Six deaths in Naga City. Fifteen deaths in Albay. These are not just numbers in a dengue report. Each number is a person—a child, a mother, a father, a family member whose life was lost to a disease that, in many cases, can be prevented. As of September 15, Naga City had recorded 307 dengue cases and six deaths since January. The city declared a state of calamity on September 8. In Albay, dengue cases reached 1,785 with 14 deaths as of September 8, prompting the province to declare a state of calamity on September 10. By September 21, Albay's cases had climbed to 2,970, with 15 deaths. On September 23, the Department of Health Bicol reported that the region had been placed under Code Blue because of the continuing dengue outbreak and pressure on hospital capacity. Dengue-bed utilization had reached 107 percent as of September 17. So I ask: What more can we do as communities?For Tabang Bikol Movement, the answer is not new. We have been here before. TBM began working with the Department of Agriculture–Region V and community partners on citronella propagation and dengue prevention years ago. In 2018, a mass distribution involved 300,000 citronella clumps in Canaman. In 2019, another 30,000 citronella tillers were distributed to about 300 beneficiaries at Mariners in Canaman, at a time when dengue cases were rising in Camarines Sur. With DA central office support, TBM set up a building with four citronella distillation machines that the People’s Organization of Disaster Survivors (PODIS) and Ilaw ng Kababaihan now operate. I remember the enthusiasm of communities receiving the plants. The free distribution did more than put citronella into people's hands. It encouraged families to plant more around their homes and encouraged communities to grow in common spaces. People propagated what they received. One plant could become many. Citronella you see, contains compounds such as citronellal, citronellol and geraniol with mosquito-repellent, antimicrobial and potential antiviral properties. But the message was never simply: plant citronella and dengue will disappear. The real message was—and remains—clean, clean, clean. Clean the house. Clean the yard. Clean the street. Clean the canals. Empty containers that collect water. Search for stagnant water. Remove mosquito-breeding places. Citronella can complement these efforts because of its mosquito-repellent properties. But it is not a substitute for eliminating breeding sites and following public-health measures. It is just one nature-based component of a broader community action. At Mariners, and in our homes, citronella is a valuable antibacterial compound we use for cleaning and mosquito repellant. We used to buy gallons of hydrosol, water waste from citronella distillation, from the community organizations that produce them. Today, I believe it is time for another round of community action—and another round of planting. And this time, let us remember the plants that were lost.Bicol has experienced repeated flooding. Many citronella plants that families and communities planted in previous years may have been washed away, buried, damaged or simply lost. If we are serious about bringing back community-based dengue prevention, then let us regrow them. Why not launch another coordinated distribution of citronella planting materials? Why not ask DA, LGUs, barangays, schools, colleges, civic organizations and private partners to work together again? Why not identify communities that lost their citronella plants to floods and prioritize them for replanting? And why not make every distribution an opportunity for a much bigger campaign—planting plus cleaning, replanting plus removing stagnant water, and distribution plus education? Every barangay can identify places where stagnant water collects. Schools can organize a regular search-and-destroy activity. Households can check their surroundings. Every community organization can mobilize volunteers. The experience of 2017 to 2019 showed us something important: when people are given a practical way to participate, they respond. A free citronella plant gave families something they could grow. But more than that, it gave communities a reason to talk about dengue, cleanliness and environmental responsibility. Today, we need to do it again—but bigger, more coordinated and more sustained. Let us not wait until another family loses a loved one. Let us plant again.Let us regrow what the floods washed away. to make sure that the communities they left behind become safer with Citronella and more basic community-based aciton like cleaning cleaning and cleaning of our surroundings. Appeal: Help PODIS harvest citronella this month—some for free community replanting, the rest for oil and hydrosol production. Help us regrow in communities what the floods washed away. Contact PODIS President Virginia Blaza.

