TOP STORIES

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga At least two people are confirmed dead, while two others were wounded, after a group of 20 unidentified gunmen opened fire on a house at Sitio Malabyokon, Barangay Buenavista, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Saturday evening. Police identified one of the fatalities as Angel Bacani and one of the wounded as Soping Dagat. …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga An employee of the Bacolod City Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) was arrested after yielding a gun at an entry point to the MassKara Festival site at the Bacolod City Public Plaza, yesterday afternoon. Police identified the suspect as 30-year-old Edimer Villa, a resident of the Puentebella Subdivision, Barangay …

By Paulo Loreto Lim   In response to claims native chickens delivered to beneficiaries of the Iloilo City Integrated Food Production Program last month were “defective,” Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III ordered the formation of a committee to look into the matter. According to the order, a fact-finding investigation will be conducted, wherein a …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. said he welcomes the proposal by incoming Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño to set up freeport zones in Negros. Marañon said he welcomes such a plan as it would create a “Subic” for Negros. …

By Paulo Loreto Lim   Officials from Quanzhou, China recently met with Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III, where they discussed potential investment opportunities in Iloilo City, along with the possibility of formulating a “sister city” agreement. The delegation, led by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Vice Chairman Chen Mingfu, remarked positively on …

By Paulo Loreto Lim   Following last month’s four-day training of the Tiger Shark Volunteer Group, a group of disaster relief volunteers, by the Iloilo City Youth Development Division (CYDD), in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, another training was recently conducted by the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) this past week. …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   Heavy rains generated by a low pressure area and Typhoon Pablo caused landslides in Bago City, forcing residents to flee their homes late Thursday evening. Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) action officer, Dr. Mary Jean Ortizo, said several landslides were reported in Sitio Guintubdan, Barangay Ilihan, and Barangay …

By Paulo Loreto Lim   The Bacolod Anti-Smoking Task Force (BASTF) fined four kiosks during the ongoing MassKara Festival for allowing customers to smoke, a violation of City Ordinance 641, which places an absolute prohibition of smoking in public areas, including schools, parks, malls, restaurants, cinemas, among other locales. Based on the ordinance, individuals caught …

After surrendering to police earlier this week, former Sara, Iloilo treasurer Edna Pacrim is now being held on P5 million bail. An arrest warrant was issued back in May of this year by the Sandiganbayan, in relation to a 2011 case of suspected misuse of public funding, which involved former Sara Mayor Neptali Salcedo and …

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga   Four suspected thieves and carnappers were arrested by operatives of Police Station 2 (PS2) after conducting a raid at Purok Cagaycay, Barangay 2, Bacolod City, Wednesday morning. Police identified the suspects as John Michael Lo, Jebbert Villanueva, Glenn Arnaiz, and Reynold De Guzman. PS2 commander, Police Chief Inspector Benedicto Villarias, said, …