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 …
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200 solons likely to vote ‘yes’ to impeach VP Sara
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 …
IS THIS REALLY ‘ENCOUNTER’? | ‘Negros 19’ autopsy findings challenge military claims
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 …
Unifed hits Sugar Council, accuses group of destabilizing industry
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 …
NegOcc launches solar program after power savings
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 …
PRO-NIR gets new chief in major revamp
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 …
Infra upgrade seen to boost NegOcc tourism, investment
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 …
Elderly woman dies in fire after letting husband save himself
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 …
276 cops deployed to secure PRISAA
By CESAR JOLITO III The Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has launched heightened security preparations for the upcoming National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) 2026, with hundreds of police personnel set to secure venues and delegates during the weeklong national sporting event in Bacolod City. PRISAA 2026 is scheduled from May …
Stepfather killed in shooting; man wounded in attack
By CESAR JOLITO III Two separate shooting incidents in Negros Occidental on Wednesday, May 6, left one man dead and another injured, prompting police investigations and pursuit operations. In Don Salvador Benedicto, a 39-year-old farmer was killed after allegedly being shot by his 21-year-old stepson inside their home in Barangay Bunga’s Purok Kapehan at 10:30 …