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 School, where authorities have been investigating reported online activity connected to the incident. DepEd said the campaign will add a digital-safety component to existing measures aimed at protecting learners, which include closed-circuit television cameras, metal detectors, perimeter fencing, security guards, school counsellor associates, learner formation officers and child protection committees. Schools are also being required to strengthen preparedness through regular safety and emergency response drills. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the campaign recognizes that children’s lives now extend beyond the physical classroom. “Keeping our children safe today means understanding that their world extends beyond the classroom and into their phones, games, group chats, and social media,” Angara said. He said learners, parents and teachers need the knowledge and tools to navigate these digital spaces safely. For Bicol schools, the campaign is expected to provide additional guidance on risks that learners may encounter online, including cyberbullying and harassment, grooming and online child exploitation, scams, privacy violations, irresponsible social media use, unsafe gaming practices and exposure to violent or harmful content. It will also cover healthy screen time and digital well-being, as well as warning signs that may require reporting, referral or intervention. The campaign complements DepEd’s revised K-to-10 curriculum, which integrates digital citizenship, netiquette, online safety and responsible technology use into subjects such as Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan/Technology and Livelihood Education, Values Education, and Physical Education and Health for Grades 4 to 10. DepEd said the new campaign will translate these classroom lessons into practical measures that parents and teachers can apply in dealing with children’s everyday digital activities. Parents will be guided on how to talk with children about their online experiences, recognize warning signs, establish appropriate boundaries and know when to seek assistance. “Parents do not have to know every app or platform their children use. But they need to keep the lines of communication open,” Angara said. Teachers and school personnel will likewise be trained to identify warning signs and follow appropriate reporting and referral procedures when concerns involving learners arise. DepEd will coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippine National Police, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, National Bureau of Investigation, local government leagues and relevant medical societies in developing campaign materials, referral protocols and training programs. The department will first convene its partner agencies and organizations to develop the campaign framework and materials before its wider implementation. Angara called on schools, families, local governments, government agencies and communities to share responsibility for protecting children from risks in the digital environment. “We cannot leave our children to navigate the digital world on their own,” he said. “Keeping them safe is a shared responsibility of the school, the home, government, and the community,” he said.

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 competitions and concerts. It was renamed Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum through Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance No. 2012-043 following the death of her husband in August 2012. With a seating capacity of 12,000, the facility has over the years become a major evacuation center because of the frequent typhoons and flooding affecting Naga, housing thousands of families during calamities. Robredo, however, said the coliseum was not originally designed as an evacuation facility and therefore lacks several basic amenities needed for prolonged evacuation. She cited limited space for tents, bleachers that cannot be used as beds, ground-floor comfort rooms that become unusable during floods, the absence of communal kitchens and inadequate areas for storing relief goods. “The need to repair and retrofit the Coliseum became even starker” after Typhoon Kristine, which brought what she described as Naga’s worst flooding. Robredo said she began looking for funding for the rehabilitation soon after assuming office in 2025, but securing the amount needed for the project proved difficult. She said Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan advised the city to apply for funding through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), which the city subsequently pursued. The city was informed in early February 2026 that the funding request had been approved in principle, according to Robredo. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. later visited Naga and turned over the P500-million funding for the rehabilitation of the coliseum. Of the amount, P450 million is intended for the repair and rehabilitation of the facility, while P50 million is earmarked for heavy equipment needed to strengthen the city’s disaster-response capability, Robredo said. The funding will support the transformation of the coliseum into a safer and more functional facility that can serve both as an evacuation center during disasters and as a venue for major events and sports competitions. Robredo said that despite the release of the funding, construction could not immediately begin because several government and nongovernment agencies and organizations are currently holding office inside the coliseum. The city needs to relocate these offices before construction starts, she said. Robredo said the Balatas Building, which will serve as the temporary offices of the affected agencies and organizations during construction, is expected to be ready in October. The city consequently scheduled the bidding for September. Robredo said the procurement process is now in the post-qualification stage, with construction expected to start within October. The rehabilitation is part of the city government’s efforts to strengthen its disaster preparedness and resilience, particularly in view of the coliseum’s increasing role as a major evacuation facility during typhoons and floods. During the President’s February visit, Marcos also inspected key waterways in Naga as part of the government’s flood-mitigation efforts and assessed the condition of the JMR Coliseum following damage caused by previous earthquakes and typhoons. The President, accompanied by Robredo, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and officials of concerned national government agencies, also inspected dredging operations at Sagop Creek under the government’s “Oplan Kontra Baha.” The flood-mitigation initiative includes the clearing of creeks and drainage systems to improve water flow and reduce flooding in vulnerable areas. The national government has committed to complementary interventions, including continued dredging, drainage improvements and long-term flood-control measures. Robredo said the national government assistance for the coliseum would help address one of the city’s critical disaster-response infrastructure needs while allowing the facility to continue serving as a venue for major public events. IN NEED OF REPAIR. A portion of the dilapidated ceiling of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City, one of several deteriorating and defective parts of the facility that are set to undergo rehabilitation.

