Top Stories

The BIR visit at the Sum-ag Public Market* Richard Cabaellero photoThe Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is encouraging businesses, including market stall vendors, across the Philippines to register with them.This is part of the nation-wide tax mapping or Counsel, Help, Assist, Taxpayers program, which was launched by the BIR in Bacolod City on Monday, Feb. 23.The BIR visited stalls at the Sum-Ag Public Market in Bacolod City that has more than 100 vendors on Monday.Christine Juliet Chua, Regional Director of Revenue Region 12-NIR, said the purpose of the program is to raise awareness among vendors on the benefits they can get if they register with the BIR.Sally Aroz, president of Sum-ag Market Vendors, was the first to be mapped. She said they did not register because i...

Three men were arrested after police seized suspected illegal cigarettes at Park Homes 2, Barangay Washington, Escalante City, at around 12:20 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23.Police identified the suspects as “Monmon,” 27, “Eli,” 23, and “Evan,” 22, all married, unemployed, and residents of Barangay Washington.The operation was conducted by members of the Escalante City Component Police Station as part of the efforts against the proliferation of illicit cigarettes.Police said assorted confiscated cigarettes with an estimated market value of P632,025 were recovered during the operation.The confiscated items were brought to the Escalante Police Station for documentation and filing of appropriate charges against the suspects.*

A human skeleton was discovered by a caretaker inside a camp at Hacienda Guanzon in Simon Peter Village, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City on Saturday, Feb. 21.Police said the skeletal remains were found wearing a black shirt and shorts.The shirt bore the printed words “Beach please,” the police said.A sky-blue slipper was also found near the skeletal remains.Police said they have not determined whether the remains belong to a male or female due to the advanced state of decomposition.Authorities are continuing the identification process.The police said there was no reported missing persons in the area where the skeletal remains were found.*

Ronelyn Bornales meets with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday.*Richard Malihan photoThe mother of 9-year-old girl who was killed and two others who were injured during a brutal attack in their home in Silay City reiterated her call for justice during a meeting with Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday, Feb. 23.Lacson turned over a check for P120,000 in assistance from the provincial government to Ronelyn Bornales.Bornales, who was working in Saudi Arabia at the time of the attack, thanked the governor for the assistance but stressed that what she really wants is justice for her children.Her 9-year-old daughter was killed in the attack at their home in Hacienda Badiang, Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City, on Feb. 7.He...

Kanlaon Volcano under heavy cloud cover as seen from La Castellana, Negros Occidental, Sunday afternoon.* Marvin Escander photoNegros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, Feb. 23, that he signed the Deed of Donation for an 8.6-hectare property in Brgy. Talaptap, La Castellana, to be used as a relocation site for the town's displaced residents.The property was purchased by the provincial government for P15.6 million.The property was donated by the provincial government to the La Castellana municipal government, and he is leaving it to the town officials to decide how to best utilize it, Lacson said.The property will be used specifically as a permanent relocation site for residents affected by Kanlaon Volcano’s unrest, particularly those who have not been allo...

A 50-year-old man was killed in a stabbing incident at Purok 5, Brgy. Pinaguinipan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, on Friday night, Feb. 21.The victim, a married driver of Purok Pula Basak , Brgy. Pinaguinipan, was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead.Police investigation showed that the victim was buying liquor from a kiosk when an unidentified suspect arrived and engaged him in a heated argument.Police said the altercation escalated after the victim allegedly slammed a table, resulting in a commotion.The victim was pacified by bystanders and a barangay kagawad, during which he reportedly said he had been stabbed by the suspect.Authorities said the victim sustained stab wounds on the left side of his stomach and back.*

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Helen Keller International, represented by Maria Fatima Dolly Reario, and the provincial government for the implementation of the project.*Richard Malihan photoThe Barangay First 1,000 Days (BF1KD) Phase 3 Project to strengthen community-based efforts to improve the health and nutrition of mothers and children during the first 1,000 days of life was launched at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City Monday morning, Feb 23.The activity is a collaborative effort of the Negros Occidental provincial government, the Department of Health, and the National Nutrition Council, with funding support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Charities and Helen Keller International as the implementing partner.The proj...

A 41-year-old man was shot dead during a drinking session at Zone 19, Brgy. Bacuyangan, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, on Sunday night, Feb. 22.The victim, a married man and resident of Zone 19, Brgy. Bulwangan, Hinoba-an, was drinking liquor with a friend at the house of his uncle when the incident happened.Police investigation showed that the suspect, identified as alias “Minong,” 41, arrived at the scene allegedly intoxicated and shot the victim without provocation using a homemade shotgun locally known as a “boga.”Police said the victim was hit in the neck, causing his instantaneous death.Authorities conducted pursuit operations and arrested the suspect after positive identification by witnesses.The homemade shotgun allegedly used in the shooting was recovered during...