By CESAR JOLITO III The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) is asserting that the deaths of 19 individuals at Barangay Salamanca in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town on April 19 constitute a “massacre,” disputing the military’s claim that the incident resulted from armed encounters. In a statement, NUPL spokesperson Atty. Julianne Agpalo said they are …
Monthly Archives: April 2026
Wildfire hits over 100 hectares of forestland in Kanlaon danger zone
By CESAR JOLITO IIII A wildfire continues to spread within Kanlaon Volcano’s permanent danger zone (PDZ), affecting more than 100 hectares of forestland, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said. The grass fire, which started around 10:00 a.m. on April 19, is burning within Kanlaon’s three- to four-kilometer PDZ. Affected areas include Sitio …
The hidden dangers behind smoking
By Dr. Joseph D. Lim Smoking is widely recognized as a major threat to general health. Its impact on oral health, however, is often underestimated. The mouth is one of the first parts of the body exposed to tobacco smoke, making it particularly vulnerable to damage. From bad breath and tooth discoloration to severe diseases …
Staying grounded in the scrolling world
By Herman M. Lagon There are talks you politely sit through, and then there are those that quietly follow you home. UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano’s message during the recent 93rd Charter Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Iloilo belonged to the second kind. No grandstanding, no overworked lines — just a steady question …
Faith should guide all our earthly affairs
By Fr. Roy Cimagala We need to be clear about this. Our Christian faith is not optional in our life. It is neither relevant only to some affairs and concerns in our life. It should be the main guide in all our affairs, be they in matters of the sciences and technologies, of politics and …
NegOcc expands healthcare, now with 24 DOH-licensed facilities
By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental has significantly expanded its primary healthcare network, now operating 24 Department of Health (DOH)-licensed primary care facilities across its 31 local government units (LGUs). Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan announced the development during the Provincial Leadership and Governance Program Colloquium and Universal Health Care Summit 2026, noting that …
‘Dead’ dog burned; pet owner to file raps
By CESAR JOLITO III A pet owner is preparing to file charges against a neighbor who allegedly burned her dog, an act that animal welfare advocates say may constitute cruelty under Philippine law. Pet owner JB Castillo said her family last saw their dog, Joker, a mixed breed, on April 18. The dog was known …
Foul play eyed in girl’s murder
By CESAR JOLITO III Authorities are investigating the death of a 13-year-old girl whose body was discovered in a sugarcane field at Barangay Poblacion West in Negros Occidental’s Candoni town. Candoni police chief, Police Captain Leonel Adolacion, said the girl was last seen alive on Sunday afternoon, April 26, after she was asked by her …
Bacolod expands fuel subsidy to over 3-K tricycle drivers
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod City government, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has distributed fuel subsidies to an additional 3,409 tricycle drivers, expanding the number of beneficiaries under the national assistance program. The payout, conducted over two days from April 24 to 25, followed a review of appeals …
Consumers to convene over grid reliability
By CESAR JOLITO III Consumer groups in Central and Northern Negros are set to convene a conference on Thursday, April 30, to address growing concerns over power supply stability and grid reliability in the Visayas. The Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS), led by its president, Wennie Sancho, in partnership with …