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 motion to quash. The court ruled that Rosal’s constitutional rights to due process and the speedy disposition of cases were violated because of the prolonged delay in the filing and progression of the criminal case. The decision noted that the key facts and evidence underlying the case had long been in the possession of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) following the filing of disqualification petitions on April 11, 2022. “Wherefore, premises considered, the motion for reconsideration is granted. Accordingly, the resolution dated May 14, 2026 denying the motion to quash is hereby reconsidered and set aside,” the court said. “Consequently, the motion to quash is granted. The information dated October 9, 2025, filed against accused Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal, is hereby quashed. Accordingly, the instant case is hereby dismissed,” Cezar said. Criminal Case No. 18477, for alleged violation of Section 261(v)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code, was filed by Joseph Armogila, a political ally of the Ako Bicol Party-list, who ran for city councilor under the ticket of then congressional candidate Alfredo Garbin. Garbin and Armogila both lost in the May 2022 local elections, with Rosal winning the mayoral race. On April 11, 2022, Armogila filed two petitions for disqualification before the Comelec against the Rosal couple. The first petition sought to disqualify Geraldine Rosal as a candidate for mayor of Legazpi City. At the time, she was a private citizen seeking election to the post. The second petition sought to disqualify her husband, then former Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, who was running for governor of Albay. Both petitions alleged that the Rosals violated Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code, or Batas Pambansa Blg. 881. The Rosals eventually won the positions they sought in the 2022 elections. In seeking to quash the criminal case, Rosal argued that the Comelec had been aware of the alleged election offense since the filing of the disqualification petitions in April 2022. Cezar noted that once the Comelec had been notified of the alleged violation, the period for the government to act on the alleged offense had begun to run and the poll body was duty-bound to initiate a preliminary investigation. The judge said this was because the alleged violation of Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code could serve both as a ground for disqualification and as a criminal offense. Under Section 269 of the Omnibus Election Code, the Comelec is required to give preferential attention to the investigation and prosecution of election offenses, the decision said. Cezar also cited Comelec Resolution No. 9386, which allows the commission to initiate a preliminary investigation motu proprio. Instead of simultaneously pursuing the administrative proceedings on the disqualification petitions and the preliminary investigation, which involve different standards of evidence, the Comelec limited itself to determining whether the disqualification petitions had merit, the decision said. The court noted that about three years had passed before the alleged criminal offense underwent preliminary investigation, despite the absence of new evidence that would justify the delay. The prolonged delay, the court ruled, violated Rosal’s constitutional rights to due process and speedy disposition of cases and constituted sufficient grounds to reverse its earlier ruling denying the motion to quash. The RTC consequently quashed the information and dismissed Criminal Case No. 18477 against Rosal.

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord. Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11 Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."

