The BingoPlus Night 2026: Step into the Next Plus proved to be yet another massive success for the country’s number one and most trusted online entertainment platform, having staged the fourth installment of its annual event this past Tuesday, May 19, at a luxury hotel in Pasay City. Attended by some of the biggest and …
Monthly Archives: May 2026
Dead men to tell tales | Exhumation sought to aid CHR probe
By CESAR JOLITO III Families of three individuals killed in an armed encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town in April have formally appealed for the exhumation of their relatives’ remains as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) continues its independent investigation into the incident. CHR spokesperson Commissioner Beda Epres confirmed yesterday that the families of …
‘On-air rape joke a serious breach of media ethics’
By CESAR JOLITO III A local radio broadcaster’s remarks allegedly trivializing rape and violence against women went viral and sparked public backlash, drawing strong condemnation from women’s groups, press organizations, lawmakers, and a national government task force. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) issued a formal statement expressing “grave concern” over the remarks, …
A crisis inside the Senate: What the Bato incident reveals about our politics today
By Ignacio R. Bunye The events that unfolded inside the Senate last week read like a scene lifted from a political thriller: armed men, raised voices, a sudden burst of gunfire, and a sitting senator slipping out of the building under the cover of confusion. But this was no fiction. It happened in the heart …
The right to speak
By Herman M. Lagon A public school teacher posts online about students squeezing themselves under a single electric fan during the peak of summer heat. A government nurse tweets about finishing another shift handling too many patients at once. A municipal employee quietly vents frustration over delayed salaries for job-order workers. Then somebody eventually comments: …
Youngsters turn to AI chatbots for emotional support: survey
Nearly one in two young people in Europe have used AI chatbots to discuss intimate or personal matters, as the technology increasingly serves as a source of emotional support, an Ipsos BVA survey showed. Of the 3,800 people surveyed, 51 percent said it was “easy” to discuss mental health and personal issues with a chatbot. …
Emergency system eyed to combat disaster misinfo
By CESAR JOLITO III The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved on first reading a proposed ordinance establishing a centralized emergency communication framework aimed at improving the delivery of verified public warnings and strengthening the city’s response against misinformation during disasters and other emergencies. The measure seeks to institutionalize the Bacolod Emergency Communication System (BECS), which …
EBM has no decision yet on bulk water project
By CESAR JOLITO III Residents of Barangay San Isidro in Negros Occidental’s E.B. Magalona town voiced concerns over a proposed bulk water supply project of the provincial government during a public consultation conducted by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) on Wednesday, May 20. Vicente Losbañes, EMB – Negros Island Region director, said several residents raised …
Heat wave affects livestock production
By CESAR JOLITO III The extreme heat being experienced in Negros Occidental is beginning to impact livestock and poultry production, the Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO) said. PVO head Dr. Placeda Lemana said prolonged high temperatures have caused “stunted growth” among farm animals and reduced egg production among layer chickens in several areas of the province. …
2 Capitol engineers face raps over ‘misconduct’
By CESAR JOLITO III Two officials at the Negros Occidental provincial government are now facing formal administrative charges after a preliminary investigation found probable cause for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas, Jr. confirmed that the case against …