^{Philippines! 2026} Canadian man linked to P9.68-B shabu seizure convicted, 2 dead 3 hurt in Leyte ambush, Kin of Empeño Cadapan ask SC to disclose Palparan’s whereabouts, PRO-6 vows to file cases vs. bomb threat perpetrator, Grade 7 girl carries drug tools to school, Dismissed cop Dumlao, mastermind in 2016 Jee Ick Joo killing arrested in QC, NBI busts PGMN founder Franco Mabanta in ₱350M extortion sting vs Romualdez, Harmonica player’s arrest sparks ordinance review, CIDG: Senate shooting related to Bato Dela Rosa’s escape, Mindanao quake damage tops P1B as death toll rises to 61, Wanted in Mountain Province for rape arrested in Quezon, Nine seized for cable wire theft in QC, Jinggoy refuses to plead; court sets July pre-trial, Ex-cop in 2016 Korean kidnap-slay case arrested, Chavit Singson arrested for Cyberlibel in QC, House prosecutors seek Jinggoy’s inhibition from Sara impeachment trial, Arraignment of Estrada Bonoan set June 30; 3 co-accused plead not guilty, Byron Garcia arrested, Byron Garcia to face trial over alleged online harassment, Cayetano: Senate ‘under attack’, No casualties following shooting inside Senate; probe ongoing, NBI driver arrested following Senate shooting, OSAA chief fired first shot in Senate shooting incident, Palace validating reports of Dela Rosa no longer in Senate, Suspect in trafficking women for prostitution nabbed in Cebu City, Pagbabanta paninira ng Duterte supporters nagagamit ng ICC Prosecution, Court orders couple to pay P4.9 million in bibingka-linked investment case, PNP intercepts P5.1-M suspected marijuana kush in Pasay mail hub, Nawawalang bata noon pang 2023 ngayon lang pinanawagan; umani ng reaksiyon, Tanggal angas! Viral pulis na nambugbog ng misis sibak sa puwesto!, Philippine senator vows to fight International Criminal Court order to arrest him over killings, NBI busts PGMN founder Franco Mabanta in ₱350M extortion sting vs Romualdez, Mabanta 4 others post bail in alleged extortion case, NBI charges Mike Defensor’s wife son in Pasig trafficking case: 54 women rescued from disco bar tied to family hotel, UP Diliman student leader killed in what military describes as encounter in Negros, UP student leader gunned down in Negros clash questions mount on military accountability, 12 boxes of cash sent to Revilla – witness, PH Army insists slain UP student was an NPA member. military defends Negros Occidental operation, PNP ready to aid FBI in hunting child exploitation suspect, Five Chinese nabbed in Parañaque kidnapping, Kitty Duterte on father’s condition in ICC detention: ‘He’s just doing normal things’, PNP BOC seize P29.7-M worth of shabu ecstasy in NAIA parcel bust, From whistleblower to fugitive: ‘Bikoy’ arrested over abduction racket faces triple murder case, Seares: Murder of Crystal Joy in Toledo City this week recalls death of Christine Lee in Lapu-Lapu City in 2019 and Ellah Joy of Minglanilla in 2011. True crime involved children who had been missing before their bodies were found. All deaths were grisly topped by beheading of the latest victim, BI Arrests Japanese, Chinese Nationals Linked to Scam Hub in Pampanga, Arrested Pinoy ‘poser’ transferred to Taguig, Korean drug fugitive recaptured after two-month manhunt, Korean fugitive nabbed for telecom fraud in Makati, BI nabs 2 Chinese in Parañaque, Mongolian man collared over alleged espionage-linked activities, Parañaque gunman nabbed; noise feud motive eyed, Mollenido husband cleared 3 others charged, ‘Marcos’ behind bars, Sofia Trazona reacts to stepdad Alvin Aragon’s anti-gay remarks

2026.6.15 Kin of Empeño, Cadapan ask SC to disclose Palparan’s whereabouts
The families of abducted University of the Philippines (UP) students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan on Monday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to compel the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to disclose the whereabouts of retired Army general Jovito Palparan amid reports that he had been transferred to Baguio City.

2026.6.15 Canadian man linked to P9.68-B shabu seizure convicted
A court has convicted a Canadian national linked to a historic 2024 narcotics operation, sentencing him to life imprisonment for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
The conviction stems from an operation in Alitagtag, Batangas, where authorities seized approximately 1.4 tons of suspected shabu valued at P9.68 billion. The recovery remains one of the largest single-day drug busts in Philippine history.
Canadian gets 2 life terms over drugs linked to P9.5-B Batangas shabu haul
While the scale of the initial seizure drew national headlines, law enforcement officials emphasized that the subsequent conviction marks the true success of the operation.
“Large drug recoveries often generate public interest because of the numbers involved, but removing illegal drugs from circulation is only part of the job,” the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a statement.
“The harder task is building a case strong enough to survive in court,” it added.
Police officials said the legal victory reflects a growing emphasis on intelligence-driven investigations under PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr.

2026.6.15 2 dead, 3 hurt in Leyte ambush
TACLOBAN CITY — Two people were killed and three others were wounded in a shooting incident in Barangay Salvacion, Albuera, Leyte, at around 7 a.m. on 15 June 2026.
The Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) said the victims were onboard a Toyota Wigo and were traveling toward the Albuera town proper when they were shot by an unidentified suspect upon reaching the uphill portion of Barangay Salvacion.
Based on the initial report, the two fatalities sustained gunshot wounds to the head and neck, causing their deaths on the spot, while the three other victims suffered gunshot wounds to various parts of their bodies.
The three injured victims were immediately transported to Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City for medical treatment.
A composite team from the Albuera Municipal Police Station and members of a SWAT team immediately responded to the incident and secured the area.
Authorities also launched a hot-pursuit operation against the fleeing suspect, who reportedly escaped toward the mountainous area of the barangay.
LPPO director P/Col. Celerino Sacro said the identity of the suspect and the motive behind the attack remain under investigation.
Sacro said all efforts are being undertaken to identify, locate and arrest the perpetrator at the soonest possible time. He also encouraged the public to report any information that may assist authorities in the immediate resolution of the case.

2026.6.15 PRO-6 vows to file cases vs. bomb threat perpetrator
ILOILO CITY – The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) on Monday vowed to go after and file cases against those behind the bomb threat directed at the Iloilo City Hall and Iloilo capitol.
Authorities found no explosive device or suspicious item in either location on Sunday.
In a press conference, PRO-6 director Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said he has directed the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) to address the incident, assuring that the Philippine National Police has the technical capabilities to identify the perpetrators.
“This has to stop. We will file cases and put to jail those behind this,” Tuaño said.
ICPO Director Col. Wilbert Parilla, in the same briefing, said they were informed of the bomb threat posted on the Facebook account “Djbobzkie Montero” on Sunday afternoon.
The post tagged Iloilo 2nd District Rep. Kathy Gorriceta, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and Mayor Raisa Treñas, claiming that he will plant five bombs at the city hall and the capitol.
Parilla said the investigator, upon the conduct of cyber patrolling, was able to secure digital evidence, which has been submitted to the RACU to identify and locate the owner of the account.
Investigators also tried contacting the account but there was no response.
Acting Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda directed the building administrator and the head of security to strengthen and strictly enforce security measures to ensure the safety and well-being of employees, clients, visitors, and the general public while waiting for the official report.
Treñas, who is currently attending an international conference in Singapore, said she was relieved that the threat was “negative.”
In a statement, she hoped the ICPO and the RACU could immediately identify the individual responsible for the malicious online post and file the appropriate criminal charges against the person involved.
“Threats of this nature are serious offenses that create unnecessary fear, disrupt government operations and endanger public safety,” she said.

