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NBI agent-in-charge Manuel Fayre* The new head of the  National Bureau of Investigation  in Bacolod City  assured that  his office will be open to all those in need of NBI help. NBI agent-in-charge Manuel Fayre said on Tuesday, May 21, that those in need of NBI investigative assistance can just go to their office. Fayre also said he wants to improve services for those seeking NBI clearances. While the NBI priority in the past was the campaign against Illegal gambling, Fayre said he has put their operations on hold until he familiarizes with the local environment. But he assured that the investigation of pending cases are ongoing and he is checking on their backlog so they can be acted on.* 

Former governor  Rafael Coscolluela, Rep Francisco Benitez and  English specialists Julie Kahn and Dr. Clarissa Rosas.* Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), commissioner  of the Second Congressional Commission for Education (EDCOM 2), led the culmination of the Negros Occidental Early Literacy Program dubbed  "Weaving the Strands of Literacy Skills into Successful Readers”  in Talisay City on Friday,  May 17. The program  empowered more  than  600 Child Development Workers and public school teachers, and  750 books were turned over to daycare centers in the  Third District. The main goal of the program was to address the learning crisis right from the start. Studies reveal the critical imp...

The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM)  in coordination with the Department of Agriculture  6 is monitoring Western Visayas for seedable  clouds to induce rain. The ongoing monitoring is being conducted in Negros Occidental,  Guimaras and Iloilo. Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said on Tuesday, May 21, said the they are conducting monitoring again for seedable clouds and looking at satellite data. Last month the BSWM said it did not recommend cloud seeding because of the lack of seedable clouds. The Negros Association of Chief Executives (Negros ACE) has joined the call for  the  DA to conduct cloud seeding in Negros Occidental in order to promptly address the massive  drought damage  caused ...

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and  Vice Governor   Jeffrey Ferrer (right)* The resignation of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as senate president is a big loss to the people of Negros Occidental, Acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said on Tuesday, May 21.Zubiri on Monday relinquished his post to newly installed Senate President Francis Escudero after his colleagues moved to oust him. Zubiri was outnumbered and was left with only seven allies.“There are times in life where we need to do what is right even if it means having to face the consequences. What is important is I leave with my principles intact and my conscience clean,” Zubiri told DIGICAST NEGROS.Zubiri’s stepping down as Senate President “is a big loss because Migz is considered a Negrosanon”, Ferrer said....

A 21-year-old man died after he was accidentally shot by a minor at his residence in Purok Kabatuhan, Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, 10:20  p.m.  Sunday, May 19. Rodemil Gantalao, 21, was accidentally shot  by his 17-year-old friend, the police reported. Police investigation revealed that both the victim and the suspect were sweeping the floor. The  victim then asked the minor to get the firearm of his stepfather. The minor got the firearm, played with it and unintentionally pulled the trigger hitting the victim on the  forehead, the police said. The victim was rushed  to South Bacolod General Hospital in Bacolod City early Monday morning  but died hours later. The suspect is now under the custody...

A watchman  was found dead inside a Senior Citizens’ Office in Brgy. 3, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, 7:30 a.m. Monday,  May 20. The fatality was a 69-year-old watchman from  Brgy. 2, San Carlos City, whose name  was withheld by the police. A concerned citizen saw the victim lying on the floor. The victim’s body was in a state of decomposition and was posthumously examined, the police said.*

Four persons were arrested and P210,600 in shabu and a gun were seized in two buy bust operations in Negros Occidental on Monday, May 20.In EB Magalona town two persons were arrested and P95,000 worth of suspected shabu and a firearm were seized in Hacienda Banilad, Brgy. Nanca, the police said.Arrested were two Victorias City residents whose names were withheld  by the police. One of their companions, a resident of Hacienda Banilad, Brgy. Nanca, E.B. Magalona, escaped and remains at large, the police said. During the buy bust operation one of the suspects drew his firearm resulting in his being shot in the leg to neutralize him, the police added.Recovered from the suspects were 14 grams of suspected shabu, an  improvised tooter, and .38 caliber ...

DENR Undersecretary Carlos David, Charina Magallanes-Tan, Alma Porciuncula of USAID Safewater, Gov Eugenio Jose Lacson and Provincial Administrator Rayfando Diaz (l-r) in Bali, Indonesia.* Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who is at the  10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia,  will speak at the World Bank booth  on  Wednesday, April 21. He will speak on the “Cascading of the Philippine Sector Master Plan through Provincial  Integrated Water Security Planning”.  Lacson on Monday afternoon met with Nancy Eslick, USAID GlobalWater Lead, Jeff Goldberg of USAID, DENR Undersecretary  Carlos David, National Economic and Development Authority  Assistant Secretary Roderick Mari Planta, and Alma Porciuncula of USAID Safewate...

NPA belongings found at the scene of the encounter.*62IB photo A New People’s Army rebel was  killed after  troops of  the 62nd Infantry Unifier Battalion  encountered remnants of the dismantled  Central Negros 1 (CN1) communist front  at Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 21,  the 62IB reported. Civilians reported the  presence of the rebels conducting extortion and  recruitment activities in the area, prompting the  62IB to  launch focused military operations that resulted in  a 10-minute encounter, 1Lt. Mary Liza Joy de Guzman, 62IB civil-military operations officer,  said. The fleeing rebels left one  dead comrade with one M-16 rifle, three magazines with live ammuni...

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri presided over the plenary session  that saw the approval of the  NEPC franchise bill before he stepped down as Senate President on Monday.*   The Senate  approved the bill granting a franchise to the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) to operate as the  new power distribution utility in Central Negros  on third and final reading on Monday, May 20. The bill will  need the signature of  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to become a law. House Bill 9805 granting the NEPC franchise was approved by a vote of 22-1 during a plenary session. The lone negative vote was from Senator Risa Hontiveros, NEPC spokesman Jonathan Cabrera said.NEPC, which will operate through a Joint Venture Agreem...