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Aug32026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Man stabbed dead while trying to pacify disturbance

A 26-year-old man was stabbed dead after he intervened in a disturbance in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, on Sunday night, Aug. 2.Police identified the victim only as “Andoy,” a resident of Brgy. Odiong.The suspect, identified as “Danny,” around 20 years old and a resident of La Castellana, remains at large.The Moises Padilla police said the incident happened at around 9:30 p.m. in Sitio Buringot.Initial investigation showed that the suspect arrived near a waiting shed with several companions while allegedly under the influence of liquor.Police said the suspect became unruly and challenged people in the area to a fight.A resident attempted to pacify him but was allegedly punched.The victim then intervened, but the suspect allegedly drew a bladed weapon and s...

Aug32026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Bacolod launches 3rd Bacolod Film Festival, calls for entries from homegrown filmmakers

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Noel Pahayupan, Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion head Mae Llamas, Councilor Em Ang, Mayor Greg Gasataya, Secretary to the Mayor Jose Marty Go and Bacolod Film Festival Director Tanya Lopez (l-r) during the launch of the Bacolod Film Festival 2026 on Monday.*BCCO photoMayor Greg Gasataya led the official launching of the 3rd Bacolod Film Festival 2026 during the regular flag-raising ceremony at the Bacolod City Government Center on Monday, August 3.The mayor expressed optimism for the annual film festival as he encouraged aspiring and returning filmmakers to tell stories that celebrate Bacolod’s rich heritage while inspiring a more inclusive future.Joining the mayor during the official launch and simultaneous call for entries were Councilor...

Aug32026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Man found dead in Moises Padilla river 2 days after being swept away

Police, Top Stories

A 34-year-old man was found dead in the Binalbagan River in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, Aug. 2, two days after he was swept away by strong currents while fishing.Police identified the victim only as “Joe,” a resident of Brgy. Montilla.The Moises Padilla police said the victim and his younger brother went to the river in Brgy. Macagahay at around noon on July 31 to catch fish.While crossing the river, both were reportedly swept away by strong currents caused by flooding.The victim’s brother survived and sustained minor injuries, while the victim was carried downstream and reported missing.A resident reported the recovery of the victim’s body to police at around 1:50 p.m. on Aug. 2.Police said the body was already in an advanced state of decompositio...

Aug32026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

LTO-NIR issues show cause order over viral red-light violation

Police, Top Stories

The Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region has issued a show cause order to the operator of a public utility vehicle allegedly caught beating a red traffic light in Bacolod City.LTO-NIR said personnel of its Intelligence and Investigation Unit served the order at the company’s office in Brgy. Mansilingan on Friday, July 31.The administrative action stemmed from a video circulating on social media showing one of the company’s public utility vehicles allegedly passing through an intersection despite a red traffic signal.The agency said the alleged violation placed passengers, motorists and pedestrians at risk.Investigators explained the contents of the show cause order to the operator and directed the company to answer the allegations as part of due process.LTO-N...

Aug32026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

7 drug suspects arrested, nearly P1M worth of suspected shabu seized in Bacolod

Police, Top Stories

Seven suspected drug personalities, including a high-value individual, were arrested while nearly P1 million worth of suspected shabu was confiscated in a series of anti-illegal drug operations conducted by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) from July 31 to Aug. 2.The BCPO said the successive buy-bust operations resulted in the arrest of one high-value individual (HVI) and six street-level individuals (SLIs), with authorities recovering about 143.5 grams of suspected shabu worth an estimated P972,600.The first operation was conducted at about 3:41 p.m. on July 31 in Purok Candelaria, Brgy. Sum-ag, where operatives of Police Station 9 arrested a 35-year-old street-level drug suspect.Police seized about six grams of suspected shabu worth P40,800 and a .38 caliber revolver load...

Aug32026 by Digicast NegrosNo Comments

Chiz seeks to institutionalize ban on gambling ads, sponsorships to curb addiction

Business, Press Release, Top Stories

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has proposed a nationwide ban on gambling-related advertisements and sponsorships to curb excessive and irresponsible gambling behavior while protecting minors and other vulnerable groups.Escudero said the measure mirrors the country’s earlier approach to the tobacco industry under Republic Act 9211, or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, which imposed sweeping restrictions on advertising to safeguard public health. “It’s about time that we regulate the gambling industry the same way we regulated tobacco two decades ago,” he said upon filing of Senate Bill No. 2347, noting that both sectors pose significant risks when promotions become pervasive and youth targeted.RA 9211, which Escudero supported during his tenure in the House of Repres...

Aug22026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Politics must be set aside, Metro Third District adopting science-based unified plan to tackle RSSI outbreak — Javi

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Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (center) with the Third District mayors Abelardo "JunB" Bantug III - Victorias City), Victor Gerardo "Gerry" Rojas - Murcia, Joedith Gallego - Silay City and Matthew Louis Malacon -E.B. Magalona (l-r) at the stakeholders meeting on Sunday.*Rep. Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) stressed the need to set aside politics and adopt a science and evidence-based whole-of-community approach to address the Red-Striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI) destruction of 30 to 40 percent of local sugarcane crops.Benitez convened the Metro Third Sugar Industry Stakeholders' Meeting on RSSI at Nature's Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, August 2, to establish a district-wide comprehensive operational framework to ...

Aug22026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

800 kilos of blue crabs consumed in 2 hours at EB Magalona eat-all-you-can event

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The eat-all-you-can event in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, on Saturday night.*Romeo Subaldo photoEight hundred kilos of blue swimming crabs were consumed in just two hours at the eat-all-you-can event in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, on Saturday night, August 1, Mayor Matthew Malacon said on Sunday.The event was a success as sales hit P240,000, with customers paying P300 per head to join the eat-all-you-can event, he said.They have yet to get a complete report on the sales amount for the other dishes sold à la carte, he said.He apologized to those who arrived after the crab supply ran out and promised to be more prepared for the huge influx next Saturday.The eat-all-you-can Sabado nights will be held for the entire month of August to boost demand for the town’s blue...

Aug22026 by Mark L. GarciaNo Comments

Armed drug suspect arrested in Dumaguete; gun, suspected shabu seized

Negros Oriental, Police, Top Stories

A suspected drug personality was arrested after police recovered an unlicensed firearm and suspected shabu during the implementation of a search warrant in Dumaguete City on Friday, July 31.The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) said operatives of the Dumaguete City police served a search warrant in Purok Gabi, Brgy. Banilad, which led to the arrest of alias "Otay," 36, a resident of the area.Police said the operation stemmed from information provided by a confidential informant alleging that the suspect was looking for buyers of an unlicensed firearm.Based on information gathered, the police secured a search warrant from the court before conducting the operation.Recovered during the search were a Colt .45 caliber pistol with a magazine, a sling bag, one ...

Aug22026 by Carla P. GomezNo Comments

Negros Power supports Marcos’ initiative to reduce electricity costs, awaits guidelines

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Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) on Sunday, August 2, expressed its full support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s initiative to reduce electricity costs, describing it as a significant step toward providing meaningful relief to Filipino consumers and making power more affordable.Following the President’s announcement during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Negros Power that serves central Negros Occidental stated that it will await the official implementing guidelines from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) —particularly regarding the directive to remove or zero out system loss charges.Negros Power Spokesperson Engr. Leomel H. Tambanillo emphasized that the company fully aligns with the President’s vision of ...