2026.6.14 Nine seized for cable wire theft in QC
The Quezon City Police District reported the arrest of nine suspects for the attempted theft of telecommunication cables along Commonwealth Avenue, Brgy. Matandang Balara this Sunday, 14 June, morning.
According to the police report on the incident, officers from Batasan Police Station 6 were on mobile patrol when they happened to come across a group of individuals in the act of cutting and removing wires reportedly owned by PLDT Inc.
Authorities noted that the cables were being brought to a utility vehicle parked near the scene, prompting the arrest of the individuals.
While a total of nine culprits were seized, officials noted that some were able to evade arrest as the group scrambled into different directions.
Following the arrest, police proceeded to verify if the individuals were employees of PLDT, however, the suspects were not able to provide any identification to prove that they were in fact personnel of the company.
Representatives from the PLDT that were contacted by authorities further supported that the incident was in fact unauthorized and that no work order had been issued for the scene of the crime.
Recovered from the nine suspects were 1,500 pairs of 26-gauge PLDT FSF copper cables that were said to cost around P163 thousand along with tools that were used to extract the wires.
The vehicle that was used to haul the materials was also confiscated by authorities.
The criminals that came from various cities are set to face charges for violation of the Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013 and for the commission of Theft at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

2026.6.14 Mindanao quake damage tops P1B as death toll rises to 61
INFRASTRUCTURE damage caused by the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani has surpassed the P1-billion mark, highlighting the scale of destruction left by one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Mindanao in recent years.
In its latest situational report issued as of 6 a.m. Sunday, June 14, 2026, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said damage to infrastructure has reached P1 billion, with 725 infrastructure facilities affected across the quake-hit areas.
Authorities also recorded 54,000 damaged houses, including 9,900 homes that were destroyed and 44,100 that sustained partial damage.
The disaster has also claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds injured.
According to the NDRRMC, the death toll has climbed to 61, including 54 fatalities in Soccsksargen and seven in Davao Region.
Meanwhile, 1,403 people were injured, the majority of whom were reported in Soccsksargen. Authorities are also searching for 40 missing persons, with 22 cases reported in Davao Region and 18 in Soccsksargen.
The agency said the earthquake affected an estimated 173,000 families or about 724,000 individuals across the affected regions.
It said 34 evacuation centers are currently operating and sheltering about 2,000 families or 10,000 individuals who were forced to flee their homes due to safety concerns and extensive structural damage.
The widespread destruction has prompted local government units to place 13 cities and municipalities under a state of calamity, enabling faster access to emergency funds and resources for relief and recovery operations.
Despite ongoing response efforts, authorities acknowledged that rehabilitation will require significant resources, particularly for the repair and reconstruction of damaged roads, bridges, public buildings, schools and other critical facilities.
The NDRRMC reported that government agencies and local government units have so far provided P67.6 million worth of assistance to affected families, including food packs, emergency shelter materials and other relief supplies.
Emergency responders continue conducting damage assessments, clearing operations and search-and-rescue missions in the hardest-hit communities as aftershocks persist in several parts of Mindanao.
Officials said the latest figures remain subject to validation as assessment teams reach isolated areas and verify reports from local disaster management offices.

2026.6.12 Wanted in Mountain Province for rape, arrested in Quezon
BAGUIO CITY — More than three years since he was ordered by the Court arrested for rape and molestation in Mountain Province, an individual who went hiding was finally collared in General Nakar, Quezon.
The wanted person, identified as “Tino” was arrested under warrants issued on September 8, 2022, by the Regional Trial Court in Bontoc, Mountain Province. He faces three counts of qualified statutory rape with no recommended bail, and two counts of acts of lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act No. 7610, which carries a recommended bail of PhP 200,000.
The arrest was carried out during a recent manhunt operation by joint operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Quezon Provincial Field Unit, the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), and the General Nakar Municipal Police Station.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had placed a PhP 150,000 reward for his capture.
The crime was allegedly committed by the suspect in 2015 where he assaulted his minor niece, then a grade six student, in a storage room. The susowct allegedly threatened the girl not to report what he did.
The victim reported the abuse to her father seven years later, leading to the filing of criminal complaints in May 2022.
After the arrest warrants were issued, the suspect fled Mountain Province to hide in the Sierra Madre mountain range, moving between General Nakar, Quezon, and Tanay, Rizal, to evade the law.
The CIDG stated that the arrest is part of its ongoing mandate to locate wanted individuals and protect minors from abuse.

2026.6.12 Grade 7 girl carries drug tools to school
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., on Friday urged parents to keep a close watch over their children and prevent them from engaging in illegal activities.
Nartatez made the appeal after a Grade 7 student in Talisay City, Negros Occidental was found carrying drug paraphernalia and a knife inside her school on the first day of classes last June 8.
“The guidance of parents remains the first line of defense in protecting children from all forms of threats that include breaking the law. In coordination with Together school authorities and other stakeholders, let us work together to ensure their safety and welfare,” the PNP chief said.
The student was later brought to the barangay hall where she claimed she was keeping the banned items for her cousin.

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2026.6.12 Byron Garcia to face trial over alleged online harassment
FORMER Capitol consultant Byron Garcia will face trial before a Mandaue City court over Facebook posts and videos that Cebu Province public health consultant Dr. Elisse Nicole Catalan said contained sexist and degrading remarks against her and her mother, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro.
Garcia, brother of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, is set for arraignment and pretrial before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 1 in Mandaue City on July 29, 2026, for three counts of gender-based online sexual harassment under Republic Act (RA) 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act.
Police arrested him at 4:35 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at the Talisay Fish Port in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.
Police said the arrest followed a warrant issued by MTCC Branch 1 in Mandaue City for three counts of gender-based online sexual harassment under Section 12 of RA 11313. The court set bail at P108,000 for Garcia’s temporary release.
Personnel of the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Cebu Police Provincial Office and the Talisay City Police Station carried out the arrest.
Catalan’s complaint accused Garcia of making misogynistic remarks and attacking her physical appearance in public Facebook posts and videos.
RA 11313 penalizes unwanted sexual comments, gestures or advances in public places, online spaces, workplaces and schools.
For online spaces, the law covers acts done through information and communications technology, including unwanted sexual, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic or sexist remarks, cyberstalking, persistent messaging, unauthorized sharing of private content, impersonation, false posts meant to damage a person’s reputation and false abuse reports on online platforms.
Digital records
In a resolution obtained by SunStar Cebu on Thursday, June 11, the Mandaue City Prosecutor’s Office said Catalan’s complaint was supported by electronic records, including screenshots and preserved digital copies authenticated by the National Bureau of Investigation.
The prosecutor’s office said the evidence showed more than mere suspicion and a well-founded belief that the offense had been committed. It also found a reasonable probability of conviction if the case goes to trial.
The resolution said the evidence covered Facebook posts and uploaded videos, remarks attributed to Garcia that contained body-shaming language and sexist ridicule, statements that named or identified Catalan, and Catalan’s testimony that she suffered humiliation, anxiety, emotional distress and fear of further harassment because the posts were open to users who made abusive remarks.
The resolution cited an April 7, 2025 Facebook post in which Garcia referred to Catalan as “Miss Chubby Catalan.”
It also cited a video uploaded on July 27, 2025, in which Garcia referred to Catalan’s body weight and physical appearance, calling her “overweight, obese and not healthy.”
Court jurisdiction
In an order dated Tuesday, June 9, MTCC Branch 1 said it reviewed its jurisdiction and found probable cause to hold Garcia for trial.
The court said there was no case law clarifying which court has jurisdiction over acts that may fall under both RA 11313 and Republic Act (RA) 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“Presently, no case law exists clarifying the proper jurisdiction over acts constituting online sexual harassment under RA 11313, committed by, through and with the use of information and communications technologies,” the court said.
The court granted the prosecution’s motion to proceed under RA 11313, saying the City Prosecutor’s Office filed the cyber-facilitated charges under Section 12 of the law and did not seek aggravated penalties under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Catalan said she filed the case as a private citizen seeking accountability through the legal process.
“This case is not only about me. It is about affirming that no one is above the law, and that every person deserves to be treated with respect, whether in public spaces, workplaces, educational institutions, or online platforms,” read a portion of her statement posted on her official Facebook account on Friday, June 12.
She also linked the case to the Independence Day holiday, saying true freedom includes being able to take part in society without intimidation or humiliation.
“May unlawful acts be held to account through due process. May justice prevail,” Catalan said.
Garcia, in a chance interview at the Talisay City Police Station Thursday night, denied knowing about the allegations.
“Wa koy kalibutan gyud aning kasoha,” Garcia said.
(I really have no knowledge about this case.)
Garcia confirmed that he saw the warrant of arrest and identified Catalan as the complainant.
His lawyer, Sherwin Mabanto, declined to discuss the details of the case with reporters, saying they reserved the right to present Garcia’s side in the proper forum at the proper time.
During arraignment, the court asks the accused to answer the charge. Pretrial follows arraignment and allows the court and parties to narrow the issues, mark evidence and speed up the proceedings.

