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Aug62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Public school teacher wanted for 2 counts of qualified rape arrested in Sagay

A public school teacher wanted for two counts of qualified rape involving a minor student was arrested in Sagay City, Negros Occidental. on Wednesday, Aug. 5.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region identified the accused only by the alias “Em,” 44, a Teacher I who was listed as the No. 6 most wanted person at the regional level.Personnel of the Sagay police with assistance from the Provincial Intelligence Unit, arrested the accused in Brgy. Rizal through a warrant for two counts of qualified rape of a minor.No bail was recommended for the charges, police said.Authorities alleged that the accused, who served as a special education teacher and sports coordinator, sexually abused the minor student during an in-house training for SPED athletes preparing for the Pa...

Aug62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Two colorum vans carrying 22 passengers apprehended along Bacolod-Sipalay route

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Two vans allegedly operating without authority as public utility vehicles were apprehended by the Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region in separate operations in Valladolid and Pontevedra, Negros Occidental.LTO-NIR said both vehicles were traveling along the Bacolod City-Sipalay City route with 11 paying passengers each.The van intercepted in Valladolid on Wednesday, Aug. 5, was allegedly charging each passenger between P350 and P450 despite lack of authority to operate as a public utility vehicle.Another van carrying 11 paying passengers was apprehended in Pontevedra for the same alleged violation.Personnel of the LTO-NIR Regional Law Enforcement Service conducted the operations as part of the agency’s campaign against colorum transport services.The vehicles ...

Aug62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Coscolluela challenges DA sugar report as SRA data shows 11 percent output drop

Business, Top Stories

Former Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) head Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela*Former Negros Occidental governor and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) head Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela questioned the Department of Agriculture’s positive assessment of sugar industry reforms, saying official production data show significant declines and billions of pesos in losses.Coscolluela raised the issue in an interview on the sidelines of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food hearing on sugar industry reforms in Quezon City on Tuesday, Aug. 4.He was reacting to a July 24 DA press release titled “Sugar reforms boost supply, protect farmers, stabilize market nationwide.”The DA credited reforms implemented by the SRA with stabilizing sugar supply, tempering price fluctuations, supporti...

Aug62026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

P15M in smuggled cigarettes seized at Dumaguete port

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The seized cigarettes*PRO NIR photoLaw enforcement authorities intercepted more than ₱15 million worth of smuggled cigarettes and arrested three individuals during a joint anti-smuggling operation at the Port Area in Barangay Looc, Dumaguete City, on Wednesday evening, August 5.The coordinated operation, led by the Police Regional Office Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) alongside the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard, and local police units, acted on targeted intelligence regarding contraband transported via a RORO vessel from Pagadian City. Intercepted aboard a green Canter truck were 263 master cases of undocumented cigarettes—comprising Walter Premium and Busqu Full Flavor brands—valued at ₱15,069,900, along with 200 boxes of dried fish used as cover, the PRO NIR...

Aug62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Farmer killed in stabbing during birthday party in Himamaylan

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A 51-year-old farmer was killed after he was allegedly stabbed by another farmer during a birthday party in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday night, Aug. 5.The victim sustained a stab wound to the left side of his chest and was declared dead at the Gov. Valeriano M. Gatuslao Memorial Hospital.Police identified the suspect as another farmer from the same sitio who remains at large.Initial investigation by the Himamaylan police showed that the victim, the suspect, and their neighbors were attending a birthday celebration at around 9 p.m. in Sitio Cabagal, Brgy. Buenavista.Authorities said the victim allegedly advised the suspect to put on a shirt because there were several visitors at the gathering.The suspect reportedly got angry, a...

Aug62026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Gasataya mobilizes hospitality sector for Batang Pinoy 2026 hosting

Sports, Top Stories

Mayor Greg Gasataya at the consultative meeting on Thursday.*BCCO photoMayor Greg Gasataya gathered city officials and local hospitality leaders for a consultative meeting on Thursday, Aug. 6, to establish an official Accommodation Directory ahead of Bacolod’s hosting of the Batang Pinoy 2026 National Championships from Dec. 12 to 18. Gasataya, at the meeting held at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, rallied the support of 209 registered accommodation operators—representing hotels, tourist inns, pension houses, short-term rentals, transient homes, staycation units, and private properties—emphasizing their crucial role in the successful hosting of the national sporting event.“This is one of the biggest sporting events in the country in terms of delegation,” ...

Aug62026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Four arrested, one escapes in Silay drug bust, P136K in suspected shabu seized

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Four people, including a minor, were arrested while another suspect escaped during a buy-bust operation in Silay City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 5.The Silay police said the operation was conducted at around 4:37 p.m. in Villa Hergon, Brgy. Rizal.Police identified the arrested adults only as “Jay,” 27, “Merto,” 24, and “Jeff,” 32.A fourth arrested suspect is a minor whose identity was withheld.Another suspect identified as alias “Boris” remains at large.Police alleged that “Jay” and “Boris” conspired in selling suspected shabu, with “Jay” handing a sachet to an undercover officer in exchange for buy-bust money.The other suspects were allegedly caught using suspected shabu during the operation.Authorities recovered eight sachets containing ab...

Aug52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

DSWD to distribute ₱80.5M to 7,673 more NegOcc RSSI-hit sugarcane farmers, workers to also get aid

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

The ECT distribution in Talisay City last week.*DSWD NIR photoThe Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to distribute ₱80.5 million in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) payouts to 7,673 more smallholder sugarcane farmers affected by the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) infestation in seven local government units in Negros Occidental starting Thursday, August 6.“We are also waiting for the validation of lists for ECT payouts to Negros Oriental farmers and workers of small farms affected by RSSI in the Negros Island Region,” DSWD-NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said Wednesday, August 5.Small farmers and farm workers in severely affected areas will receive ₱10,325 each, so total payouts could reach billions of pesos, he said.“We need the validated li...

Aug52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

NegOr suspends classes province-wide on Friday due increase in sore eyes cases

Negros Oriental, Top Stories

Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 50, Series of 2026, on Wedenesday.* Negros Oriental Facebook pageThe provincial government of Negros Oriental has ordered the suspension of classes across all levels in both public and private schools on Friday, August 7, following a reported surge in cases of conjunctivitis, commonly known as "sore eyes."Governor Manuel L. Sagarbarria issued Executive Order No. 50, Series of 2026, on Wednesday declaring the province-wide suspension upon the official recommendation of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO).He said the preventive measure aims to minimize close-contact exposure among students, teaching personnel, and school staff as cases continue to rise across several areas in the province. Local...

Aug52026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Alvarez takes oath as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives

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Rep. Mercedes Alvarez takes her oath before House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III.*House of Representatives photoRep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) took her oath as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives before House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III on Wednesday, Oct. 5.“Just as I was reminiscing about being elected Deputy Speaker ten years ago, I received another unexpected honor last August 3: the trust of my colleagues to once again serve as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives,” Alvarez said in a post on her Facebook page.“I am deeply grateful to my colleagues in the House and to my Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) family for their confidence and support,” she said.She said she accepts the post with the same commitment “to work, to li...