the change of command.*PNA/ Mary Judaline F. Partlow photoThe commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division on Tuesday, May 20, urged troops in Negros Oriental to sustain operations against New People’s Army (NPA) remnants to prevent recruitment activities.Maj. Gen. Michael Samson issued his call during the change of command ceremony of the 11th Infantry Battalion (11IB) in Barangay Salag, Siaton, south Negros Oriental.Samson officiated the 11IB’s turnover of...

Some 26 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Negros Occidental will showcase export-quality Negrense food products during the International Food Exposition (IFEX) Philippines 2025 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Thursday to Saturday, May 22 to 24.Negrense MSMEs are once again joining the event, which aims to foster robust networking avenues among key players in the food, beverage, and ingredients industry, Engiemar Tupas, chief trade-industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said at a media forum in Bacolod City on Tuesday, May 20.“Based on the previous participation of the province, Negrense exhibitors were able to generate millions in sales. It is an opportunity for buyers and suppliers to engage, discover, and optimize sourcing experiences fo...

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Negros Oriental is warning establishments, institutions, government agencies and other similar entities of sanctions for rejecting the digital version of the national identification card.Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negros Oriental chief statistical specialist and provincial head, said on Monday, May 19, that they have written several government and private entities that did not honor the digital national ID.“So far, no one has been penalized or sanctioned yet as they complied with law after they were called out,” Fortuito said.He emphasized that three Philippine Identification System versions are legitimate government IDs that can be used for any transaction.These are the physical ID card, which is distributed through the Philippine Post...

A man was found dead floating near the shoreline in Purok Langob, Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, on Monday, May 19, after he drowned at sea.The 30-year-old man, whose name was not disclosed by the police, was a resident of Purok Talong in Brgy. Gil Montilla, Sipalay City.The victim along with his companion went fishing in the Sugar Beach area in Purok Langob at about 6:30 p.m., the police said.When they were about to end, the victim decided to return to the sea for a swim and suddenly disappeared, the police said.His companion searched for him and after an hour he was found dead.According to the victim’s brother he had a history of seizures.The rescuers brought the victim to the Sipalay Infirmary but he was declared dead on arrival.*

Abang Lingkod  party-list group representative-elect Manuel Frederick Ko (center) with his family at his proclamation at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday afternoon.* The Commission on Elections proclaimed Negros Occidental Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko as Abang Lingkod party-list group representative-elect at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday afternoon, May 19.The newly proclaimed party-list representatives will comprise 20 percent of the total composition of the House of Representatives.“I am deeply honored and humbled by this opportunity to serve as the new representative of Abang Lingkod”, Ko said. He replaces outgoing Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano.Meanwhile, at least four names are being floated for Speaker of the House in the 20th Congress.Aside from...

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) announced on Monday, May 19, that the country’s sugar production for crop year 2024-2025 is expected to be almost five percent higher than its target despite the effects of the extreme El Niño last year.Production is expected to end at 1.837 million metric tons from the initial estimate of 1.782 million MT, SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said in a press statement.Their initial estimate was quite low as “this was based on the health and assessment of the sugarcane after the extreme El Niño”, he said“We are currently at 1.815 million tons of sugar produced and despite the low sugar producer per ton of cane (LKGTC), we attribute the production to the increase in sugarcane tonnage per hectare planted, Azcona said.Visayas accounts f...

The seized cigarettes in Cauayan.* Bacolod City MARPSTA photoSmuggled cigarettes and two vans valued at P15,315,000 were seized in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, the Bacolod City Maritime Police Station (Bacolod City MARPSTA) reported on Monday, May 19.Operatives of the Bacolod City Maritime Police Station led by PCapt. Reynaldo Bauden Jr., with Intellectual Property (IP) Office - Manila and Bureau of Customs VI personnel, conducted an anti- smuggling operation in response to a tip on the presence of illegal cigarettes at the shoreline of Sitio Bagambang in Brgy Tiling, Cauayan.This resulted in the arrest of two suspects identified only as alias "Jun-Jun" and alias "Mar", who were caught in possession of the smuggled cigarettes in violation of RA 10863 or the Customs Modernizat...

Eleven persons, including five minors, were injured when their jeepney fell on its side after the driver lost control of the vehicle at a downhill section of the road at Sitio Mambucano, Brgy. Cabatangan, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Monday, May 19.The Mitsubishi L300 Jeepney was driven by Ian Mula, 49, of Brgy. Patic, Pulupandan, Negros Occidental.The jeepney was travelling to a farm resort in Sitio Mambucano, the police said.The driver shifted from second gear and to first gear but the vehicle suddenly moved backwards causing the driver to lose control over it.The victims sustained minor injuries while the vehicle incurred substantial damage, the police said.The driver is detained at the Talisay City Police Station*