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2026.6.9 Dismissed cop Dumlao, mastermind in 2016 Jee Ick Joo killing, arrested in QC
After nearly a decade on the run, police have arrested the mastermind in the 2016 kidnapping and killing of Korean national Jee Ick Joo inside the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.
According to a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, the dismissed police lieutenant colonel Rafael Dumlao III was arrested at about 5 a.m. in Pasong Tamo, Quezon City, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday.
Remulla said authorities were able to track Dumlao after receiving a tip that he attended his daughter’s wedding last week. He added that a ₱1-million reward will be given to an unnamed informant who provided Dumlao’s exact location.
Jee Ick Joo, a Korean national, was among the most high-profile victims linked to the previous administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
Initial reports state Joo was abducted from his home in Angeles City, later strangled, killed, and his remains were allegedly burned and flushed inside a toilet at Camp Crame.
Remulla defended the arrest, saying it was carried out properly and within legal procedures.
“Yung tokhang kasi gave too much license to the PNP officers to do things at their whim,” he said, referring to the anti-drug campaign during the Duterte administration.
“In this case, ginawa namin ang lahat according to the law. We did not violate any procedure. We read him his rights… Dinala siya for proper investigation and he will face justice,” he added.
Dumlao was previously acquitted by a local court in Angeles, but the Court of Appeals reversed the ruling in 2024.
Authorities said forensic examination of Dumlao’s electronic devices is ongoing to determine whether he was aided by others while evading arrest.

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2026.6.13 House prosecutors seek Jinggoy’s inhibition from Sara impeachment trial
The House prosecution panel on Saturday urged the Senate impeachment court to disqualify Sen. Jinggoy Estrada from participating in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, arguing that his continued role as a senator-judge raises questions about the court’s impartiality.
During the proceedings, prosecutors challenged Estrada’s participation, citing his pending plunder and graft cases before the Sandiganbayan and his previous public pronouncements on matters related to the impeachment process.
“Kasi po, papaano ka boboto kung hindi ka naman nag-participate sa impeachment trial. So parang isang huwes, paano po siya magre-render ng kanyang verdict, whether guilty or not, kung hindi naman niya nakita ‘yung mga sinabi ng mga testigo,” he said in a media forum on Saturday.
For Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro, the law states that a senator with plunder case is automatically suspended.
“Nasa plunder law na yan nasa anti-graft and corrupt practices law na yan na kapag may kaso, suspended din ang public official,” she said in a radio interview.
Meanwhile, House prosecutor spokesperson and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said that the Senate rules of impeachment will limit Estrada’s participation.
The prosecution panel maintained that impeachment trials demand the highest standards of impartiality because senator-judges are tasked with deciding the fate of a high-ranking constitutional official.
Estrada has yet to publicly indicate whether he would voluntarily inhibit himself from the proceedings.
The senator is currently facing plunder and graft charges linked to the alleged multibillion-peso flood control fund scam. 
Earlier this month, the Sandiganbayan entered a not guilty plea on his behalf after he refused to enter a plea during his arraignment.
The Senate impeachment court has yet to rule on the prosecution’s motion questioning Estrada’s participation.

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2026.5.28 CIDG: Senate shooting related to Bato Dela Rosa’s escape
THE shooting incident and the “escape” of wanted Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa from the Senate complex are “related,” said Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Major General Robert Alexander Morico II.
In a press conference in Camp Crame on Thursday, May 28, 2026, Morico ended all the speculations correlating the two incidents, which happened on the same night — the shooting incident that caused chaos in the Senate, and hours later, the departure of Dela Rosa from the Senate complex.
“Let me just say that, you know, two incidents po yun. They’re related,” he said. “But the investigation is already with the DOJ (Department of Justice), and I don’t want to preempt the findings of the Department of Justice.”
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida earlier created a panel of prosecutors to look beyond the Senate shooting incident on the evening of May 13, amid the looming arrest of Dela Rosa on the basis of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He said part of the investigation is Dela Rosa’s surprise comeback in the Senate on May 11, after a six-month absence, as well as his escape hours following the shooting incident.
Dela Rosa returned to the Senate in time for a successful move to oust Vicente Sotto III as Senate president and be replaced by Alan Peter Cayetano.
Cayetano owns the vehicle used by Dela Rosa to come to the Senate complex.
Under Cayetano’s leadership, the Senate placed Dela Rosa under protective custody while he exhausted his legal remedies in an attempt to prevent his arrest.
During the night when gunshots were heard inside the Senate, Cayetano claimed in a social media post that the Senate was under attack, a matter denied by the Philippine National Police (PNP) following the conduct of an investigation on the incident.
The CIDG investigation showed that it was Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Mao Aplasca who started the shooting after sighting National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel in the GSIS building, a wall and a door away from the Senate building.
During Dela Rosa’s return on May 11, the NBI tried but failed to arrest the senator as nobody was aware of the ICC warrant during that time yet.
The ICC warrant was unsealed only on the night of Dela Rosa’s sudden appearance in the Senate.
The investigation on the shooting was submitted to the DOJ for proper disposition.
In a separate investigation, the CIDG said Dela Rosa’s escape from the Senate complex was a highly coordinated and pre-planned logistical maneuver to ensure that the lawmaker would be able to leave the Senate.
Dela Rosa left the Senate together with Senator Robin Padilla.
Morico said the PNP has referred obstruction of justice charges against at least six individuals, including Padilla, his security personnel, uncle and cousin, among others.
The police official noted Padilla’s “indispensable cooperation” in Dela Rosa’s escape.
“It will not happen without him,” said Morico.
Days after the Senate standoff, the Supreme Court resolved the petition of Dela Rosa, which subsequently prompted Vida to issue an order on May 21 to the PNP and the NBI to arrest Dela Rosa.
The CIDG and NBI conducted simultaneous raids in four residential properties in Pampanga, Metro Manila, and Bulacan on Wednesday, May 27, but they failed to find Dela Rosa.
Asked about the possible liability of Cayetano on the escape of Dela Rosa, Morico said it is for the DOJ to decide on the matter.
Morico said they have been helping the DOJ in the conduct of the investigation and what it does is to submit reports and make recommendations.
“We investigated the Senate shooting then the escape. To make conclusions, we have already turned over the case to the Department of Justice,” he said.
“The CIDG is relegated to investigative support, whatever the requirements of the DOJ, we will be acting on it. And the conclusions, I cannot reveal right now because the investigation is ongoing,” he added.

2026.5.22 Harmonica player’s arrest sparks ordinance review

THE arrest of a 68-year-old harmonica player in downtown Cebu City has prompted lawmakers to push for a major review of the city’s Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance, with several councilors questioning whether existing laws are already outdated and no longer responsive to modern forms of street performance and poverty.

During Tuesday’s (May 19, 2026) regular session, members of the City Council agreed to revisit City Ordinance 1631, or the Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance, following the controversial arrest of Ireneo Vidal, whose case sparked nationwide attention and heated debates on social media.

Vidal was apprehended by personnel of the City Anti-Mendicancy Office (CCAMO) after he was seen along Colon Street playing the harmonica while accepting donations from passersby.

The elderly man insisted he was not begging and said he was merely trying to earn enough money to buy food for his three-year-old grandson.

Videos and online posts about his arrest quickly went viral, generating millions of views and triggering public outrage, sympathy, and criticism over the City Government’s enforcement of anti-mendicancy laws.

The controversy reached the City Council, where lawmakers spent several minutes debating not only the legality of the arrest, but also the broader issue of how the city should deal with buskers, street performers, and vulnerable senior citizens struggling to survive.

Councilor Phillip Zafra said the incident exposed the need to reconcile City’s Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance with the city’s existing ordinance regulating busking activities.

“I think it’s high time now for us to revisit the Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance,” Zafra said.

He pointed out that society and public behavior have significantly evolved since the ordinance was enacted decades ago, noting that modern forms of voluntary giving, similar to online crowdfunding and “GoFundMe” culture, have blurred the line between begging and entertainment.

