Regional News

NEW YORK - Northern Samar 2nd District Representative Edwin C. Ongchuan recently met with executives of Cebu Pacific to discuss possible initiatives aimed at strengthening transportation connectivity and promoting economic development in the province. The meeting brought together Ongchuan and key airline officials, including Michael Ivan Shau, President and Chief Operating Officer of Cebgo, Ces Natividad, Vice President for Corporate Affairs, and other executives from the air

CEBU - What was supposed to be a simple trip to seek help after a typhoon turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for a young mother struggling to support her family. Mary Christ Cuizon, 31, collapsed and died while waiting in line to validate records for ₱5,000 financial assistancefor victims of Typhoon Tino, which hit Cebu last November, at the Barangay Opao gymnasium in Mandaue City. Cuizon, a resident of Zone Talong, Barangay Paknaan, was later declared dead on arrival at Man

Food security and education were among the key priorities discussed during a recent meeting between Northern Samar Governor Harris Christopher Ongchuan and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform. The dialogue focused on strengthening programs that support Filipino farmers, fisherfolk, and students sectors considered critical to the country’s long-term development. A major part of the discussion centered on

LUCENA CITY, Philippines - A suspected relationship dispute turned deadly after a man was fatally shot inside a store along Enriquez Street in Barangay 4, Lucena City, around 11:00 a.m. on March 5. The victim was identified as Jayson Zoleta, who reportedly worked at a clothing outlet in a mall in the city. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Lucena, the suspect has been identified as Fattah Esmai Faisal, a resident of Barangay Marketview. Authorities said th

BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur — Several families were evacuated Friday morning (Feb. 20, 2026) after rising floodwaters inundated parts of Bislig City due to continuous heavy rains brought by a shear line affecting Mindanao. Residents of Maglikian-Requina in Purok 7, Barangay Tabon were among those forced to leave their homes as water levels rapidly increased overnight. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), assisted by local emergency responders and

New York City — One Waraynon Creators, a growing collective of digital content creators from Samar Island, is making a meaningful impact beyond social media by organizing regular humanitarian missions to support underserved communities across the island. Through these initiatives, the group distributes food packs, school supplies, and other essential items to families, schoolchildren, and senior citizens who need them most. According to Dr. Cassey Samantilla, the organizatio

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Grief turned into a nightmare for one family after they were forced to move their loved one’s coffin to the second floor as neck-deep floodwaters invaded their home at the height of Typhoon Basyang. The heartbreaking scene showed relatives wading through murky water while trying to keep the white coffin from being swallowed by the flood. Kent Kobe Opon, who shared the images online, said Basyang robbed them of both their home and their chance to mourn in

A woman sustained 63 stab wounds after she was allegedly attacked and killed by her husband, a retired member of the United States Marine Corps. The victim was identified as Norma Abadano Hall, 36, a resident of Barangay Pinocawan, Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental. The suspect was identified as her husband, John William Hall, 40, a former U.S. Marine from Norfolk, Virginia, USA, who had been living in the same area. According to Vallehermoso Chief of Police PCPT Berwyn Soreño, t

A brutal killing has stunned residents of Sto. Tomas after a young man surrendered to authorities and admitted to fatally stabbing a member of the LGBT community, claiming the attack was fueled by anger after he was allegedly sexually abused multiple times. According to the Sto. Tomas Police, the suspect voluntarily went to authorities on Saturday and turned over the knife he allegedly used in the killing. The stabbing reportedly occurred in a remote area of Barangay Balellen

A 36-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death by her own husband, a security guard, before her body was stuffed inside a garbage bag and hidden under their bed in Samal, Bataan. Police said the victim, known by the alias “Jenelyn,” was found already decomposing at around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday inside their home in Sitio Adamson, Barangay Gugo. The horrifying discovery was made after the victim’s sister went to check on her, worried because she had not been seen for three da

ALBAY, Philippines - Authorities have ordered the pre-emptive evacuation of residents within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano after state volcanologists raised the volcano’s status to Alert Level 3, citing increased volcanic activity and the heightened risk of hazardous eruptions. Following the advisory from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Albay Governor Noel Rosal, together with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and

Investigators from the Basud Municipal Police Station and the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit (PIDMU) have traced the origin of the body found dumped at the Pinagwarasan Bridge in Purok 1, Barangay Pinagwarasan, Basud, Camarines Norte, following information provided by a tricycle driver and a bus conductor who unknowingly transported the container where the victim was allegedly placed. According to police, the tricycle driver surfaced after seeing repor

