Bol Bol sparked the TNT Tropang 5G to a 103-97 win over the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday night, March 22, putting them in the win column for the first time in the PBA Season 50 Commissioners’ Cup. Bol scored 40 points at an 18-of-37 shooting clip while grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking two shots …
Monthly Archives: March 2026
Deadly firefight | 3 ‘rebels’ killed, firearms seized in clash
By CESAR JOLITO III Government troops neutralized three alleged remnants of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and seized high-powered firearms following an early morning encounter at Barangay Tampalon in Negros Occidental’s Kabankalan City on Saturday, March 21. The brief firefight, which lasted approximately two minutes, resulted in the deaths of three suspected rebels, the Philippine …
Transport groups to hold strike, rally today
By CESAR JOLITO III Several transport groups in Bacolod City called for public understanding as they prepare to stage a transport strike and protest rally on Monday, March 23, citing the continued surge in fuel prices and lack of sufficient government support. Members of the transport groups are expected to gather at several gasoline stations …
Kalayaan issue in the Senate
By Ade S. Fajardo Last February 4, the Commission on Appointments (CA) had a hearing on the ad-interim appointment of 35 senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In that hearing, Senator Rodante Marcoleta proposed to give up the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) because its features are outside the Philippine exclusive economic zone. …
The trap of illusory authority
By Herman M. Lagon There is a strange moment that happens when you step down from a position of authority. It is not dramatic. No orchestra plays. No one announces, “You are now ordinary.” Instead, it is quieter and more dangerous. People still greet you the same way. They still ask for your opinion, online …
Social media makes people unhappy: report
Finland once again showed the world the path to happiness even as heavy social media usage eroded personal well-being among young people across the planet, the World Happiness Report 2026 said. The report, produced by the University of Oxford’s Well-being Research Centre, in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations, found life satisfaction among under …
Benitez blasts SRA over sugar import policy; cites P7.28-B industry losses
By CESAR JOLITO III A lawmaker has criticized the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) for allowing large-scale sugar importation despite existing surplus, warning that the policy has triggered billions in losses for the local sugar industry. In a privilege speech, Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez said SRA’s Sugar Order No. 8 authorized the …
BCPO, city agencies inspect nightlife hubs
By CESAR JOLITO III Authorities intensified efforts to enforce safety and regulatory standards after the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) led a coordinated late-night inspection of entertainment establishments across the city on Friday night, March 20. The citywide operation targeted nightclubs, restobars, KTV bars, massage clinics, and spa facilities as part of a broader push …
Storing fuel in drums, jerrycans allowed if …
By CESAR JOLITO III The Department of Agriculture in the Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) has released a public advisory outlining clarificatory guidelines on fuel purchases, following directives from the Department of Energy (DOE), as part of measures to prevent hoarding and ensure fair fuel distribution during potential supply disruptions. In its statement, DA-NIR said the …
13 hurt in pickup truck-jeep crash
By CESAR JOLITO III At least 13 individuals, including a driver and 12 passengers, were injured after a pickup truck crashed into a traditional public utility jeepney along Gatuslao Street and South Capitol Road in Bacolod City yesterday morning. Police Major Elmer Bonilla, Bacolod Traffic Enforcement Unit head, said the pickup truck was driven by …