“Daghan na kaayo ni-evolve nga situation. If you define busking, you do entertainment activities online or in public, then voluntary ra na paghatag,” he said.

Zafra stressed that street performers provide entertainment in exchange for voluntary donations, making the legal distinction between busking and mendicancy increasingly unclear.

He urged law enforcers to exercise compassion, fairness and sound judgment when implementing the law.

“In implementing the law, you should see to it that it is with conscience, with compassion, with justice,” he said.

The councilor further emphasized that under legal principles, doubts in interpretation should generally favor the accused.

“When you are in doubt, there’s a doctrine in the law nga it should be interpreted in favor of the accused,” he added.

Zafra also questioned why authorities aggressively pursued Vidal while many more serious violations remain unresolved.

“Naa pay daghang seryoso nga nahimo wa ma-address, pero kato gi-priso pa gyud,” he said.

He moved to refer the issue to the Committee on Social Services for a comprehensive review involving the Anti-Mendicancy Office, social welfare officials, police, barangays, and other stakeholders to harmonize the Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance with the city’s busking ordinance.

The motion was eventually approved by the City Council.

Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., who delivered a lengthy privilege speech on Vidal’s case, reiterated the need for a joint investigation into the elderly man’s arrest and alleged maltreatment.

Alcover said the issue was not only about law enforcement but also about human dignity and compassion.

“The manner of the arrest, and the manner with which the poor lolo was put into the cell, is another thing that we have to look into,” he said.

In his privilege speech, Alcover questioned whether authorities properly implemented Section 5 of the Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance, which provides that elderly mendicants aged 60 years old and above should be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS).

“Kung ang balaod mismo nagaingon nga ang tigulang nga naglisod, kinahanglan itugyan sa social workers, nganong nahimong prisohan man hinuon ang iyang naadtuan?” Alcover said.

The councilor also disclosed that the City Anti-Mendicancy Board, which was created under City Ordinance 1840, has reportedly never been formally convened.

According to Alcover, a functioning board could have helped establish more humane and responsive policies instead of relying mainly on apprehension and punitive enforcement.

“Instead of relying purely on apprehension and punitive action, there could have been clearer intervention programs, rehabilitation measures, and social protection mechanisms anchored on compassion and human dignity,” he said.

However, not all councilors agreed with criticisms directed at law enforcers.

Councilor Sisinio Andales defended the implementation of the ordinance, emphasizing that laws must apply equally regardless of social status.

“It is a general rule that laws must be enforced to all, irrespective of your status. What’s the purpose of having a law if we could bend the law itself?” he said.

Andales noted that Presidential Decree 1563, or the Anti-Mendicancy Law, has existed since 1978, while Cebu City’s local ordinance has been in effect since 1996.

He said many residents have long complained about the growing number of mendicants and street dwellers in Cebu City, pressuring authorities to strictly implement the law.

“These are sore eyes in the City of Cebu. People ask why ordinances are not being enforced,” he said.

Still, Andales clarified that allegations that Vidal was manhandled during the arrest should be separately investigated.

“I would agree if there might be maltreatment, that’s another thing,” he added.

During the discussions, some councilors also raised concerns over the lack of coordination between the legislative and executive branches in addressing mendicancy issues.

Alcover urged Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival to finally convene the Anti-Mendicancy Board to formulate long-term and humane solutions.

However, some councilors argued that the City Council should already begin its own review instead of waiting for the executive department to act.

Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa, author of the city’s busking ordinance, was also requested to participate in the tri-committee discussions due to the possible overlap between busking regulations and anti-mendicancy enforcement.

A meeting involving the Anti-Mendicancy Office, the committees concerned, and other stakeholders would be held after Monday’s flag ceremony to begin formal discussions on policy reforms.

Among the issues expected to be tackled are possible amendments to the Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance, clearer distinctions between busking and begging, enforcement guidelines for senior citizens and vulnerable individuals, and the possible reactivation of the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Board.

Despite the ongoing debates, councilors generally agreed that Vidal’s case exposed larger social problems involving poverty, homelessness, and the lack of sustainable support systems for struggling residents.

Vidal has since been released from detention after his case was placed under summary proceedings, although he is still scheduled to appear before the court for arraignment on June 22.

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2026.5.14 Palace validating reports of Dela Rosa no longer in Senate
MALACAÑANG is validating reports that embattled Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), is no longer in the Senate premises.
“As of 11:09 a.m., several sources confirmed that Senator Bato is no longer in the Senate premises,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing. “But we are still getting official confirmation on the report.”
The NBI attempted but failed to serve the arrest warrant of Dela Rosa as he made a comeback on May 11, 2026, after being absent for six months.
Dela Rosa, who was identified as a co-perpetrator of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte in the crime against humanity of murder during the implementation of drug war, has been placed by the Senate under its protective custody until he is able to exhaust all legal remedies to protect himself from being arrested.
On Wednesday evening, May 13, several gunshots were heard in the Senate amid alleged efforts by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to arrest Dela Rosa.
However, Castro said that Senate Office of Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) head retired Major General Ma. O Aplasca was the one who fired the first shots.
She cleared the NBI from accusations that it conducted an assault operation in the Senate to arrest Dela Rosa, saying they were in the GSIS building, which is a wall away from the Senate building, for the maintenance of peace and order after the agency sought their assistance.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag maintained that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered them to stand down following the order of the Supreme Court for respondents to comment on Dela Rosa’s motion seeking to stop his arrest, detention and transfer in connection with the arrest warrant issued by the ICC within 72 hours.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said part of the investigation of the police and the NBI are the accusations that the tension in the Senate was staged to allow the “escape” of Dela Rosa.

2026.5.14 OSAA chief fired first shot in Senate shooting incident
SENATE Office of Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) head retired Major General Ma. O Aplasca fired the first shots during the shooting incident inside the Senate on Wednesday evening, May 13, 2026.
In a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro cleared the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from accusations that it conducted an assault operation in the Senate in a bid to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
“Nung nakita ng OSAA na merong NBI agents sa GSIS katabi ng blue guard, nakita na agad na naka gear-up ang OSAA, nag-vest at naghanda sa isang operasyon. Pagdating sa bridge sa GSIS premises, tinanong ng OSAA ang NBI agent na nakaupo lamang kasama ang isang blue guard ng GSIS,” said Castro.
(When OSAA saw that there were NBI agents at the GSIS beside a blue guard, OSAA immediately noticed that they were already geared up, wearing vests and preparing for an operation. Upon reaching the bridge within the GSIS premises, OSAA asked the NBI agent, who was just sitting together with a GSIS blue guard.)
“Nagpakilala na NBI agents at nung nagsabi sila ng kanilang pagkakakilanlan, agad nagpaputok ng warning shot si sergeant-at-arms Ma. O Aplasca at dahil doon, napilitan din magpaputok ng warning shot ang NBI agent,” she added.
(They identified themselves as NBI agents, and upon stating their identities, Sergeant-at-Arms Ma. O. Aplasca immediately fired a warning shot. Because of that, the NBI agent was also forced to fire a warning shot.)
The building, which houses the Senate, is being rented out from the GSIS, making the GSIS and Senate offices a bridge and a door away.
Castro said the OSAA is in possession of the key to the access door from the GSIS building to the Senate premises.
She said that around 6 p.m., hours before gunshots were heard in the Senate, GSIS general manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso sought the assistance of the NBI for the maintenance of peace and order in its building, prompting the deployment of personnel.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag explained the drilling sound heard in the Senate before the supposed shooting, saying: “Tinatanggal po nila ang lock because the access from the Senate going to GSIS ‘yung susi nasa Senate. Ang gusto po niya (Veloso), isara po ‘yung lugar na yon kasi labas pasok na ang iba’t-ibang tao. Hindi na ma-secure ‘yung lugar at mga employees, yun po ang primary concern nila.”
(They were removing the lock because the access from the Senate going to GSIS is controlled by a key that is kept in the Senate. What he (Veloso) wanted was to close that area because different people were already going in and out. The place and the employees could no longer be secured — that was their primary concern.)
“Kaya kung makita n’yo po ang video, drilling tapos hinarangan po ng mga metal cabinet para hindi po madaanan na ang lugar na yon,” he added.
(So if you can see the video, there was drilling being done, and metal cabinets were used to block the area so that it could no longer be passed through.)
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said an in-depth investigation on the incident is being completed.
“We are investigating such that we can go into the bottom of this case. The personalities involved should be accounted for and investigated not only in the NBI but, of course, including the security personnel at the building of the GSIS, as well as the GSIS building being occupied by the Senate,” he said.
Nartatez assured that the PNP will implement the law without fear or favor.

