DILG Negros Island Region

READ | FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC:

In the Philippines, there is no specific national law or Philippine National Police (PNP) regulation that expressly prescribes how a suspect wearing an artificial hairpiece must be photographed. However, under the PNP Standard Operating Procedure on the Booking of Arrested Suspects (September 5, 2011), booking and identification procedures require that a suspect's appearance be accurately and clearly documented.

As such, the following principles generally apply during the taking of mug shots:

• Accurate Identification: A mug shot must accurately reflect a suspect's identifying features for official identification purposes. If an artificial hairpiece obscures the face, eyebrows, hairline, or other distinguishing characteristics, authorities may require its removal to ensure proper documentation.

• Removal of Items that Conceal Identity: Law enforcement authorities may require the removal of items that conceal, alter, or obscure a person's appearance when necessary to establish an accurate identification record.

This is consistent with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Operating Manual, Chapter 2 (Admission of Inmates), Sections 4 and 5, which generally prohibits inmates from wearing other artificial hairpieces unless medically authorized.

READ | DILG: Unified 911 helps save 19 people after van plunges into Laguna ravine

Nineteen lives, including those of seven children, were brought to safety after a van plunged into a ravine along the Marilaque Highway in Sta. Maria, Laguna, thanks to a rapid rescue operation triggered through the Unified 911 Emergency Hotline, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported Tuesday.

What could have ended in tragedy instead became a story of swift action, coordination, and lives protected. Moments after an emergency call was placed to 911 reporting the crash near Barangay Laurel, responders from the Sta. Maria Municipal Police Station (MPS), the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), and other emergency personnel immediately mobilized to the scene.

According to the initial police investigation, the van was navigating a curved section of the highway when the driver reportedly lost control, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and plunge into a ravine.

Despite the severity of the accident, all 19 occupants were successfully rescued. Eighteen sustained no visible injuries, while one passenger suffered minor injuries. All were transported to General Cailles Memorial Hospital for medical assessment and treatment.

For the families waiting for news, every minute mattered. The incident underscored the importance of a reliable emergency response system that can quickly connect people in distress to those trained and ready to help.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has identified the Unified 911 Emergency Hotline, launched nationwide in 2025, as a key component of the administration's public safety agenda, providing Filipinos with faster access to emergency assistance wherever they may be.

The DILG commended the coordinated efforts of the PNP, MDRRMO, and all responding agencies whose swift response helped prevent further harm and ensured the safe rescue of all passengers.

The Department likewise reminded the public to use the 911 hotline responsibly, emphasizing that every legitimate call can mean the difference between danger and safety, and in situations like this, can help bring people home to their families.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: 𝗗𝗜𝗟𝗚-𝗡𝗜𝗥 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗗𝗠 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

The Department of the Interior and Local Government – Negros Island Region (DILG-NIR), together with national government agencies and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) representatives, convened the 2nd Quarter Joint Meeting of the Disaster Preparedness Committee and the Management of the Dead and Missing Persons (MDM) Cluster on June 2, 2026, at 8:30 AM via Zoom teleconferencing.

The meeting served as a venue for member agencies and LGUs to provide updates on their ongoing disaster preparedness initiatives, response measures, and coordination efforts. Discussions also included the latest status reports on dead and missing persons affected by Typhoon Tino, ensuring accurate monitoring, validation, and consolidation of data among concerned agencies.

Through strengthened inter-agency collaboration and information sharing, the activity aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, and support evidence-based planning to ensure the safety and resilience of communities across the Negros Island Region.

ALAM N’YO BA? | May Special Education Fund (SEF) sa bawat probinsya, lungsod, at munisipalidad para mapabuti ang kalidad ng edukasyon.

Sa ilalim ng batas, maaaring gamitin ang SEF para sa:
✅ Pagpapatayo at pagkukumpuni ng paaralan
✅ Mga libro at learning resources
✅ Pasilidad at kagamitan
✅ Pang-edukasyong pananaliksik
✅ Sports development

Mas pinalawak pa ito sa ilalim ng DEPED-DBM-DILG JMC No. 01, s. 2025 upang maisama ang mga programa tungkol sa:

✅ Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)
✅ Edukasyon, nutrisyon, at suporta sa mga magulang
✅ Out-of-school youth at mga mag-aaral na may kapansanan

Ang SEF ay hindi lang pondo para sa paaralan. Ito ay puhunan sa kinabukasan ng bawat batang Pilipino.