Dear Father Bill, Ano po an pagka ka-iba kan archdiocesan shrine, national shrine asin international shrine? An minagalang, Ruben Dear Ruben, Sa pakasabot kan kadaklan, an "shrine" (santuario -spanish; dambana - Filipino) sarong banal na lugar na itinalaga sa pagtao nin pagsamba o honra sa sarong dios, santo o banal na tawo. Para sa mga Catolico, an "diocesan," "national," asin "international shrines" mga sagradong lugar na pinagtalaga para sa hararom na pagpamibi asin mga pagbisita kan mga peregrino o mga devoto. Iba-iba an hiwas kan saindang sakop asin impluwensya, asin klase kan otoridad kan Simbahan para ma-aprobaran. Gabos sinda igwa nin natatanging pigpapalakop na devocion, espiritual na pagtalubo, formacion, asin pagsamba. Ini minapoon bilang sarong centro nin devocion sa sarong lugar o diocesis bago magparalangkaw an estado kan pakamidbid kaini. Archdiocesan/Diocesan Shrine Pinaglilingkodan kaini an mga Catolico na nasasakopan kan diocesis o rehiyon, nagdidirigdi an mga tawo huli sa sarong klaseng devocion na ipinapalakop kaini, orog na ki Santa Maria o sa mga Santo. Kadaklan na beses ini ina-aprobaran kan obispo kan diocesis. Igwang mga parokyang tinatawan nin pagmidbid bilang "shrine" - parokya na, "shrine" pa. National Shrine An mga peregrino kaini hale sa manlaen-laen na lugar kan sarong nacion, huli ta ini igwa nin halaga sa kultura, istorya asin religiosong sentimiento kan estado. An mina-aprobar kaini asin nagtatao nin pagmidbid iyo mismo an katiriponan kan mga obispo sa sarong nacion (halimbawa: Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines). International Shrine An espiritual na halaga kan devocion na ini pang-kinaban (unversal) asin an mga peregrinong nagbibisita digdi gikan sa manlaen-laen na kultura asin nacion. An otoridad na mina-aprobar kaini asin minagibo nin kasuguan iyo mismo an Holy See, an namamahala kan bilog na Catolicong Simbahan asin kan Vatican City na pinangengenotan kan Santo Papa. An halimbawa kaini an International Shrines ni Our Lady of Peace & Good Voyage (Antipolo) asin ni St. Padre Pio (Batangas). An minagalang, Fr. Bill * * * Email me at: billparisadmu@gmail.com

By Norman Dequia/CBCP News NAGA City — The Archdiocese of Cáceres marked its 75th anniversary Sept. 17 with a call for Catholics to renew the Church by recognizing that every member has a vital role. Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, described the Church as a shared journey in which no one is excluded or considered unnecessary. “The idea of a procession gives us a visual image of what the Church is in her nature: people walking together,” Brown said during the anniversary Mass at Naga Metropolitan Cathedral compound. “No one is unnecessary. No one is useless. Everyone is valued,” he said. The Mass also concluded the Union of Bicol Clergy gathering and marked the seventh day of the novena to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, whose devotion is central to Catholic life in Bicol. Brown compared the Church to a caravan moving toward a common destination, an image reflected in the annual Peñafrancia processions. He said the Church’s journey involves the entire People of God, including lay Catholics, families, priests and bishops. Brown particularly highlighted parents as key to passing the Catholic faith to younger generations. “For passing the faith on to the next generation, who is the most important person? It’s not the Nuncio, believe me,” Brown said. “It’s the mother and father of the children. They are the most important people in passing the faith on.” Addressing Bicol clergy, Brown said priests have a central responsibility to bring Christ to the faithful through the Eucharist. “The fundamental point of the priesthood is what? It’s to bring the Eucharist to God’s people,” he said. Brown also urged Catholics to look to the saints and earlier generations when considering how to renew the Church. “When we want to think about how to renew the Church, how to reform the Church, we need to walk in the footsteps of the saints,” he said. The Diocese of Nueva Cáceres was established in 1595 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1951 by Pope Pius XII, with the dioceses of Legazpi and Sorsogon as its suffragans. The archdiocese remains a major Catholic center in Bicol, with devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia at the heart of its religious life. Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, celebrates the mass for the Inter-Diocesan celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Archdiocese of Caceres as a Metropolitan See, Sept 17, at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. (Photos from CCCom Media/Archdiocese of Caceres/Facebook) Brown also attended the closing program of the Union of Bicol Clergy, an annual gathering of priests across the Bicol region. (Photos from CCCom Media/Archdiocese of Caceres/Facebook)