2026.5.14 NBI driver arrested following Senate shooting
A MAN was arrested following a shooting incident in the Senate on Wednesday evening, May 13, 2026, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed.
In a press conference on Thursday, May 14, 2026, PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño identified the arrested person as Mel Oragon, 44 years old, from Camarines Norte.
He was arrested on the second floor of the building where gunshots were heard.
Seized from the suspect are live M16 ammunition and magazines.
Based on reports, the arrested person is a driver at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) but Tuaño refused to confirm it yet amid ongoing investigation.
“Kasalukuyan ongoing investigation. Ito ay hindi namin kaagad-agad na paniniwalaan kasi may lumulutang na information kaugnay ng kanyang pagkakakilalanlan dahil officially, wala naman nakuha na lehitimong government issued ID sa kanya,” he said.
(The investigation is currently ongoing. We will not immediately believe this because there is information surfacing regarding his identity, since no legitimate government-issued ID was officially recovered from him.)
He said they are also looking into the possible involvement of the arrested person in the shooting.
Tuaño said the arrested man will undergo paraffin testing.
Charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, alarms and scandal, grave threats, direct assault with attempted homicide and violation of Senate Security Regulation will be filed against the arrested person.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Oragon is not an official employee of the NBI but a “volunteer.”
“Kasama siya nag-assist sa NBI agents doon sa GSIS (building),” he said.
(He was among those who assisted the NBI agents at the GSIS building).

2026.5.13 No casualties following shooting inside Senate; probe ongoing
INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano assured that all senators are safe and no casualties have been reported following the shooting inside the Senate building in Pasay City on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
In an interview, Remulla said that at 7:46 p.m., armed men tried to enter the Senate building through the second floor but they were stopped by the personnel of Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) who fired warning shots.
“They retreated at the back and started firing indiscriminately in the air,” he said.
Remulla said they do not have a definite count on the number of shooters yet but all efforts are being made to identify who are those behind the intrusion attempt.
He said they have already instructed the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), which owns the Senate building and the Senate staff, to secure all the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras for the conduct of investigation by the Philippine National Police together with the OSAA.
He said police and OSAA personnel are sweeping each floor of the Senate building to ensure there are no non-essential staff or person inside as investigation is being conducted.
“We do not know who is behind this but we will find them. We have all the security footages and I am here with the Senate President to assure him that we are here to secure them,” said Remulla.
Remulla and Cayetano assured that all the 12 senators who were in the building, all of them are from the majority bloc during the shooting, were all safe, including embattled Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
“The President (Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.) sent me here to secure the senators. No politics at this time. At this time of turmoil, politics goes out the window. We all belong to one country and one nation. The President has given strict instructions: secure the senators whoever they may be,” said Remulla.
“We are not here to arrest Senator Dela Rosa. In fact, we are here to protect him. Let that be clear. We made that clear to his family,” he added.

2026.5.13 Cayetano: Senate ‘under attack’
SENATE President Alan Peter Cayetano said the Senate was “allegedly under attack” after gunshots were heard at the Senate building on Wednesday evening, May 13, 2026.
“Kung sino nakikinig (Whoever is listening) from the government, this is the Senate of the Philippines, we are allegedly under attack,” he said in a video posted on Facebook.
Cayetano posted the video statement minutes after gunshots were heard inside the building. He noted that officials had contacted National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, who claimed his personnel could not approach the Senate after being asked to leave earlier that day.
In an interview with reporters, Senate Secretary Mark Llandro “Dong” Mendoza said the first shots were fired by “perceived members of the NBI,” prompting heavily armed members of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to return fire.
Mendoza said the alleged NBI personnel had attempted to enter the building.
The Senate remains on lockdown while an assessment of the situation continues.
Mendoza assured the public that all senators and employees inside the building are safe, though officials are still gathering information on possible injuries resulting from the exchange. Cayetano later announced in another Facebook post that all are safe, including Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Meanwhile, Matibag denied the involvement of any NBI agents in the tension at the Senate, stating that he had ordered his men to stand down.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla also arrived at the Senate premises to help de-escalate the situation. “We are not here to arrest Senator Bato,” he said.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also arrived to help secure the building.
Heavily armed OSAA personnel, police, and Marines had trooped to the Senate after the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms announced around 7 p.m. that “someone will be arrested,” though he did not identify the target.
Before the gunfire, drilling sounds were heard coming from the walls on the second floor.
The tension erupted hours after Dela Rosa announced via Facebook Live that he had received information that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the NBI would arrest him following the plenary session and fly him to The Hague.
Dela Rosa urged his supporters to gather in front of the Senate for a prayer vigil to prevent the arrest.
“Ako po at nananawagan sa inyo sana tulungan nyo ako. Wag tayong pumayag na another Filipino ay dadalhin sa The Hague… Kung kayo ay meron pang puso para sa ating bansa, sana pumunta kayo dito. Ako ay nananawagan sa inyo, pumunta na kayo dito sa harap ng Senado para matigil itong kanilang plano na ako ay aarestuhin at dadalhin sa The Hague. Hindi po yan katanggap-tanggap,” said Dela Rosa.
“Kung kayo ay frustrated noon sa panahon na pagdala nila kay Pangulong Duterte sa The Hague, sana hindi na ito masundan pa. Hindi ako nananawagan para sa bayolenteng pag-aaklas. Ako po ay nananawagan ng isang peaceful na prayer rally dito sa harap ng Senado,” he added.
Dela Rosa faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to alleged crimes against humanity during the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte has been detained in The Hague since March 2025.
The NBI previously attempted but failed to serve the warrant against Dela Rosa. The Senator returned to the chamber on May 11, 2026, after a six-month absence, and was subsequently placed under the protective custody of the Senate.

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2026.5.13 Suspect in trafficking women for prostitution nabbed in Cebu City
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A man accused of trafficking women for prostitution was arrested by agents from the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) during an entrapment operation in Barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City on Monday, May 11.
The suspect, identified as Jollie Jainar Fundador, alias “Joel,” was caught after allegedly facilitating the prostitution of four women, including one who was three months pregnant, and receiving marked money from operatives.
The operation occurred along the intersection of M.P. Yap and Juana Osmeña Streets in uptown Cebu City.
It stemmed from a tip from social workers and authorities from the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), according to agent Maria Contessa Lastimosa, special investigator at NBI-7.
The rescued women, whose ages ranged from 23 to 30 years old, were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7).
The suspect, Fundader, has been charged for violating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2012, and currently detained in NBI-7’s headquarters.
Human trafficking
The victims forced themselves to work in prostitution for years due to poverty, agents said.
“Most of the victims had to support not only their families but also their extended families as well,” said Lastimosa during a press briefing on Wednesday, May 13.
Their clients reportedly include not only locals and foreigners but also government officials, adding that their rates can go as low as P1,500 per person just to earn money.
Prostitution remains illegal in the Philippines but NBI-7 agents arrested the suspect Fundador for violating anti-trafficking laws for facilitating the illicit trade and exposing the victims to further exploitation.
The victims even told investigators that sometimes, they suffer physical abuse from clients, which agents described as acts of exploitation.
“Once somebody facilitates for their prostitution or human exploitation, then that becomes human trafficking,” Lastimosa explained.
Poverty
For his part, Fundador did not deny the allegations against him.
In a separate interview with the media, the suspect expressed remorse and admitted that he knew his actions violated the law.
“Nagbasol ko gamay,” Fundador said. (I regretted what I’ve done)
Like the victims, he said poverty forced him to enter into pimping after his small-scale barbecue business closed down during the pandemic.
While wandering around Juana Osmeña Street, he encountered women allegedly working as prostitutes, which got him the idea of pimping them in 2024.
“Ingon sila nga magpatabang sad sila pangita og customer,” said Fundador. ( They asked for my help in looking for customers )
On the other hand, the suspect denied trafficking children and underaged girls.
Individuals convicted of violating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Persons Act may face severe penalties, which includes life imprisonment and fines up to ₱5 million.

