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By CESAR JOLITO III Negros Occidental 3rd District Representative Javi Benitez said he will no longer push for a congressional inquiry into the April 19 encounter in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town that left 19 people dead, saying ongoing investigations by proper authorities should proceed without political interference. “I earlier filed a resolution for inquiry in …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commended the Bacolod City government for strengthening its sports tourism initiatives as the city prepares to host the 2026 Batang Pinoy National Championships later this year. During the signing of the memorandum of agreement on Saturday, May 9 for Bacolod’s hosting of the national youth games …

By CESAR JOLITO III More than 13,000 athletes, coaches, officials, and delegates from 17 regions across the country filled the Panaad Park and Stadium as this year’s National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games officially opened in Bacolod City, marking one of the largest private school sporting events in the Philippines. Delegates from over 600 …

By CESAR JOLITO III Around 200 members of the House of Representatives are expected to vote in favor of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte when the matter reaches plenary on Monday, May 11, House Deputy Speaker and Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said. Benitez, who also heads the Visayan bloc …

By CESAR JOLITO III Autopsy findings on the 19 individuals killed in a military operation in Negros Occidental’s Toboso town, including two Filipino-Americans, have raised questions over the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) claim that the incident was a legitimate armed encounter. The examinations, conducted from April 25 to 29 by forensic pathologist Raquel …

By CESAR JOLITO III The United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) has strongly criticized the Sugar Council, accusing the group of sowing division within the sugar industry and pursuing what it described as politically motivated attacks against the current administration and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) leadership. Unifed Chairman Manuel Lamata labeled the Sugar Council as …

  By CESAR JOLITO III The Negros Occidental provincial government has formally launched its expanded community solar program following the success of its solarization initiative that reduced electricity costs in major provincial government buildings by around 50 percent. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the savings came from the solarization project proposed by former governor and …

By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) officially welcomed Police Brigadier General Romano Cardiño as its new acting regional director following a ceremonial turnover of command held at Camp Crame in Quezon City yesterday, as part of a broader leadership reshuffle within the Philippine National Police (PNP). Cardiño …

By CESAR JOLITO III Major infrastructure projects in Negros Occidental’s 3rd District are expected to drive economic growth and create more employment opportunities as plans move forward for a P1-billion convention center and the expansion of the Bacolod-Silay International Airport. Third District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez announced the developments during the district-wide graduation ceremony of …

By CESAR JOLITO III A 79-year-old woman died after reportedly letting her husband escape a residential fire that razed several homes at Purok Maanyag 2 in Bacolod City’s Barangay Alijis on Tuesday night, May 6. Rosa Magbanua allowed her husband, 62-year-old Jose Magbanua, to get out while their house was burning, the Bureau of Fire …