Philippine security forces have uncovered a cache of high-powered firearms allegedly belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA) during a joint military and police operation in a remote area of Labo town in Camarines Norte province, authorities said. The operation was led by the Philippine Army’s 16th Infantry Battalion under the 2nd Infantry “Jungle Fighter” Division, in coordination with the 42nd Infantry Battalion of the 9th Infantry “Spearhead” Division. Police units involve

Philippine Congresswoman Leila de Lima has called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into reports that iron ore extracted from the coastal town of Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte province may have been shipped to China, raising concerns over legality, environmental impact, and government oversight. De Lima said reports of several vessels positioned near the shoreline allegedly preparing to transport iron ore overseas must be thoroughly examined, stressing th

Pressure continues to mount against PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. as an estimated 50 Local Water Districts (LWDs)are now moving to terminate their joint venture agreements (JVAs) with the Villar-owned water utility company. Sa pagdinig ng Senate Committee on Public Services, Senator Raffy Tulfo reported that his office conducted a survey among 70 LWDs. The results showed that 61 districts are not satisfied with PrimeWater’s service. Ayon kay Tulfo, marami nang water distric

Daet, Camarines Norte — Three alleged High-Value Individuals (HVI) were arrested in a successful buy-bust operation along Vinzons Avenue, Daet, Camarines Norte, on the evening of December 3, 2025. Police recovered from the suspects roughly 3 kilos of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of ₱20,400,000, based on the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) valuation. Also confiscated were 669 pieces of counterfeit ₱1,000 bills used as boodle money, along with marked buy-bust cash

More than 15,000 passengers from three major Philippine airlines were affected by a required software update for Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, resulting in nearly 100 delayed or canceled flights. According to acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ordered the update as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and airworthiness of all affected aircraft. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines canceled 78 domestic

A quiet Wednesday morning in Camalig, Albay turned into a scene of tragedy and heartbreak after a UV Express van and a 10-wheeler truck plunged into a ravine, killing 11 out of the vehicle’s 13 passengers. According to Camalig Mayor Caloy Baldo, the accident happened around 9 a.m. along the bypass road in Barangay Libod. What followed was an agonizing eight-hour rescue and retrieval operation as authorities battled steep terrain, unstable ground, and the wreckage lodged deep

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE — A young woman endured sheer torment after a 21-year-old man allegedly used her intimate photos and videos to threaten, harass, and force her to obey his every demand. The suspect, known only by the alias “Falcon,” was caught flat-footed when operatives of the Camarines Norte Provincial Cyber Response Team stormed the scene during an entrapment operation on November 18, 2025, at around 11:30 a.m. Weeks of police investigation reportedly uncovered the su

Eight police officers were arrested inside Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Laguna after allegedly abducting, robbing, and raping an 18-year-old Grade 9 student from Bacoor City, Cavite — a crime authorities described as shocking and deeply disturbing, especially because the suspects are members of an elite PNP unit. The arrested officers are all assigned to the PNP Drug Enforcement Group – Special Operations Unit 4A (PDEG SOU 4A). The case stems from an incident on Saturday, Nov

Daet, Philippines — Philippine authorities confiscated more than ₱10 million (approximately USD 180,000) worth of methamphetamine, locally known as shabu , in a major anti-drug operation carried out in Camarines Norte province on November 22, 2025. The operation, led by the Camarines Norte Police Drug Enforcement Unit and the Daet Municipal Police Station, with support from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), targeted a high-value suspect identified only by the al

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” ―Friedrich Nietzsche I SUPPORT the majority of the Filipinos against rascals and political lunatics who wanted but failed to topple the Marcos Jr. administration, but I disagree with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to prioritize the arrest of some local officials who left the Philippin

A one-month-old baby girl is now safe after the National Authority for Child Care (NACC), working with law enforcement agencies, intercepted a heartbreaking attempt to sell her online for ₱40,000 . Authorities said the suspects had allegedly purchased the infant earlier for ₱20,000 , intending to resell her for profit treating a human life as merchandise. According to the NACC, the discovery was as disturbing as it was alarming: babies as young as a month old were being bough

New York - Investigative journalist Max Limpag of Cebu has passed away. It is difficult to write about the loss of a friend and colleague I deeply respected for his integrity, for his courage, and for the way he carried his craft with clarity and purpose. Like all who knew him, I was stunned by the news. Max was in the middle of it all our chaos, I mean digging, checking, writing, and publishing without fear or apology. But journalism work is never really finished. Max wrot