2026.5.12 PNP intercepts P5.1-M suspected marijuana kush in Pasay mail hub
Law enforcement personnel examining evidence on a table in an office setting, with individuals reviewing documents nearby.
Photo courtesy of PNP
Authorities intercepted several inbound parcels containing suspected marijuana kush at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.
The operation took place on May 11, 2026, led by the Aviation Security Group in coordination with the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Eight parcels from the United States, initially declared as personal items such as clothing, books, and calendars, were flagged during routine inspection procedures.
Law enforcement said the shipments yielded about 3.4 kilograms of suspected dried marijuana leaves with an estimated value of more than Php 5.1 million.
The items were detected through a combination of x-ray screening, K-9 inspection, and manual verification conducted at the facility.
Authorities later confirmed the parcels had been abandoned and were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency for further investigation and proper disposition.
PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. commended the operating units, citing coordinated efforts among agencies in blocking the entry of illegal drugs.
The PNP said the operation is part of continued efforts to strengthen border controls and prevent the entry of prohibited substances into the country.

2026.5.11 Nawawalang bata noon pang 2023, ngayon lang pinanawagan; umani ng reaksiyon
Ipinanawagan ng Manila local government unit (LGU) sa publiko ang paghahanap sa isang menor de edad higit dalawang taon nang una itong mawala.
Batay sa Facebook post ng Manila LGU noong Linggo, Mayo 10, ang menor de edad na kinilalang si Andrei Mama ay iniulat na nawawala noong pang Hulyo 24, 2023, sa Quiapo, Maynila.
Kaya sa kasalukuyan, inuudyok ng lungsod ang publiko na agad tumawag sa numerong 0955-2554186 sakaling makita si Mama o magkaroon ng anumang impormasyon tungkol sa kaniya.
“Ang inyong pakikiisa at pakikibahagi ay malaking tulong upang matagpuan si Andrei,” ani Manila LGU.
Ang nasabing post ay umani ng samu’t saring reaksiyon mula sa netizens, karamihan ay nagtatanong bakit sa higit dalawang taong pagkawala ni Mama, ay ngayon lang ito naisapubliko.
“2023 pa nawawala? late naba nagreport o late lang nabroadcast?”
“bket Ngayon na report ung bata? dapat nung 2023 pa yan na report ung bata”
“Ang tagal na”
“2026 na hello?”
“Sinubukan kung unawain pero nangingibabaw sakin ang galit. Di ko magets kung bakit inabot ng 3 years bago inireport. Hindi naman yan aso o bagay na nawawala.”
“ilang taon na yan nung nawala. at ngayon ilan taon na sya.”
Ang ilan naman ay nananawagan ng imbestigasyon kung bakit ngayong taon lang naisapubliko ang nasabing pagkawala.
“Imbestigasyon bakit 2023 pa nawawala at ngayon lang na public?”
Habang ang ilan ay nakikiisa sa panawagan upang mahanap si Mama.
“please paki tingnan po ung post na ito. bka isa sa inyo ay nakita or nkasalubong nyo.”
“malaki na sya now, baka may nakapansin na kamukha nya, pls contact nyo sila.”

2026.5.6 NBI busts PGMN founder Franco Mabanta in ₱350M extortion sting vs Romualdez
Marijo Farah A. Benitez • Ipinost noong 2026-05-06 10:15:12 NBI busts PGMN founder Franco Mabanta in ₱350M extortion sting vs Romualdez
MAY 6, 2026 — The NBI has arrested Peanut Gallery Media Network founder Franco Mabanta in an entrapment operation after allegedly attempting to extort former Speaker Martin Romualdez for hundreds of millions of pesos. Authorities say Mabanta threatened to release damaging videos unless Romualdez paid up.
The National Bureau of Investigation confirmed the arrest of Franco Mabanta, a well-known social media personality and founder of the Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN), on Wednesday morning. According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, Mabanta was nabbed in an entrapment operation after allegedly demanding ₱350 million from former House Speaker and current Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez.
Investigators revealed that Mabanta claimed to possess videos linking Romualdez to corruption in flood control projects. He allegedly threatened to release these materials through his PGMN platform unless Romualdez complied with the payout.
The sting operation reportedly involved ₱300 million in marked money, which Mabanta accepted before being arrested.
This case is striking because Mabanta built his reputation as a sharp political commentator online, with PGMN gaining traction on YouTube for its bold takes on Philippine politics. His arrest raises questions about the blurred lines between digital activism, media influence, and outright criminality.
It’s a reminder of how powerful social media personalities have become in shaping narratives — and how easily that influence can be abused.
Romualdez, already a central figure in national politics, emerges here not as a policymaker but as a target of alleged extortion. The incident highlights how political power and online influence collide in today’s digital landscape, with millions of pesos and reputations at stake.
The NBI has scheduled a press briefing to provide more details about the operation and the evidence gathered. For now, Mabanta’s arrest sends a strong signal: authorities are watching closely, and attempts to weaponize media platforms for personal gain will not go unchecked.
Do you think this arrest marks a turning point in how we view the credibility and accountability of online political influencers?

2026.4.24 NBI charges Mike Defensor’s wife, son in Pasig trafficking case: 54 women rescued from disco bar tied to family hotel
APRIL 24, 2026 — The National Bureau of Investigation has filed human trafficking charges against Julie Defensor and Miguel Defensor, wife and son of former Quezon City congressman Mike Defensor, after rescuing 54 women from a Pasig disco bar allegedly linked to their family-owned hotel.
On April 21, NBI agents stormed a disco bar in Barangay Ugong, Pasig City, uncovering a scheme where women were recruited as supposed “customer care assistants” but were instead subjected to sexual exploitation. Victims were allegedly offered to clients through “line-up” and “show-up” arrangements, with fees ranging from ₱10,000 to ₱20,000.
The actual sexual activities reportedly took place at the BLEU Hotel, a property tied to Zerrin Development Corporation, where Julie Rose Defensor was listed as chairman and Miguel Gabriel Defensor as treasurer.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed that complaints for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 were filed before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office against the Defensors and other individuals.
This case strikes at the heart of Metro Manila’s nightlife industry, where exploitation often hides behind the façade of entertainment. The fact that prominent names are now being dragged into such allegations exposes how deeply entrenched trafficking networks can be.
The rescue of 54 women is a reminder that trafficking is not a distant problem — it is happening in our cities, in places we pass by every day. It also raises questions about accountability: When big-time business owners are implicated, will the justice system pursue the case with the same vigor as it does against small-time offenders?
This case highlights the vulnerability of women seeking employment, the risks of unchecked establishments, and the urgent need for stronger enforcement of anti-trafficking laws. It also challenges us to reflect on the culture of silence — How many victims remain unseen because they fear speaking out?
The NBI’s move is a step forward, but we will be watching closely to see if this case leads to real accountability, not just another scandal that fades away.

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2026.4.23 PH Army insists slain UP student was an NPA member; military defends Negros Occidental operation
The Philippine Army on Thursday maintained that a University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman student council member, along with 18 others killed in a recent encounter in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Sunday, were members of the New People’s Army (NPA), amid growing scrutiny over the incident.
This comes after the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) confirmed that one of the fatalities, Alyssa Alano, served as its Education and Research councilor and was in the area for what it described as a community visit when the encounter occurred.
According to a report by RH Edniel Parrosa on MBC TV Network News, in an ambush interview at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the individuals involved were “armed combatants.”
He questioned claims that the fatalities were merely students, pointing to their presence at an active clash site.
“Binabalik na natin sa kanila kung sinasabi nilang mga estudyante lang sila doon, ano ang ginagawa nila doon sa encounter site, may hawak na baril at nakikipagbarilan sa ating mga sundalo,” Dema-ala said.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also defended the military’s operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental, which targeted alleged NPA members.
“Anong ginagawa ng estudyante kung estudyante man talaga ‘yun doon sa engkuwentro, bakit kasama ng NPA, ‘yun ang dapat itanong sa kanila,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro further said that if the individuals were not combatants, their presence at the encounter site could still raise legal concerns, describing it as a possible “obstruction” or aiding armed groups.
“At kung nandun yung estudyante, hindi man kombatan, obstruction of justice or aiding and abetting ‘yun so kasama din ‘yun,” he added.
Aside from Alano, authorities also identified among those killed a nominee of the Kabataan Partylist in the 2022 elections, as well as community journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma.
The 79th Infantry Battalion reported recovering 24 firearms from the encounter site following the operation.
Meanwhile, the UP Diliman Student Council condemned the incident and demanded justice for its councilor, Alano.

