Top Stories

The family of Marissa Pobresa claim her remains.*The Philippine Army troops have ensured the “dignified” return of the remains of a slain alleged New People ‘s Army official to her family, the 79th Infantry Battalion said on Monday, March 10.The 79th Infantry (Masaligan) Battalion in collaboration with the 94th Infantry (Mandirigma) Battalion returned the remains of Marissa Pobresa, alleged NPA Regional Communications Officer, who was killed in an encounter in Brgy. Caduhaan, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, to her family.Her mother said she last saw her daughter when she was 17 or almost 5 years ago when she was recruited by the Communist rebels, the 79th IB press release said.Lt. Col. Arnel P. Calaoagan , 79IB commander, said they are committed to upholding humanitarian va...

SRA Administrator Paul Azcona (3rd from left) with PHILSUTECH Agriculture and Farm Engineering Division Vice President and Director Renato M. Maestre, Board Chairman Noli G. Segovia and President Ulysis M. Alferez.*“The farmer always comes first. Without the farmer, we will not have a sugar industry.”Sugar Regulatory Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said that was the marching order given to him by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel when he was appointed to head the SRA two years ago.Azcona delivered the message during the opening program of the Philippine Sugar Technologists Association Inc. (Philsutech) Technology Transfer and Farm Tour at the Planta Centro Hotel, Bacolod City, recently.Organized by the Philsutech Agriculture and...

The greyhound operation at the Sagay City Jail*Fifty-eight persons deprived of liberty and jail personnel tested negative during random drug tests conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Unit-Negros Occidental at the Sagay City Jail in Brgy. Rizal, recently.Tested were 40 PDLs and 18 personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported on Monday, March 10.The drug testing was part of a greyhound operation where a search was conducted for illegal drugs or contraband inside the facility.No contraband was recovered.The Greyhound Operation and drug testing are part of BJMP’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs and ongoing efforts to ensure a drug-cleared jail facility, PDEA added.*

The slain NPA officers*79th IB photosThe death of two alleged regional officers of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a “fierce encounter” at Brgy. Caduha-an, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, March 8, is a big blow to the rebel movement, the 79th Infantry Battalion commander, said on Sunday."This engagement is a significant blow to the entire Communist Terrorist network not only in the Island of Negros but throughout Western and Central Visayas. The neutralization of their sitting regional front secretary at the same time regional finance officer and their communications officer signals their near decimation,” Lt. Col. Arnel P. Calaoagan, 79th IB commander, said.Killed in a 8-minute firefight between 79th IB soldiers and seven communist terrorists were Hans Ponteras ali...

The pickup where the shooting incident occurred in Brgy Sum-ag, Bacolod City, Friday night.*PNP photoA former barangay captain and his live-in partner sustained bullet wounds while on board a pickup in Bangga Tomaro, Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, on Friday night, March 7, and died, a police official said Sunday, March 9.The victims were Federico Hilado Gayagas Jr., 53, a former barangay captain of Bacong in Bago City, Negros Occidental, and Carmelita Mojica Davila, 44, of Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City, PCapt. Andy Ofalia, Bacolod Police Station 9 chief, said.Davila died Friday night and Gayagas passed away on Saturday, he said.Ofalia said witnesses thought the killing was perpetrated by persons on a motorcycle as gunshots were heard as they passed by the white Nissan Navar...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson (4th from left) receiving the P3 million check of Negros Occidental.* Richard Malihan photoThe Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) turned over close to P34 million in incentive funds to the Negros Occidental provincial government, 12 cities and six towns who are 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance passers at rites held at the Social Hall of the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Friday, March 7.The Negros Occidental provincial government received P3 million while the 12 cities received P2 million each and the six towns were given P1,153,000 each, DILG Provincial Director Teodora Sumagaysay said on Sunday.The 12 cities that are 2024 SGLG passers are Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Si...

The shooting took place inside the compound of AU & Sons Merchandising Inc.* Romeo Subaldo photoThe wounded business partner of a slain Chinese businessman in Brgy. Bubog, Talisay City, Negros Occidental, also died, the police confirmed on Sunday, March 9.“Peter”, the business partner of alias “Sunny”, died at a hospital Friday afternoon hours after he was shot, Lt. Col. Salvador Trono, Talisay police chief, told DIGICAST NEGROS.Sunny, 59, was shot dead at his office by his brother Jimmy, 51, inside the compound of AU & Sons Merchandising Inc. Friday morning.When the suspect left the office of his brother, he also shot one of Sunny’s business partners identified only as Peter, 30, a Chinese national, on the chest.Jimmy, who was apprehended by the police after t...

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena (4th and 3rd from left, seated) with the tourism officers of Negros Occidental.*Ronnie Baldonado photoThe 2024 tourist arrivals in Negros Occidental increased by 31.42 percent for same day visitors and 26.74 percent for overnight arrivals compared to 2023, Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena reported.The same day visitors were 3,342,677 and the overnight tourist arrivals were 879, 643, Decena reported at the Tourism Officers’ First Quarter Meeting held at the Negros Residences in Bacolod City Friday morning, March 7.The province also had 19,332 international tourists from the USA, Switzerland, France, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, China, Canada, Japan, and Korea in 2024, she said.Governor E...

The police arrested two persons and seized suspected shabu worth P374,000 in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Alo, Brgy. Enclaro, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, March 8.Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit operatives of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office arrested alias “Lyndon”, 35, and alias “Marvin”, 31, while alias “Titing”, 42 remains at-large.The suspects are detained at the Binalbagan Police Station.They will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.*