By Fr. Jhonan’z Vibar NAGA CITY — The Catholic Church in Bicol is taking steps toward a more coordinated approach to safeguarding as representatives of the region’s dioceses gathered for a Metropolitan One-Day Orientation Workshop on the Universal Guidelines Framework (UGF) on September 16, 2026, at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary. The workshop served as a working session for four interconnected priorities: understanding the CBCP National Guidelines Framework (NGF), deepening participants’ grasp of the Universal Guidelines Framework, preparing for the National Safeguarding Conference: Write-Shop in October 2026, and advancing plans for a Metropolitan Safeguarding Team for the Bicol dioceses. The day opened with a call to strengthen the Church’s shared responsibility for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons. In his opening remarks, Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Caceres underscored the importance of leadership, collaboration and a common direction in safeguarding. Participants were introduced to the foundations of the CBCP National Guidelines Framework, including its purpose, core values and the responsibilities of the dioceses, parishes and Church personnel. Prof. Gabriel Dy-Liacco of the Catholic Safeguarding Institute led the UGF orientation, bringing the discussion from principles to practice. Participants examined safe environments, boundaries and codes of conduct, as well as formation, screening, supervision, reporting, and response mechanisms. The afternoon shifted towards implementation. The dioceses with existing safeguarding policies identified experiences, challenges, priorities and next steps. Inputs will contribute to preparations for the National Safeguarding Write-Shop. Beyond the October activity, the discussions point to a longer regional agenda: the formal establishment of a functioning Metropolitan Safeguarding Team for the Bicol dioceses and, eventually, a Metropolitan Penal Tribunal, as part of a more coordinated safeguarding structure. For now, the immediate task is clear: prepare Bicol’s metropolitan safeguarding team to participate meaningfully in the national policy write-shop. The longer journey is more ambitious—building structures capable of translating safeguarding standards into consistent practice across diocesan and parish communities.

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 road problem along the Andaya Highway and the franchise application of the Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative (Casureco III). He has also criticized the provincial government over what he described as more than 10 years of delay in the Naga Airport reorientation project and what he called unjust compensation for farmers whose farmland was bulldozed for the CamSur Uptown Project. Legacion said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan had passed a resolution authorizing the governor to file a case against him. He also said in an earlier statement, which he reiterated in a recent social media post, that the Villafuertes file lawsuits against individuals who speak up for farmers and other people seeking assistance. Meanwhile, Villafuerte said during a press briefing days ago that he had already filed disbarment and cyber libel cases against Legacion. “It will be okay with me if he criticizes me, but [if he criticizes] the province as an institution, it is not acceptable,” Villafuerte said. Villafuerte also said Legacion had made statements regarding the unpaid power bill of the Iriga City Government to Casureco III, prompting the local government to consider filing a case against the congressman. Legacion earlier disclosed the dispute between the Iriga City Government and Casureco III over their respective financial obligations. According to Legacion, the Iriga City Government claimed that Casureco III owed it about P125 million in franchise and real property taxes, while the electric cooperative maintained that its remaining balance was only about P9 million. Casureco III, on the other hand, has been pursuing payment from the Iriga City Government for its unpaid electricity bills, which it said had reached more than P380 million, including interest and penalties.