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2026.4.21 Court orders couple to pay P4.9 million in bibingka-linked investment case
A Quezon City court has ordered a couple linked to an alleged bibingka investment scheme to pay one complainant P4.9 million in a civil award covering dishonored checks, damages and annual interest.
In its ruling, the Metropolitan Trial Court in Quezon City directed spouses Norminda Sope Esperilla and Dave Froilan Arizala Esperilla, identified as the owners of Mang Domeng’s Bibingka, to compensate the complainant following a dispute arising from investments allegedly made in their business.
The complainant, who requested anonymity, said she began putting money into the venture in 2021 after being convinced by the couple, whom she had known since high school. She said the funds represented savings meant for her children’s schooling and that she had repeatedly sought repayment while facing serious health and financial difficulties.
The case stemmed from allegations that several individuals were persuaded to invest in the business on the promise of high returns tied to its expansion. But instead of gains, investors allegedly received checks that were later dishonored.
The same couple has been the subject of complaints from other investors, with total claims reportedly reaching hundreds of millions of pesos. At least a dozen complainants have already brought their cases to court.
Despite the monetary award granted to the complainant, the court cleared the couple of criminal liability under Batas Pambansa Blg. 22, the law penalizing the issuance of bouncing checks.
Counsel for the complainant, lawyer Minstrelle More, said other cases involving the same respondents are still being pursued and that a large-scale estafa complaint is also being prepared.
The couple did not issue any statement on the ruling.

2026.4.20 PNP ready to aid FBI in hunting child exploitation suspect
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday expressed readiness to assist United States authorities in tracking down a Filipino suspect accused of exploiting minors through online gaming and social media platforms.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the organization is prepared to extend full cooperation to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as efforts intensify to locate Austin Jan Sy Yatco.
Yatco is wanted in the United States for alleged involvement in an online group that exploited minors between 2019 and 2021.
“The Philippine National Police supports all efforts to make the online space safe for everybody. In this case, we are fully open to assisting the FBI to ensure that the suspect it has been looking for is tracked down and held accountable, in coordination with other government agencies concerned,” Nartatez said.
The FBI earlier offered a $25,000 (about P1.5 million) reward for information leading to Yatco’s arrest. The agency’s Dallas office released a wanted poster identifying him as a native of San Pedro, Laguna, born in August 1998.
Authorities said Yatco was part of a group that allegedly coerced minors into producing child sexual abuse material, which was then shared within an online network.
A federal arrest warrant was issued on Jan. 23 by the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn.
Yatco faces charges including sexual exploitation of children, as well as possession and distribution of child pornography. He has reported links to Plano, Texas, and the Philippines, where he is believed to be residing.
Nartatez said local intelligence operations are ongoing as police units validate leads and monitor possible movements within the country.
“At present, we are validating all available intelligence. Our units on the ground are actively coordinating, at patuloy po ang monitoring at information gathering to determine the suspect’s exact location,” he said.
He added that specialized units have been mobilized to ensure readiness for both cyber and ground operations as authorities narrow down the suspect’s possible whereabouts.
“The PNP is ready and capable of assisting in both cyber and ground operations. This is a shared fight against exploitation. Sama-sama po nating tutugunan ito with urgency and diligence,” Nartatez said

2026.4.9 Five Chinese nabbed in Parañaque kidnapping
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has reported the arrest of five Chinese nationals linked to abduction and illegal detention in Parañaque City.
The operation was initiated following a complaint last week from a friend of the victim, another Chinese national who had been held captive since March 29.
The victim was allegedly coerced into participating in an online love scam run by an individual identified as “Boss Aping” and suffered physical abuse, along with death threats if he attempted to escape.
The NBI–National Capital Region conducted surveillance to validate the complaint and later launched a rescue operation at the victim’s place of confinement. Agents rescued the victim and arrested the suspects, who were immediately identified as his kidnappers.
The suspects were presented for inquest proceedings before the Parañaque City Prosecutor’s Office. NBI Director Melvin Matibag praised the agents for their work and reiterated the agency’s commitment to combating criminal activity and maintaining public safety.

2026.3.8 PNP, BOC seize P29.7-M worth of shabu, ecstasy in NAIA parcel bust
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Customs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (BOC-NAIA) intercepted three suspicious parcels containing illegal drugs valued at about Php 29.7 million on March 2.
Authorities said the operation involved close coordination among the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group, PDEA Regional Office NCR, PNP Aviation Security Group, Airport Police, NBI, Bureau of Immigration, and the BOC Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force.
Officials recovered roughly 3,596 grams of suspected shabu worth Php 24.45 million and about 4,046 grams of suspected ecstasy valued at Php 5.26 million.
Two parcels declared as garden sculptures were shipped from Berlin, Germany, to a recipient in Pasig City. Inside, each gold figurine concealed large amounts of suspected ecstasy weighing over two kilograms each.
The third parcel, labeled as vehicle air filters, came from Lusaka, Zambia, and was addressed to Dasmariñas, Cavite. Investigators discovered four air filters containing approximately 3,596 grams of suspected shabu.
The seized substances are being sent to the PDEA laboratory for testing, while further investigation is underway for violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno commended the BOC–NAIA team for their swift and careful work, highlighting the importance of interagency coordination and intelligence sharing in intercepting smuggled drugs.
District Collector Atty. Yasmin Mapa reiterated BOC–NAIA’s commitment to blocking illegal drugs at the country’s borders and ensuring the protection of the public through ongoing cooperation with law enforcement agencies.

2026.2.23 Seares: Murder of Crystal Joy, 12, in Toledo City this week recalls death of Christine Lee, 16, in Lapu-Lapu City in 2019 and Ellah Joy, 6, of Minglanilla in 2011. True crime involved children who had been missing before their bodies were found. All deaths were grisly, topped by beheading of the latest victim.

THE THREE VICTIMS. They were all minor, still children, yes — ages 6, 12, and 16 — and the three were murdered, eight and seven years apart.

And they had disappeared, one kidnapped or abducted, before they were killed. Brutally, as state of their bodies showed.

The third and latest victim, whose body was found this week in Toledo City, was beheaded and tied to a tree.

Start the list with her:

[1] Crystal Joy Lagaras Abarquez, 12, a Grade 6 student, was found dead Thursday, February 19, 2026, in a forested area of Toledo City. She had disappeared eight days before, i.e. Wednesday, February 11.

Her head was severed and dumped a few meters from a tree in Sitio Pajo, Barangay Cabitoonan (near the boundary with Barangay Ibo). The decomposing body, already “beyond recognition,” was tied to the tree, with a shoelace strung around her neck. Her school bag and other personal belongings were found nearby.

[2] The body of Christine Lee Silawan, 16, a high school student, was dumped on a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City. She was found March 11, 2019.

Christine Lee was naked from the waist down. She was raped, which the Public Attorney’s Office forensics test later confirmed. Multiple stab wounds on the body; her face mutilated (“skinned beyond recognition”) by using acid or scraping it with a sharp knife or bladed weapon.

[3] Ellah Joy Pique, 6, of Minglanilla, Cebu was “kidnapped” February 8, 2011, by a white male foreigner and Filipina companion while the grader was walking home with friends from school. She accepted the offer of a ride home from a couple in a Pajero. The following day, she was found dead.

Ellah Joy’s naked body was wrapped, including three big stones, in a white bedsheet and thrown off a cliff in Barili town. She was killed with heavy blows on the head, her upper body showing dark bruises.

From Minglanilla where Ella Joy lived, Barili is about 45 to 46 kilometers away in southwest Cebu.

VICTIMS WERE LURED. [1] Crystal Joy Abarquez, who resided in Poblacion, Toledo City, was persuaded last Thursday to ride — as shown in a CCTV footage — on a motorcycle driven by Rowell Lagaras Villapina Jr., 27, a mechanic and her cousin.

