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Jun102026 by Jean MalanumNo Comments

Aguilar, Ong earn JPGT Elite Finals berths

Ana Marie Aguilar in action during the ICTSI Negros Junior PGT Championship at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Tuesday *Contributed photoHomegrown talent Ana Marie Aguilar topped the girls' 7-10 division in the ICTSI Negros Junior PGT Championship at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod City on Tuesday, June 9, to secure a place in the Elite Finals.She carded a final-round 82 and a 158 total, capping an incredible two-week blitz after dominating the Bacolod leg in Murcia last week. Vanya Go had an 85 for a 159, while Jia Ho had an 81 to tie Zoey Mascariñas, who faltered with an 84, at 165.“I definitely felt the pressure when I fell one or two down, but I just stayed confident and focused on my game,” said the 10-year-old Aguilar from St. Schola...

Jun102026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

PRO-NIR seizes P67.9M in drugs, P47.9M in smuggled cigarettes

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The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region seized P67.9 million worth of suspected shabu and P47.9 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in the first month of PBGen. Romano Cardiño as acting regional director.PRO-NIR said the accomplishments were recorded from May 8 to June 8 under its intensified SAFE NIR Program.Police units across the region conducted 896 law enforcement operations during the period.The anti-drug campaign resulted in 214 operations and the arrest of 238 drug personalities, including 26 high-value individuals, 187 street-level individuals, and 25 unlisted individuals.Police seized about 10,136 grams of suspected shabu valued at P67,950,883.60.PRO-NIR also conducted 69 anti-smuggling operations that led to the arrest of 22 individuals and the confi...

Jun102026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

NPA claims responsibility for Binalbagan killing

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The Romeo Nanta Command-New People’s Army, South Central Negros Guerrilla Front claimed responsibility for the killing of a land overseer, who was also a pastor and lupon member, in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.In a statement dated June 10, the rebel group said it was behind the killing of Marlo Galan, also known as alias “Panoy,” in Sitio Mag-anay, Brgy. Bi-ao on Monday morning, June 8.Ka Dionesio Magbuelas, spokesperson of the Romeo Nanta Command, alleged that Galan was a former CAFGU member and an intelligence asset of the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion.The NPA also alleged that Galan had a role in the Army operation in Brgy. Bi-ao on Jan. 30, where two of their members were killed, including Reynalde “Ka Amek” Erecre, whom the group identified as one of its ranking leaders...

Jun102026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Security, sanitation concerns spark call to clear North Capitol Road vendors

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The North Capitol Road in Bacolod City*The Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office has requested the Bacolod City government to clear vendors operating along North Capitol Road, citing traffic congestion, sanitation issues, and security risks.In a letter to City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu dated June 5, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. emphasized that public streets must remain dedicated to their primary purpose - vehicular and pedestrian traffic."Any permission granted for private use should not unduly impair public access, convenience, safety, or the general welfare," Nellas said.Nellas raised the following concerns on the vendors' presence:Traffic and Safety: The stalls obstruct the regular flow of traffic, causing lane congestion and p...

Jun92026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod strengthens EU ties for sustainable growth, green investments

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Bacolod City’s vision of becoming a circular, resilient, and inclusive city by 2030 received a boost as representatives from the European Union (EU) and the European business community met with local leaders to explore partnerships in sustainability, green investments, and economic development.The visiting delegation was led by Dawn Marie Cabigon of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and Tsvetomir Svilenov, Program Manager of the EU-Philippines Green Economy Partnership under the EU Delegation to the Philippines.Mayor Greg Gasataya welcomed the delegation, together with city officials, national government representatives, business leaders, and members of the academe during an investment and economic dialog at the Bacolod City Government Center.Gasataya e...

Jun92026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez to aid kin of earthquake casualties

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Philippine Red Cross Emergency Response Units assist in search and rescue operations at a collapsed Savemore structure in Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake.*PRC photoDeputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Tuesday, June 9, that he is planning to directly provide assistance to the families whose relatives died in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Sarangani in Mindanao.The death toll had reached 38 in Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) and Region 11 (Davao Region) as of Tuesday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.In Region 12, the OCD said 456 people were injured while four were missing.Meanwhile, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Negros Occidental provincial government is just waiting for the OC...

Jun92026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Benitez presents flood resiliency roadmap for Bacolod, targets P6B budget

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Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez signs commitment pledge to follow and implement the flood resiliency roadmap.*Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez presented a detailed “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” roadmap toward flood resiliency in Bacolod City on Tuesday, June 9, the long-term implementation of which is expected to cost approximately P6 billion.Benitez presented the roadmap during the 3rd and Culminating Bacolod Flood Mitigation Summit, which was attended by Bacolod City officials, representatives from national and local government agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders at Maria Kucina Maria in Bacolod City.Following the presentation, participants signed a commitment pledge to follow and...

Jun92026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

PNP probes alleged recruitment extortion, says PNP badge not for sale

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The Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) has launched a dual criminal and administrative investigation into police personnel accused of extorting money from a hopeful recruit, sparking a stern warning from leadership that the "PNP badge is not for sale."The probe follows a complaint filed with the Bacolod City Police Office, where a PNP applicant alleged that a police personnel demanded and received cash in exchange for entry into the service. The complainant stated that the suspect later returned to demand even more money.Authorities are urging other potential victims of such recruitment scams to come forward.PBrig. Gen. Romano V. Cardiño, PRO NIR regional director, emphasized that the recruitment process is strictly merit-based, governed by transparency and e...

Jun92026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

New PrimeWater owner to modernize services in Bacolod, Hollero new BACIWA general manager, Benitez says

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Valerie Anne Hollero*The new owner of PrimeWater is set to undertake a modernization program to improve water services in Bacolod City, Deputy House Speaker and Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez announced on Tuesday, June 9.He also announced that Valerie Anne Hollero, the former regional vice president of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. in Western Visayas, is the new general manager of the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA).Crystal Bridges Holding Corp., owned by retail tycoon Lucio Co, bought PrimeWater from billionaire Manuel Villar Jr.The new owner will meet with BACIWA officials on June 16 to present a modernization program for the Bacolod water system, Benitez said.They will discuss improvements geared toward ensuring 24/7, high-pressure, quality water,...

Jun92026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Common coalition candidate for NegOcc governor pushed, no decision yet: Albee

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Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (right).* Richard Malihan file photoGov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is pushing for a coalition candidate for governor of Negros Occidental in 2028, but no final decision has been made yet, Deputy House Speaker Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Tuesday, June 9.“There is no final choice for 2028, we would like to keep it at that,” Benitez said following a meeting of the leaders of Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance on Monday.Benitez said present at the meeting aside from him and the governor were Negros Occidental representatives Alfredo Marañón III (2nd District), Javier Miguel Benitez (3rd District), Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District), Emilio Yulo (5th District), Mercedes Alvarez (6th District), and Manuel Frederick Ko (Aban...