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Police Regional Office-6 policemen have arrested 70 Commission on Elections  gun ban violators and seized  68 firearms  from Jan. 12 to March 6.The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office  arrested the most number of persons at 20, the PRO 6  reported on  Friday, March 7.“These arrests are the product of the collaborative and coordinated efforts of the member government agencies under the Joint Security Control Center”, Brig. Gen. Jack L Wanky, PRO 6 director, said.The other arrests were in Iloilo province – 16, Capiz – 10, Bacolod City  – 8, Iloilo  - 5,   Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras – 3  each,   and Regional Mobile Force Battalion - 2.Wanky  said that the conduct of COMELEC checkpoints in strategic areas across th...

A powerful whirlwind ripped off the roofs of these barracks in Brgy. Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental, Thursday afternoon, March 6.* photo courtesy of Mayor Gerry RojasA powerful whirlwind ripped off part of the roof of a warehouse and nearby buildings in Brgy. Blumentritt, Murcia, Negros Occidental, at about 2 p.m. Thursday, March 6, Mayor Gerry Rojas said.It also triggered power outages in Murcia and Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, a Negros Electric and Power Corp. official said.“It was strong, it lasted about three minutes,” said Rojas, who assured that no one was hurt.It ripped off part of the roof of a new warehouse and caused power lines to spark, he said."It was a whirlwind, not a tornado," Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction an...

Ten local government units, including Bacolod City, have ordered the suspension of face-to-face classes on Friday, March 7, because of a forecasted extreme heat index of 40 degrees Celsius.The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services that made the forecast said extreme caution must be taken.It said exposure to the heat could cause cramps and heat exhaustion, and continuing activity could lead to a heat stroke.Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez suspended face-to-face classes from pre-school to senior high school in both private and public schools in Bacolod City.Officials of private schools that have air-conditioned rooms and tertiary institutions have the discretion to decide on whether to continue with face-to-face classes or not, he said.Mayor Javier...

Kanlaon Volcano at 7:32 a.m. Thursday.*Levi Trio photoKanlaon Volcano emitted ash eight times on Wednesday and Thursday, March 5 and 6, after a four-day lull.The emissions that were confined to the upper edifice of the volcano did not hit residential areas and cause any harm, Mari-Andylene Quintia, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology resident volcanologist based in La Carlota City, said.She said the six ash emissions on Thursday and two on Wednesday came after the last recorded occurrence on Feb.28.In recent days, sulfur dioxide emissions at the volcano have been very low that is an indication of clogging at its conduit where the gasses pas, Quintia said.The gas then puts increased pressure on the clogged conduit that causes the plugs to pop resulting...

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is reconductoring existing transmission lines of its Amlan 69kV line in Amlan, Negros Oriental, to minimize brownouts in Dumaguete City as well as in nearby towns.Michelle Visera of NGCP-Visayas said on Thursday that the reconductoring started on Feb. 16, resulting in a 13-hour power interruption.Two more power interruptions are scheduled for March 9 and 22, Visara said.The reconductoring, which allows linemen to replace existing transmission lines, is expected to be completed by the end of March.Visera said the NGCP will replace existing transmission lines with larger cables to supply more power to areas serviced by the Amlan 69kV line and avoid brownouts.“This is just a stop-gap measure to prevent manual load she...

A conductor died on Thursday, March 6, two days after he fell from a modernized jeepney in Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City.Reynan Bantilan , 22, fell from a modernized jeepney on Tuesday, March 4.The modern jeep’s CCTV footage showed that the victim was gathering the fare of the passengers when he fell.The driver opened the door of the vehicle to allow a passenger to go down, the police said.However, the conductor lost his balance and fell, sustaining serious wounds on his head.Rose Bantilan, the victim’s sister, said that based on the CT scan, the victim had a skull fracture and internal bleeding.The victim was comatose on Tuesday night and two days after he died at the hospital due to complications.The vehicle’s driver identified as alias “Isko”, 40, who was pl...

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday, March 6, urged incumbent officials seeking reelection in the May 12 midterm polls to remove their images from local government unit (LGU) projects.Comelec Chairman George Garcia said such an act would be considered election propaganda which would be prohibited once the campaign period for local posts starts on March 28."In such instances, they won't be simple announcement of local projects but can be considered as campaign materials with the name of candidates and are influencing the voters," he said in a media forum in Manila."We request local candidates that are now incumbents to remove your pictures, at least. While their names can't be avoided as they are indeed the incumbent officials, maybe we can do away with your pictur...

Bacolod City is also a 2024 Good Financial Housekeeping (GFH) passer, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced Thursday, March 6.“This achievement reflects the city’s commitment to transparency, accountability and sound financial management - ensuring that public funds are used efficiently for the benefit of every Bacolodnon,” the DILG Bacolod said.“Congratulations to our local leaders, financial stewards, and the people of Bacolod for upholding good governance,” it added.The Negros Occidental provincial government and 30 of its towns and cities are also GFH passers, the DILG announced earlier.*

The former rebels filing their amnesty applications.*Mark Garcia photoAbout 45 former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army who are now part of the “Kapatiran” group filed amnesty applications during a ceremony at the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Brgy. Bato, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, Thursday, March 6.The program was led by Lea Tanodrra-Armamento, chairperson of the National Amnesty Commission, with members of the Local Amnesty Board-Bacolod City, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, and the Army.Armamento said that this event aims to help former rebels file their amnesty applications for them to enjoy government services, which include financial assista...

The tracker team of the Talisay City Police Station arrested the eighth most wanted person in Western Visayas at the Ayala Bus Terminal in Brgy. San Antonio, Makati City, Metro Manila, Wednesday, March 5.Alias “Jom”, 38, a conductor and resident of Brgy. Pembo, Taguig City, was arrested for alleged rape, the police said.He was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest signed by Bacolod Regional Trial Court Judge Maritess Gumahin on Sept. 19, 2023.There was no bail recommended for the accused who is facing a criminal case for violation of Republic Act 11648 or an Act Providing for Stronger Protection Against Rape and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.The suspect is now detained at the Makati City Police Office.*