The promise of a ride for an errand or a “suroy” apparently took her to a sitio in another barangay where she ended up with a severed head and the rest of her body being bound to a forest tree.

[2] Christine Lee Silawan became a friend of the self-confessed killer, one Renato “Renren” Llenes, through Facebook under the dummy account of “CJ Diaz.” Christine Lee must have agreed to a physical meet-up with “Diaz”/Llenes.

Llenes, 43 in 2019, who had a live-in partner and three kids, in a sworn confession said he used scissors to stab Silawan and scrape skin off her face, aping a “Momo challenge” method of killing. He said he was influenced by illegal drugs when he killed Christine Lee.

[3] Ellah Joy Pique was walking home with friends when induced to hitch a ride with a couple in a Pajero, a Filipina and a foreigner.

Police called Ellah Joy’s a case of kidnapping but hers and the two other cases, including the latest child murder in Toledo, involved consensual going-along (“dili pinugos nga pagkuyog”).

SELF-CONFESSED SUSPECT IN CHRISTINE SILAWAN CASE owned up the killing but later denied it during arraignment.

Was Renato Llenes, aka CJ Diaz, the killer? That may never be ascertained for sure since he reportedly hanged himself in jail. Silawan’s case has long been considered solved.

Before Llenes’s arrest, there were other suspects, including Christine’s boyfriend, but they were deemed cleared after the confession and subsequent “suicide.”

ONLY ONE OF THE THREE CASES, as of now, is recorded as still unsolved: the Ellah Joy Pique murder.

But Pique’s has long been more than a cold case. It’s archived and forgotten, recalled only when other murders as atrocious as her killing come up.

The Regional Trial Court acquitted on October 8, 2014 Bella Ruby Santos, who was accused of the kidnapping and murder of Ellah Joy.

Prosecution, the ruling said, failed to prove that Bella Ruby was the woman with the foreigner who gave the child a ride. Santos’ boyfriend, Charles Griffiths, the purported companion and Pajero driver, had left the country and gone out of the local court’s jurisdiction.

LATEST CASE OF CHILD MURDER, the beheading in Toledo City last week, has gone beyond the whodunit stage.

Under PNP rules, the case is considered solved once the police have enough evidence, the suspect is identified and taken in custody, and charged with the prosecutors or the court.

The Toledo City police are there or almost there already.

Yet the public would like to know more than the identity of the suspect. They want the reason for the beheading of the child.

2026.2.22 BI nabs 2 Chinese in Parañaque
The Bureau of Immigration (BI)arrested three Chinese nationals during an enforcement operation in Parañaque City, including one found to be overstaying and allegedly using a false identity.
Operatives of the BI Fugitive Search Unit, in coordination with the Parañaque City Police Intelligence Section and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, conducted the operation at a condominium unit in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque.
One of those arrested was Fang Li, 36. Intelligence information received by the BI indicated that Fang was engaged in illicit activities in the area and was reportedly using the identity of another Chinese national.
Records showed that Fang last entered the Philippines in 2022 as a temporary visitor but failed to apply for any visa extension or conversion, classifying her as an overstaying alien.
Authorities also arrested two other Chinese nationals identified as Chen Youliang, 38, and Xu Yuxiang, 39.
Database verification confirmed that Chen is the subject of an active blacklist order and had previously been issued an order to leave for violating the conditions of his visa.
He was unable to present a valid passport or immigration documents at the time of arrest, rendering him an undocumented alien.
Xu, on the other hand, was found to be an overstaying alien, as her last recorded visa extension expired in 2020.
BI commissioner Joel Anthony Viado emphasized that the agency will not tolerate attempts by foreign nationals to evade immigration laws by using false identities.
“Foreign nationals who attempt to circumvent our laws through aliases, fraudulent identities or expired visas will be apprehended and deported,” Viado said.
The arrested individuals will remain at the Bureau of Immigration warden facility pending deportation proceedings.

2026.2.18 Sofia Trazona reacts to stepdad Alvin Aragon’s anti-gay remarks

Sofia Trazona: “Bakit parang medyo condescending na yung naging interview?”

Inamin ng trans woman na si Sofia Trazona na nasaktan siya sa mga pahayag ng kanyang stepfather na si Alvin Aragon tungkol sa homosexuality.

Si Sofia, kilala rin bilang Andrei Trazona, ang panganay na anak ng dating SexBomb Girls member na si Izzy Trazona.

Sa panayam kay Alvin ng DWAR Abante Radyo noong February 13, 2026, ipinahiwatig nitong hindi siya sang-ayon sa pagiging trans woman ni Sofia.

Ayon kay Alvin, taliwas sa utos ng Diyos ang pagiging homosexuality at naniniwala siyang sa impiyerno ang bagsak ng mga ito.

Binalikan ni Alvin ang isyu na diumano’y hindi tinanggap ni Izzy si Sofia dahil ninais nitong maging trans woman.

Mariiing buewelta ni Alvin: “E, totoo naman, e. Ano bang sabi sa Bible? God judged homosexuality.

“Read Genesis 17:18 and 19 — ‘those men in Sodom and Gomorrah want to have sex with other men, and God judged Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Ngayon, ang mabuting magulang, sasabihin mo sa anak mo kung ano yung huwag mong gawin, di ba? Kasi mapapahamak ka diyan pag ginawa mo.”

Pagpapatuloy ni Alvin: “God will throw you to hell if you continue to do homosexuality.

“Mamuhay ka, and you don’t want to believe in Jesus? I assure you that God will throw you to hell if you don’t stop, repent, and believe in the gospel.”

SOFIA TRAZONA REACTS TO ALVIN ARAGON’S ANTI-GAY REMARKS
Sa panayam kay Sofia ni Ogie Diaz sa YouTube channel nito na lumabas Martes ng gabi, February 17, 2026, inusisa kung ano ang reaksiyon niya sa naging pahayag ni Alvin?

Saad ng drag artist: “Ako, I believe talaga na I am only answerable to God alone. Siya lang ang puwede mang-judge sa akin.

“And if yung mga ibang tao idya-judge ako, I wouldn’t take it personally kasi Siya lang ang puwede mang-judge sa akin.

“And the word of God doesn’t condemn people kasi mahal nga tayo ng Diyos, e.

“Bakit Niya tayo iku-condemn? Talagang tatanggapin Niya tayo.

“Tinanggap Niya nga tayo nang makasalanan. Na, what more pa na… nanininiwala tayo sa Kanya?”

Dagdag pa niya: “And I have a personal relationship with God.

“So, bakit parang medyo condescending na yung ano, yung naging interview?

“Ayun, medyo nakaka-degrade po ng pagkatao na, ‘Grabe naman yung tingin sa amin. Parang, hindi naman kami nagnakaw, hindi naman kami pumatay ng tao.’

“Ayun. Nagtatrabaho naman kami nang maayos. Wala naman kami tinatapakang ibang tao.

“Masaya naman kami sa ginagawa namin. And meron kaming personal na relasyon sa Diyos.

“At walang ibang puwedeng kumuwestiyon dun.”

SOFIA’S message TO ALVIN
May mensahe ba siyang nais iparating kay Alvin?

Ani Sofia: “I respect you kasi asawa ka ng nanay ko and hindi magbabago yun, and let’s just keep it that way kasi nasaktan na din po ako, e.”

Maaari ba niyang depensahan si Alvin laban sa netizens na hindi sang-ayon sa mga pahayag nito?

“Ano po talaga, e, in any way, parang kung gusto ko man po siyang i-defend, parang mahihirapan din po ako. Kasi grabe niya din po kasi i-condemn yung mga bakla, e.

“So, parang ang ironic naman po na manggagaling sa akin yun. Na ide-defend ko siya, e, pinanliliitan niya nga po kami.”

Dagdag pa niya, “Kaya masakit, e, masakit, e.

“Na parang wala ba kaming sariling relasyon sa Diyos? Ganun.

“Kaya naniniwala akong ano, na ang salita ng Diyos talaga, punung-puno po siya ng pag-ibig.

“Hindi po siya nagko-condemn, hindi siya nagdya-judge.”

Wala pang pahayag si Alvin sa panayam na ito si Sofia.