By JEN BAYLON Former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr. hopes for a speedy trial of his case as he is now back in the Philippines after more than two years of seeking asylum in Timor-Leste in relation to several murder charges. “This is my only request to the court. I hope the case proceeds …
HEADLINE
NO MORE RED ZONE: NegOcc ‘upgraded’ to pink zone after no ASF cases logged
By Jen Baylon There are no more red zone for African Swine Fever (ASF) in Negros Occidental after the two remaining localities – the cities of Bacolod and Silay – were upgraded to pink zone, marking a significant milestone in the province’s fight against the hog disease. Pink (buffer) zone refers to local government units …
Forceful arrest? Teves arrested in Timor-Leste anew; DOJ prepares extradition
By JEN BAYLON Former Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., tagged as the mastermind in the slay of Governor Roel Degamo in 2023, was arrested by immigration authorities anew on Tuesday night, May 27, at his residence in Timor-Leste, where he sought asylum. In a 10-second Facebook video posted by his son Axl yesterday, Arnolfo was seen …
Under control: Siquijor remains ‘safe’ despite 6 glanders cases
By JEN BAYLON The Siquijor provincial government has assured residents and tourists that the province remains safe from glanders, a bacterial disease transmitted from sick animals, despite confirming six cases. “There is no reason to be sad, worried or panic,” Siquijor Governor Jake Vincent Villa said in a Facebook post yesterday. “The provincial government will …
Immediate threat: SRA seeks P10-M aid to combat RSSI infestation
By JEN BAYLON The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has formally requested P10 million in assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to combat the alarming spread of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI), which are now affecting sugarcane plantations in 11 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental, the country’s major sugar-producing province. The SRA is …
Far from dormant: Kanlaon still shows signs of activity, Phivolcs warns
By JEN BAYLON Despite its seemingly calm appearance, Kanlaon Volcano remains a potential threat, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said, stating the volcano is showing signs of unrest. “Just because the volcano looks calm doesn’t guarantee that another eruption won’t happen,” Phivolcs resident volcanologist Mari-Andylene Quintia said. She added that Kanlaon’s continuing …
‘Desperate’ killing; 79IB denies claims slain individuals were military assets
By JEN BAYLON The 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army has denied allegations that the individuals killed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) were intelligence personnel connected to their unit. In an official statement, 79IB commanding officer Colonel Arnel Calaoagan said the claim that the slain individuals were military …
Campaign offense: DQ awaits bets for failure to remove poll materials
By JEN BAYLON The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a stern warning to candidates in Negros Occidental who failed to remove their campaign materials within the mandated five-day period after the May 12 midterm elections, citing violations of the Fair Election Act that could lead to disqualification. Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria announced …
New pest outbreak: Task force formed vs. RSSI infestation in 6 NegOcc LGUs
By JEN BAYLON The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is intensifying efforts to contain the infestation of red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) that has been reported in six sugarcane-producing local government units in northern Negros Occidental. RSSI threatens to reduce sugar content by nearly 50 percent, potentially impacting the sugar industry and farmers’ livelihoods in the …
Trapped in fire: 2 kids perish after blaze gutted Bacolod house
By JEN BAYLON Two children died in a fire that razed their house at Purok Lison in Bacolod City’s Barangay 1 early yesterday morning. Siblings eight-year-old Gabry Jhon Gutierrez and six-year-old Audrey Shantel Gutierrez died in the blaze, while their grandfather, 63-year-old Edwardo Gutierrez, sustained injuries, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod said. The children, who were …