By JORDAN DOMINGO The Philippine National Police (PNP) supports two Senate-approved measures seeking to strengthen safeguards for children in schools and online, amid growing concerns over campus violence and digital threats. The proposed Comprehensive School Safety Act and Sagip Bata Act have also drawn support from parents, teachers, barangay officials, church and business leaders in various municipalities in Camarines Sur, who see the measures as additional safeguards for

By Jason B. Neola About 500 female junior high school students from 15 schools in Naga City will take part in a girls’ rights workshop using film and music as platforms for dialogue, self-discovery and creative expression on Saturday, Sept. 26. The “Sine Niña Girls’ Rights Workshop Through Film and Music” will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the ST Quadrangle of Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) along M.T. Villanueva Avenue. The activity is being organized by the City Governmen

By Rhaydz Barcia No amount of obstacles dampened the spirit, faith and strong devotion of Bicolanos from all walks of life to Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia, as devotees waited patiently for the annual fluvial procession despite its historic adjustment to night-time due to extremely low water levels in the Naga River. The night-time procession was held for the first time in its 316-year history after low tide and the effects of El Niño made it impossible for the pagoda to navi

By Darius Salvador V. Deiparine LIBMANAN, CAMARINES SUR — Mary Antonette A. Papin and Melan N. Bonza were named Libmanan’s Most Outstanding Campus Journalists at the Search for Gawad Leon Aureus for Outstanding Campus Journalism held at the Libmanan Sports Complex on August 29, 2026. The event was part of Libmanan’s Youth Convergence (Linggo ng Kabataan) 2026, which recognized local campus journalists for their work and achievements in journalism. Papin, a 17-year-old graduat

The Xavier Batchmates Foundation Inc. (XBFI), founded by the scholars of the Ateneo Xavier Honors Dormitory under the care and guidance of Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ during his term as President of Ateneo de Naga University, will celebrate its 2nd anniversary with a special fundraising event. In pursuit of the group's mission to provide 30 scholarship grants for deserving students of Ateneo de Naga University, XBFI is honored to present a benefit concert featuring Jose Mari Chan

By Jordan Domingo LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Education (DepEd) is preparing to roll out a School Digital Safety Campaign in Bicol and other parts of the country as it moves to address safety risks faced by students not only inside school campuses but also in the digital spaces where they study, communicate and socialize. The initiative comes amid heightened concern over school safety following recent campus violence, including the case involving Banga National High Sc

By Jason B. Neola MAYOR Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo has explained the origin and timeline of the P500-million national government funding for the rehabilitation and retrofitting of the Jesse M. Robredo (JMR) Coliseum, saying the project was pursued because the facility has become the city’s largest evacuation center. In a Facebook post on Monday, September 21, Robredo said the coliseum was constructed in 2009 and opened in 2010 as a venue for major events, conventions, sports

By Rhaydz Barcia LEGAZPI CITY --- The Regional Trial Court Branch 2 in Legazpi City has dismissed the criminal case against former Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine Barrameda-Rosal over an alleged violation of Section 261(v)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code. In a 20-page decision penned by Presiding Judge Arnel P. Cezar and dated July 23, 2026, the court granted Rosal’s motion for reconsideration and reversed its earlier resolution dated May 14, 2026, which had denied her mo

By Paulo DS Papa “All I have said has factual bases. In short, true.” This was the statement given to the media by Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Nelson Legacion weeks ago, before Gov. LRay Villafuerte announced that he had filed disbarment and cyber libel cases against the legislator. Legacion, who represents the province’s third congressional district, is known for his interventions in issues outside his jurisdiction in the name of public service, including the years-long

By Jason B. Neola VIRAC, Catanduanes --- The Municipal Trial Court (MTC) of Virac has dismissed Criminal Case No. 7174 against former Catanduanes governor Joseph “Boboy” Cua. The case stemmed from allegations of violations of the National Building Code of the Philippines under Presidential Decree No. 1096. In his official statement following the dismissal, Cua said he was pleased with the court’s decision and maintained that he had faced the allegations from the beginning. Cu

By Jordan Domingo OCAMPO, Camarines Sur --- Police arrested a 27-year-old man listed as the province’s No. 7 most wanted person during a manhunt operation in Barangay Hanawan, Ocampo, Camarines Sur, at about 3:35 p.m. on September 20. The suspect, identified only as alias “Cris,” a single forklift operator and resident of Ocampo, was arrested by personnel of the Ocampo Municipal Police Station (MPS) by virtue of a warrant of arrest for statutory rape by sexual assault. Police

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- At least 1,848 poor and near-poor households in Daraga, Albay, each received PHP2,000 in financial assistance on Monday under the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Bicol’s (DSWD-5) Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program. The payout at the Daraga covered court marked the release of the second tranche of the July-to-December assistance, following the first tranche distributed in July. The U

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Bicol (BJMP-5) has intensified dengue prevention efforts through cleanup drives and mosquito-control activities in jail facilities and nearby communities across the region. In a media release on Tuesday, the agency said personnel of the BJMP-Bicol, led by Regional Director Jail Senior Supt. Jose Gemelo Taol, joined local officials and residents in clearing waste, debris, and other potential mosqu

By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has so far disbursed PHP24.14 million in assistance to 2,539 dengue patients and families of individuals who died from the disease in the region this year. In a report on Tuesday, DSWD-Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio said the assistance was provided through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, primarily through the Crisis Intervention Sect

By Benilda Recebido SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon --- Access to the internet and essential online services has become more accessible for people in Sorsogon, following the launch of the Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP) by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in the Bicol region. The program was introduced on September 14 during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” service caravan held at the Sorsogon Convention Center. FPI