LOOK: Officers from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit - Negros Island Region (PNP ACG RACU NIR), led by its Regional Chief, PLTCOL Klinton Rex L. Jamorol, paid a courtesy visit to the DILG NIR Regional Office today, 02 June 2026.

The RACU NIR delegation was warmly received by the DILG NIR Regional Director, Lailyn A. Ortiz, CESO IV, and the Regional Legal Officer, Atty. Neil Andrew L. Yanson. During the brief engagement, the officials discussed the current operational setup of the RACU in the region, highlighting the various challenges faced by the newly established regional office and exploring avenues for collaborative support.

READ | STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT
June 1, 2026

Based on the latest report from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Senator Jose Pimentel Ejercito Estrada, Assistant District Engineer Denryl Caesar Cortuna, District Engineer Manny Bumagat Bulusan, and District Engineer Arturo Lombres Gonzales Jr. were transferred from the Sandiganbayan to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory on June 1, 2026 following the completion of all required legal, medical, and custodial procedures.

The BJMP reported that Cortuna was admitted at 5:47 p.m., while Estrada, Bulusan, and Gonzales were admitted at 8:15 p.m. after undergoing the prescribed medical assessments. Upon medical clearance, they were admitted to the general population in accordance with existing custodial procedures.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) emphasizes that all persons committed to BJMP custody are processed and treated under the same rules and detention protocols regardless of position or status. Court orders are implemented, due process is observed, and the law is applied equally to all.

READ | Remulla: No special treatment for Estrada, co-accused in flood control plunder case

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday said Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his co-accused in the alleged P573-million flood control corruption case will receive no special treatment as authorities enforced the warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan.

After personally serving the warrant at the Senate building, Remulla said all individuals named in the court order will be subjected to the same legal process, regardless of position, influence, or public office.

“Wala talaga. They will be dealt with fairly, equally, no special privileges,” he said during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

The DILG chief said Estrada was informed of the charges against him in the presence of his lawyer and was apprised of his constitutional rights before being brought to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) headquarters for standard booking procedures. His mugshot and fingerprints were taken, and he underwent medical clearance before being brought to the Sandiganbayan.

According to Remulla, “Senator Jinggoy cooperated fully together with the other accused.”

He stressed that law enforcement authorities are mandated to carry out lawful court orders fairly, professionally, and without exception.

“We will always do what is necessary according to the bounds of law. We will inform them. We will give them the courtesy. But if there's an arrest to be made, we will make the arrest,” he said.

The warrant also names former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, District Engineers Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzales, Jr. , and Asst. District Engineer Denryl Caesar Cortuna as respondents in the non-bailable plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Remulla said all five individuals covered by the warrant have been accounted for. Bonoan, however, was brought to the hospital after medical personnel determined that he required immediate medical attention.

“The law is applied fairly, but we also have a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals in our custody,” Remulla said.

The DILG chief emphasized that matters relating to detention and custody are now under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. For law enforcement authorities, the responsibility remains clear: to faithfully implement court orders and uphold the rule of law.

“No special privileges. No exemptions. The process is the same for everyone,” Remulla said. “That is how public trust in our institutions is preserved.”

READ | "There’s no more hiding behind the curtains of the Senate."

DILG Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla during a Press Conference | 1 June 2026

READ | DILG: 156 LGUs poised to strengthen global open governance ties through PH-OGP

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is positioning 156 local government units (LGUs) to become part of the global open governance movement through the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Localization Program, strengthening transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in local governance.

Beyond expanding public participation at the grassroots, the program opens opportunities for LGUs to engage with counterparts abroad, exchange innovative solutions, and learn from global best practices in open government. Through its partnership with the OGP Support Unit, the DILG will facilitate collaboration between Philippine LGUs and foreign local governments on key areas such as fiscal transparency, digital governance, and climate resilience.

“The program seeks not only to institutionalize participatory governance locally but also to elevate successful local practices as potential models for other countries pursuing open and accountable governance systems,” the DILG said.

The PH-OGP Localization Program follows a three-year cycle that includes documenting open government practices, co-creating reform commitments, and monitoring flagship initiatives. The process is designed to strengthen collaboration between government and civil society and ensure that governance reforms are shaped not only by institutions, but by the people they serve.

The 156 LGUs were identified through a two-step regional selection process conducted with the participation of civil society organizations. Selection was based on documented practices promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in planning, budgeting, legislation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. Following their prioritization, the LGUs formalized their participation through Sangguniang Resolutions.

The initiative is anchored on Executive Order No. 31, which institutionalized the Philippine Open Government Partnership and advances open, participatory, and accountable governance across government systems.