By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is considering Bacolod City as a possible pilot area for the “Balay Silangan Reformation” program, which is intended to rehabilitate and reform drug offenders. In a letter signed by PDEA Director Aaron Aquino, with sites inaugurated in Sarangani, Nueva Ecija, and Caloocan City, …
HEADLINE
Poja drug group member arrested in Brgy. 2 bust
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Following the neutralization of drug lord Ramy Poja last month, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI (PDEA-6) agents successfully arrested a suspected member of the drug lord’s group last Monday in Barangay 2, Bacolod City. PDEA agents identified the suspect as Wilmar Deopita, a resident of the said area. In …
Barangay Vista Alegre captain enters ABC race
By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr. Last month, three Bacolod City barangay captains announced their candidacy in the upcoming Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) election. Most recently, Barangay Vista Alegre Captain Jose Maria Leandro Norberto de Leon threw his hat into the ring. It was earlier reported incumbent ABC President, Barangay Tangub Captain Noli Villarosa; …
Suspected mugger denies Villarete links
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga One of the suspects arrested following the death of notorious robbery group leader Johnnie Villarete denied being a member of the crime group, claiming he was only hired to do errands. In a radio interview following his arrest, Niño Albonales claimed, on the night of Villarete’s death, he was working …
Mayor questions authenticity of DILG discharge letter
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña yesterday questioned the authenticity of a letter supposedly from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) discharging him of police power. The mayor’s camp, however, stated they have yet to personally receive a copy of the letter. Upon observation, he claimed the …
Power grid trips cause blackouts in Negros, Iloilo
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Separate power grid trips caused blackouts in Negros and Iloilo yesterday afternoon. Based on a social media post by the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco), around 2:00 p.m., the 138-kilovolt National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Mabinay transmission line was tripped. Ceneco explained, the line supplies power …
House gutted in Mansilingan fire
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga At least P100,000 worth of belongings were destroyed after a fire broke out at a house yesterday morning at Felisa-Handumanan roads at Purok Kasilingan in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. Authorities identified the owner of the house as 78-year-old Rosita Puerta; while Pamela Puerta, Kyla Puerta, and Keith Miguel Puerta …
Robbery group leader killed after victimizing off-duty cop
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga The leader of a local robbery group operating in Bacolod City and nearby locales was killed yesterday after attempting to rob an off-duty police officer at the corner of CL Montelibano-Baloyo Streets in the city’s Barangay Villamonte. Police identified the fatality as Johnnie Villarete, leader of the Villarete robbery …
Iloilo City Official: The traffic situation is ‘really difficult’
As the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) deployed their 50-strong force to monitor the opening of classes, which took place yesterday, with their duties including securing the roads leading to schools, PSTMO head Jeck Conlu admitted to encountering difficulty. “The situation is really difficult because of physical structures [along] some roads,” he pointed …
BCC is tuition-free
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga Over the weekend, Bacolod City lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya announced the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved the inclusion of Bacolod City College (BCC) under the free tuition law. The congressman said he has been working on acquiring free tuition eligibility for the school since the law passed …