LeBron James tallied 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 119-103 win over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco yesterday (Philippine time). Deandre Ayton scored 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and Jake LaRavia added 16 points for the Lakers (51-29), who moved …
Monthly Archives: April 2026
Negrense booters called UP for U-17 squad
By ADRIAN STEWART CO Several football standouts from Negros Occidental have earned spots in the Philippines’ U17 national team set to compete in the ongoing 2026 Asean U17 Boys’ Championship in East Java, Indonesia. The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) recently unveiled the final roster, which includes a strong contingent of players from Pontevedra town and …
More harm than good | Property tax hike to take toll on sugar sector
By CESAR JOLITO III The proposed increase in real property tax in Negros Occidental could worsen financial pressures on key industries, especially the sugar sector, the United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) warned. In a board resolution, Unifed called on authorities to defer the implementation of higher property taxes, stressing that current economic …
Justice beyond borders: Why the ICC hearings matter to every Filipino
By Ignacio R. Bunye The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) hearings on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs have once again thrust the Philippines into the global spotlight. At the heart of the proceedings lies a fundamental question: Can a leader’s words be divorced from the actions they inspire? Defense lawyers argue that President Duterte’s fiery …
Trumping truth
By Herman M. Lagon This letter did not begin with me. A lawyer friend posted a “Dear Uncle” letter on Facebook late one night. It was light on the surface, but there was fatigue underneath — another claim, another near-ending war. I read it and felt that quiet nudge. This was not just distant politics …
Trump faces questions on Iran deal
Donald Trump claimed “total” victory after a ceasefire with Iran. But critics say the deal is a fresh example of their maxim that the tough-talking US president always “chickens out.” In the space of 12 nerve-wracking hours, Trump went from warning that a “whole civilization will die” to hailing that agreement as a big day …
Labor group warns of power rate hike amid oil price surge
By CESAR JOLITO III Consumers may soon face higher electricity bills as global oil prices continue to climb due to tensions in the Middle East, a consumer advocacy group said. In a press statement, the Alliance of Concerned Consumers in Electricity and Social Services (ACCESS) cautioned that an increase in electricity rates has become “inevitable,” …
Bacolod solon seeks 6-month BSKE delay
By CESAR JOLITO III Deputy Speaker and Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is pushing for a six-month postponement of the 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), citing the country’s ongoing fuel crisis as a pressing concern that warrants the reallocation of government resources. Benitez said the funds earmarked for BSKE — …
Blue alert up for Panaad sa Negros
By CESAR JOLITO III Emergency responders have been placed on blue alert status ahead of the Panaad sa Negros Festival, with a heightened readiness set to take effect starting Friday, April 10. In a memorandum, the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) announced that its Emergency Operations Center will be on …
2 die in ambulance crash
By CESAR JOLITO III A patient and a staff member died after an ambulance crashed into the roadside along the national highway at Barangay Recreo in Negros Occidental’s Pontevedra town on Wednesday afternoon, April 8. Police identified the fatalities as 70-year-old patient alias “Daliaq,” and 30-year-old ambulance staff member “Peter.” Both were declared dead on …