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. Cua recalled that when the warrant of arrest was initially issued, he voluntarily submitted himself to authorities to demonstrate his respect for the legal process. He said the complaint had originated years earlier, but he chose to face the case and maintained his trust in due process. With the dismissal of the case, Cua said his trust in the judicial process had been affirmed. He said the court found that his constitutional right to the speedy disposition of cases had been violated because of delays in the proceedings. Cua said the ruling affirmed his position that the case should be resolved through the proper legal process rather than through what he described as “trial by public opinion.” Cua also raised concerns over what he described as the circulation on social media of his unblurred mugshot and an investigation report, which he said involved a possible breach of his data privacy. He said he and his legal counsel would continue to pursue appropriate legal steps concerning the matter. The former governor thanked those who had continued to support him and his family during the proceedings, saying their prayers, messages of concern and support had given them strength. With the case dismissed, Cua said he intends to focus on living a private life while continuing to help the community in whatever capacity remains possible for him as a private citizen. He also called on Catandunganons to be discerning about information being circulated on social media and urged that issues be addressed through proper legal processes. Cua urged his fellow Catandunganons to work together for the betterment of the province. He ended his statement with a call for peace, saying he hopes for a more peaceful Catanduanes and urging people to “spread love, not hate; spread peace, not toxicity.”

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 said the warrant carries a recommended fixed bail of P120,000 for temporary liberty. The arrest was conducted under a Manhunt Charlie operation and was documented using an Alternative Recording Device (ARD). Police said Cris was informed of the reason for his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a dialect known to and understood by him. He will undergo medical examination at the Ocampo District Hospital before being brought to the Ocampo MPS for documentation and proper disposition. Verification through the Investigative Solution and Automatic Verification (ISAV) System also showed that he had a previous record involving reckless imprudence resulting in physical injury and damage to property, which police said had been resolved through an amicable settlement. Unemployed man collared NABUA, Camarines Sur --- A 27-year-old man was arrested while another suspect remained at large following a buy-bust operation in Barangay San Antonio Poblacion here at about 8:32 p.m. on September 20. Arrested was alias “Doming,” single, unemployed and a resident of Nabua. Police identified the other suspect as alias “Lenlen,” also a resident of Nabua, who remains at large. Personnel of the Nabua Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit (MDEU), led by PLTCOL Ciriaco M. Pacer Jr., chief of police, conducted the operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office V (PDEA-RO V). Police said Doming was arrested after allegedly selling one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, with an estimated weight of 0.2 gram, to a poseur-buyer in exchange for a marked P500 bill. According to police, Doming told authorities that he was acting under the instructions of Lenlen. A subsequent body search allegedly resulted in the recovery of a black sling bag containing the P500 buy-bust money and a black coin purse containing two more heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu with a combined weight of approximately 16 grams. Police placed the total estimated gross weight of the confiscated suspected illegal drugs at about 16.02 grams, with an estimated street value of P108,936. The search and inventory were conducted at the place of operation in the presence of the suspect and insulating witnesses and were documented using two Alternative Recording Devices (ARDs). Police said Doming was apprised of his constitutional rights in a dialect known to and understood by him. Meanwhile, the complaint against Lenlen was being prepared by the Nabua MPS investigator-on-case for filing before the Prosecutor’s Office. 