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A man was shot to death in Brgy. 4, Isabela, Negros Occidental, early Monday morning, July 24.Micheal Kevin Benignos, 29, was shot by Harold Carpuz, 45, along Gomez Street in Brgy. 4, the police reported.Initial investigation showed that the victim and the suspect were having a drinking session when a heated argument ensued between them.The victim grabbed a stone and threw it at the suspect who managed to evade it. The suspect then drew a firearm and shot the victim twice hitting the lower part of his back, the police said.The victim was brought to the Ignacio L. Arroyo Sr. District Hospital in Isabela where he was declared dead.*

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Western Visayas (RDRRMC-6) on Saturday night, July 22, activated the "Charlie" protocol, the highest level in emergency preparedness and response (EPR) protocol, in preparation for the possible onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Egay.In a memorandum, Office of Civil Defense-6 officer-in-charge and RDRRMC-6 chairperson Ma. Aletha Nogra directed all local DRRMCs in the region to also activate their designated EPR protocols or higher as deemed necessary."The activation of EPR protocols shall be effective immediately," Nogra said.These include low or Alpha for the provinces of Aklan and Guimaras as well as the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo, while moderate (Bravo) for Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental pr...

All 39 watchmen of the Negros Occidental provincial government have been ordered to return to their mother station.A memorandum issued by Provincial Administrator Rayfrado Diaz dated July 19 ordered the watchmen to hold office at the Security and Safety Division office at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.Diaz said their recall was an executive decision and there are sufficient blue guards to secure property owned by the provincial government.Of the recalled watchmen, 32 are under contract of service status, three are casuals and four are assigned as CCTV operators.Renelo Lastierre, Safety and Security Division head, said the watchmen served as perimeter guards in the different Capitol-owned facilities located in different areas of Negros Occidental.*

Fuel prices are expected to rise again on Tuesday, July 25.Diesel prices are expected to increase by P0.30 to P0.40 per liter, and gasoline by P1.20 to P1.40 per liter, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said Saturday.On Tuesday, July 18, fuel firms increased gasoline prices by P1.90 per liter, diesel by P2.10 per liter, and kerosene by P1.80 per liter.That resulted in a year-to-date net decrease of P0.85 per liter for diesel and P3.70 per liter for kerosene, and an increase of P7.55 per liter for gasoline, the Department of Energy said.*

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District)*Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the gains of his administration on Sunday, July 23, ahead of his State of the Nation Address on Monday.Benitez, in his message of support, lauded the president for driving a 6 percent GDP growth in the Philippines, making the country one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region, with impressive achievements in employment, witnessing a 95.7 percent increase, and a 4.3 percent drop in unemployment in May.Inflation reached a significant decline of 5.4 percent in June, reflecting the President's successful macroeconomic management, he said.Benitez also commended the president's vision for Philippine tourism,...

Three persons were killed in separate shooting incidents in San Carlos and La Carlota cities in Negros Occidental, the police reported.Jose Brendo Padayogdog, 30, of Brgy. Buluangan, San Carlos City, was shot to death on Friday, July 21, the police said.Lt. Col. Jesus Mesahon, San Carlos Police chief, said the victim and the suspect had a fight that resulted in the shooting.The victim sustained a gunshot wound on his back that went through his chest and was declared dead at the San Carlos City Hospital, he said.Mesahon said that the witnesses identified the suspect as Jerry Planas, a resident of Brgy. Rizal, San Carlos City, who escaped.Kimbert Apatan, 30, a delivery man of an LPG store in Brgy. Palampas, San Carlos City, was also shot to death by an unidentified suspec...

The shabu seized in Barangay 40, Bacolod City.*BCPO photoThe police arrested twelve suspects and seized suspected shabu worth P664,112 in a series of operations in three cities and four towns in Negros Occidental on Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22.The biggest haul was in Brgy. 40, Bacolod City, where the police arrested Jude Villarmino, 48, and seized P408,000 worth of suspected shabu, Saturday afternoon.They recovered suspected shabu weighing 60 grams, the police reported.The suspect, who was tagged by the police as a high-value target, is now detained at Bacolod Police Station 6.The Bacolod police also arrested four persons in a buy-bust operation in Magsungay, Brgy. Singcang-Airport, early Saturday morning.Arrested were Brian Samodio, Mary Joy Lopez, Kim Edga...

The police apprehended two fishermen for alleged illegal fishing in Brgy. Gargato, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, July 20.The police and the Hinigaran Bantay Dagat Task Force during a seaborne patrol operation apprehended Jude Arinque and Rodrigo Ploteña.Arinque, 22, of Brgy. 2, Hinigaran, was apprehended on a motorbanca and confiscated from him were P4,000 worth of fishing paraphernalia and P1,900 in fish catch.He was fined P2,000 for violating the municipal ordinance against illegal fishing, the police reported.Ploteña, 67, of Brgy. Tagda, Hinigaran, was also apprehended by the police two kilometers away from the shoreline of Brgy. Gargato, Thursday afternoon.The police confiscated a fishing net and wooden board worth P8,000 and P1,700 in fish catch from P...