By JASON B. NEOLA TEACHERS, social workers, and students in this city expressed mixed reactions to the proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, following recent violent crimes involving minors across the country. A public secondary school teacher in this city supported the proposal to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, saying that minors today already possess discernment and are increasingly exposed to violence because of gadgets and online games

By Paulo DS Papa THE Naga City Police Office (NCPO) is now conducting school visitations and a series of dialogues with teachers, school officials, and even parents to discuss incident management and safety measures aimed at ensuring the safety of students. PCol. Rizaldy Caballero, officer-in-charge of the NCPO, during a press briefing last Tuesday, June 23, revealed his directive ordering a massive, citywide police coordination with schools in response to the shooting incide

As Naga City celebrated its 78th Charter Anniversary, the city paid tribute to one of its most distinguished families through the formal unveiling of the Arejola Mausoleum Historical Marker — a symbol of remembrance, patriotism, and enduring legacy. The marker honors the Arejola family, whose contributions shaped both Naga’s local history and the broader story of the Filipino struggle for freedom. Through generations marked by courage and service, the family became deeply wov

THE city government of Naga is taking steps to acquire additional medical equipment and apparatuses for its primary healthcare centers. Mayor Leni Robredo emphasized the initiative as part of her commitment to ensure that Nagueños enjoy quality healthcare services and faster medical assistance under her “2028 Finish Lines” agenda. Robredo discussed the matter with local newsmen following inquiries about the expected operationalization of the Naga City Super Health Center (NCS

By Bobby Q. Labalan Sorsogon City --- Electronic cigarette, popularly known as vape, is gaining patronage among adults and older people but declining among adolescents, latest data published by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) showed. In its 2025 Clinical and Health Survey which “assessed the prevalence of noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors in the general population, it listed smoking as the top behavioral risk factor chronic NCDs together with harmful

THE proposal to impose a “no work, no pay” policy on high-ranking government officials is not only timely — it is long overdue. For decades, ordinary government employees have been subjected to strict attendance rules, salary deductions, and administrative sanctions whenever they fail to report for work without approved leave. Yet many elected and appointed officials continue to receive salaries and allowances even after prolonged absences from public duty. This glaring doubl

I was lying in bed in the middle of the night, tossing and turning, unable to settle into a single comfortable position. Do I lie on my right side or my left? I couldn't stand the claustrophobic sensation of another pillow touching my body. Eventually, I settled on my back. I could immediately feel the heat rising, the sweat pooling between my skin and the bedsheets—but it was a fraction more tolerable than the alternatives. Usually, around this hour, I would still be awake b

Atty., pirmi kong naririnig an salitang intervention program para sa mga menor de edad na nakagibo nin krimen. Ano po ba talaga ini? ----- An intervention program iyo an serye nin mga hakbang na idinisenyo para matabangan an menor de edad na nakagibo nin sala o krimen na maintindihan an epekto kan saiyang ginibo asin malikayan an pag-ulit kaini. Sa irarom kan Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, an intervention program dai sana basta pagpapahali o pagpapalaya sa aki. Sa katunaya

Last year, I had the opportunity to attend the 34th South Luzon Area Business Conference (SOLABC) in Santa Rosa, Laguna, with the theme “Building Resilience and Sustainability, Embracing Diversity.” It was my first time participating as part of the delegation of the Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI). The conference brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, government officials, local chamber representatives, members of the academe, and development

Three students are dead. The immediate questions surrounding the school shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City are obvious. How did two minors gain access to firearms? Were warning signs missed? Could the attack have been prevented? Those questions demand answers. Yet amid the shock and outrage, another reality deserves attention. The alleged gunmen were children too. That fact does not erase responsibility. It does not lessen the pain of grieving families

By Fr. Roy Cimagala THE story of the leper who took the effort to get close to Christ, asking for healing, (cfr. Mt 8,1-4) teaches us several powerful lessons about faith, humility, God’s authority and the right use of good works. As the story goes, a leper approaches Christ, kneels and begs: “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” And Christ responds not so much with power as with mercy as he stretches out his hand and touches the leper: “I do choose. Be made clean!” L

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor FILIPINO men can ease their financial worries if diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer through a dedicated care package worth P100,000 the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) said Monday. Under the state insurer’s specialized Z Benefit Package, the P100,000 health subsidy is specifically allocated to cover treatment costs for patients diagnosed with low to intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The package is available to male member

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), together with the Canadian Red Cross, distributed conditional cash grants to 62 individuals from the vulnerable sector for livelihood support at the Legazpi City Convention Center on Friday. Bea Aguilar, PRC national project coordinator, said the identified beneficiaries from the city received PHP50,000 as the first tranche of the PHP100,000 grant, with the remainder expected to be disbursed within the year. “

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- For weeks, Australian and Philippine forces jointly conducted Exercise KASANGGA 2026 in Camarines Sur, showcasing their bilateral efforts to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, and combined arms operations in the region. Yesterday, the Australian Army (AUSA) and troops from the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division demonstrated territorial defense capabilities through a war scenario simulation, where successive gunfire reverberated a

By Rhaydz B. Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- A 40-year-old police major from La Union assigned at Camp General Simeon Ola, the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional command in Bicol, was arrested for alleged extortion after reportedly demanding grease money from police recruits. Police Lt. Col. Maria Luisa “Malu” Calubaquib, spokesperson of the PNP Bicol regional office, said the police officer entered the service on August 24, 2020 and has been assigned to the Regional Medical a