A 62-year-old female passenger with a decade-old warrant of arrest was apprehended upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on May 1, 2026, authorities said. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) intercepted the passenger after confirming that she was the subject of an outstanding warrant for estafa, with recommended bail set at ₱20,000. Immigration officers immediately coordinated with NAIA Police Station 3 to verify the warrant and initiate proper legal

The U.S. Embassy in Manila has issued a security alert advising American citizens to exercise extreme caution following intensified military operations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines against the New People’s Army in several parts of the country. The advisory covers rural and mountainous areas in Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, and Samar, where recent clashes between government troops and NPA fighters have turned deadly. The embassy said U.S. citizens have been present in area

ICE PHOTO A Filipino national is among five suspects rounded up in a sweeping crackdown by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeting some of the most dangerous undocumented criminals across the United States. Authorities said all those arrested are convicted offenders linked to heinous crimes, including murder, sexual offenses involving a minor, and attempted murder, raising serious public safety concerns. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified the Filip

NEW YORK - Grief turned into outrage outside the Philippine Consulate General in New York as Filipino community members and allies staged a fiery vigil and indignation rally for the 19 Filipinos killed in a controversial military operation in Negros Occidental. Dubbed the “Negros 19,” the victims including Filipino American activists Lyle Prijoles and Kai Sorem were remembered through chants, tears, and defiant calls for justice. Protesters accused the Armed Forces of the Phi

Two United States citizens were among 19 people killed during a military operation against an alleged communist rebel stronghold in the Philippines, prompting an investigation by the Commission on Human Rights and renewed calls for accountability. The encounter took place on April 19 in the municipality of Toboso, where government forces engaged suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA). The clash forced more than 300 residents to flee their homes as gunfire broke out

A Filipina substitute teacher is currently in custody following an investigation into an alleged improper relationship with a student in Llano County, Texas. The teacher was identified as 27-year-old Angela Louise Palmares. She has been charged with the second-degree felony of improper relationship between an educator and a student. Under Texas law, this is a strict liability offense, meaning the professional boundary is the focus regardless of the student’s age. Last Tuesday

The Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a 20-day freeze order on assets and bank accounts linked to former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, citing probable cause tied to alleged plunder, bribery, graft, and money laundering. Documents obtained by Bilyonaryo show the appellate court found sufficient basis to temporarily immobilize the accounts while an investigation is underway. The order, issued on April 22, strictly prohibits any transactions i

ICC Photo Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court has unanimously confirmed all charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, clearing the way for his case to proceed to trial before a Trial Chamber. In its decision issued Thursday, the Chamber found substantial grounds to believe that Duterte bears responsibility for three counts of crimes against humanity, specifically murder and attempted murder under Article 7(1)(a) of the Rome Statute.

The International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber has affirmed the Court’s jurisdiction over former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, rejecting in full the defense’s challenge in a landmark ruling issued Wednesday, April 22, 2026. In a majority decision, the Appeals Chamber upheld the earlier ruling of Pre-Trial Chamber I dated October 23, 2025, confirming that the Court may exercise jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in the Philippines while it was still a Sta

BAYAN US NE PHOTO NEW YORK CITY - Anger and defiance erupted outside the Philippine Consulate in Manhattan as Filipino community organizations and anti-war groups staged a fiery protest against the upcoming Balikatan military exercises, warning of rising tensions and deepening hardship for ordinary Filipinos. Chanting slogans and holding placards, protesters demanded the immediate cancellation of the annual war drills set to begin April 20 now expected to be the largest in h

What was supposed to be a small relief turned into a heartbreaking tragedy. A motorcycle rider died while waiting in line for a ₱5,000 fuel subsidy at the Quezon City Circle on Saturday collapsing under the scorching heat as he struggled to secure much-needed assistance for his family. According to his relatives, the victim is believed to have suffered a heart attack, possibly triggered by extreme exhaustion and the intense midday sun. As early as dawn, hundreds of drivers ha

The Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America (AFTA), the oldest Filipino American teachers organization in the United States, has congratulated three Filipino American educators on their promotion to assistant principal positions within the New York City Public Schools system, highlighting their achievements as a milestone for the growing Fil-Am presence in educational leadership. Recognized were Melvin Damaolao and Jal Raval of Bronx International High School, and Marlyn Cl

The FBI has launched a nationwide manhunt and is offering a $25,000 reward for a Filipino citizen accused of being part of a disturbing online child exploitation ring targeting minors through gaming and social media platforms. Authorities identified the suspect as Austin Jan Sy Yatco, who is now wanted by U.S. federal agents for his alleged role in a criminal network that operated between 2019 and 2021. According to the FBI, the group preyed on vulnerable children online man

Fugitive former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co may face two possible outcomes in the Czech Republic deportation or the granting of political asylum according to a retired diplomat familiar with the situation. Co is currently under the custody of Czech authorities after reportedly entering the country without proper documentation. Philippine officials have confirmed that they are coordinating closely with their Czech counterparts to facilitate legal processes that could lea

MARANTAO, Lanao del Sur - Ten members of the ISIS-linked Islamic State of Lanao, also known as the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group, were killed in a joint police-military operation early Friday, April 17, in what authorities described as the deadliest encounter in the region so far this year. The hour-long firefight erupted in Marantao town as government forces attempted to serve arrest warrants against Amerol Mangoranca, a key leader of the Maute-Dawlah Islamiya group. Mangoran

ICE PHOTO A Filipino former green card holder convicted of statutory rape has been kicked out of the United States and sent back to the Philippines under a court-ordered departure, authorities confirmed. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said the man, once a lawful permanent resident, was forced to leave after his conviction made him deportable under U.S. law. In a video posted online, ICE agents were seen carrying out a “verification operation” at Louis Armstron

Queens, New York – Many people in Queens know lawyer Eve Cho Guillergan as quiet but with a ready smile and a steadfast reputation of helping immigrants. She is the familiar face who shows up in important community events lending consistent support. On April 8, 2026, Guillergan was sworn in as Judge of the Civil Court Queens, five months after she won in the hard-fought November 2025 election as the first Korean Filipino American judge in New York. Even before her inaugural,

NEW YORK - Philippine Consul General Senen T. Mangalile joined members of the consular corps in a diplomatic engagement with the New York Police Department (NYPD), underscoring continued cooperation between law enforcement authorities and the international community in New York City. The meet-and-greet session, organized by the NYPD in partnership with the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York (SOFCNY), was followed by a guided tour of the NYPD’s Joint Operations Center at O

QUEENS, NEW YORK - From consumer and health protections to environmental and public safety initiatives, Queens Assemblymember Steven Raga is banking on his legislative track record as he sets his sights on the New York State Senate this November. “I have always stood for Queens and my work as an organizer and now legislator has proven that,” Raga said during a conversation at a Philippine gala in Woodside. As the race intensifies, Raga and his team are mounting a grassroots

A Filipino American nurse is at the center of a massive federal investigation into alleged hospice fraud schemes that authorities say siphoned millions from Medicare. Federal prosecutors identified Lolita Beronilla Minerd, 65, a licensed vocational nurse from Anaheim, California, as a key figure behind Topanga Hospice Care Inc. in Artesia described in court filings as a vehicle for fraudulent billing. Authorities allege that from July 2020 to April 2025, the operation submitt