4 electric fans stolen NABUA, Camarines Sur --- Four wall-mounted electric fans were reported stolen from an Alternative Learning System (ALS) room at the Nabua Central Pilot School in Barangay San Nicolas here in an overnight robbery reported to police on September 22. The incident reportedly occurred between 6 p.m. on September 21 and 4 a.m. on September 22 at the ALS room on the second floor of the ALS Building. The victim, identified as alias “Dona,” 44, married and an ALS district coordinator, personally reported the incident to the Nabua Municipal Police Station (MPS). Initial police investigation showed that the unidentified suspect or suspects allegedly gained entry by forcibly destroying the room’s door lock. Four Union wall-mounted electric fans, each valued at P916, were reportedly taken, for a total estimated value of P3,664. The investigator-on-case and police operatives immediately conducted an investigation at the scene. Police said they are currently backtracking closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in an effort to determine the possible route taken by the suspect or suspects and identify those responsible for the incident. Stolen motorcycle traced BATO, Camarines Sur --- A motorcycle was reported stolen after its owner left it parked along a roadside in Barangay San Miguel here on September 22, while police later discovered that the motorcycle allegedly used by the suspect had also been reported stolen in Sorsogon. The incident occurred at about 8:08 a.m., when the victim, identified as alias “Anghel,” 37, married, a computer shop owner and resident of Bato, left his white Honda Click motorcycle, bearing plate number E656MJ, parked in front of his mother-in-law’s house with its key still in the ignition. When he returned, the motorcycle was gone. Police said CCTV footage showed an unidentified man wearing a blue jacket and white helmet arriving on a black Suzuki Smash motorcycle without a plate number. The man allegedly parked the Suzuki near the Honda Click, took the victim’s motorcycle and drove toward Iriga City. The suspect reportedly left the Suzuki Smash at the scene. Police immediately requested a dragnet operation in neighboring municipalities for the possible apprehension of the suspect. Investigators and intelligence operatives are also backtracking CCTV footage to determine the route taken by the fleeing suspect. Verification of documents found inside the U-box of the abandoned Suzuki Smash showed that it was owned by a resident of Donsol, Sorsogon. Further verification showed that the motorcycle had reportedly been stolen at about 8 p.m. on September 12 in Barangay San Rafael, Donsol. The investigation and efforts to identify and locate the suspect are ongoing. Shabu seized in search warrant opn BUHI, Camarines Sur --- Police arrested a 35-year-old man and seized four sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P19,040 during the implementation of a search warrant in Barangay San Vicente, Buhi, at about 5:40 a.m. on September 22. The suspect, identified only as alias “JM,” jobless and a resident of Buhi, was arrested by elements of the Buhi Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit (MDEU), led by PMAJ Venchito V. Cerillo, assistant chief of police for operations, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office V (PDEA-RO V). Police said four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a substance suspected to be methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, were recovered inside a cottage during the search. The seized suspected drugs had a combined gross weight of approximately 2.8 grams and an estimated street value of P19,040, according to police. The operation was conducted in the presence of two requested insulating witnesses and was documented using two Alternative Recording Devices (ARDs). Police said the marking and inventory of the seized items were immediately conducted at the place of operation in the presence of JM and the insulating witnesses. The suspect was apprised of his constitutional rights in a dialect known to and understood by him and will be brought to the Buhi MPS for documentation and appropriate disposition.

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 UPLIFT assistance is part of the national government’s response to the energy emergency and its impact on low-income and near-poor households. The initiative follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to assist Filipinos affected by the energy emergency. Farmer Rolando Llana, 44, of Barangay (village) Balinad, said the assistance is a big help to families struggling with their livelihood, particularly amid extreme heat that has affected his ability to plant. He said he may use the assistance as additional capital for his small store. Driver Reyann Musa, 32, of Barangay Lacag, said the PHP2,000 assistance can help meet his family’s daily needs. “For me, even PHP2,000 is a big help. I can use it to buy rice, viand, milk for my child, and other expenses,” Musa said. Vendor Evelyn Llames, 66, of Barangay Bigao, said the assistance would help families like hers who are struggling to make ends meet. “It is a big help to people like us who are struggling. It can help with our daily needs,” Llames said. Meanwhile, vendor and therapist Mary Cris Cimanes, 43, of Barangay Kilicao, said the assistance would help her family, particularly with her children’s educational needs. Cimanes also thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the assistance and expressed hope that more families would receive support through similar government programs. (PNA) PAYOUT. Eligible beneficiaries from various barangays in Daraga, Albay, wait for their turn during the payout of financial assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) at the Daraga covered court on Monday (Sept. 21, 2026). A total of 1,848 beneficiaries will each receive PHP2,000 as part of the second tranche of the financial assistance. (Photo contributed by Ella Mariz Miñ)