Retards in the Government 476

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2253321/ex-barangay-councilman-gunned-down-in-bataan

A former barangay councilman was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen armed with an Armalite rifle outside his residence in Barangay Culis in this town around 9 a.m. on Friday, police said.

The victim was identified as Norman Dalit.

Initial police reports said the suspects, who arrived in a van, opened fire on Dalit, killing him on the spot before fleeing the scene.

Police investigators have yet to identify the suspects or establish the motive behind the broad daylight killing. The investigation is ongoing.

A former barangay councilman was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/27/2-village-dads-fall-in-cebu-drug-busts

From council session to detention.

This is the situation that two barangay councilors are facing after they were arrested for illegal drugs in separate police operations.

In Asturias town, western Cebu, a 41-year-old barangay councilor was arrested in a buy-bust operation on Friday afternoon, June 26.

Police said the suspect was a high-value individual. Seized during the operation was 22 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P149,600.

Lawmen said that as councilor of Barangay Bago, the suspect headed its Peace and Order Committee.

In Mandaue City, Cebu, a 43-year-old barangay councilor from Lapu-Lapu City was arrested after for allegedly possessing packs of suspected shabu during a police checkpoint on Thursday night, June 25.

Police said a motorcycle driven by the suspect was flagged down on A.C. Cortes Ave. in Barangay Cambaro. During the routine inspection, police sensed that the suspect was acting uneasy.

The village official was instructed to empty his pockets that led to the discovery of two sachets of suspected shabu. The barangay councilor was arrested.

Police learned that the suspect is a councilor in Barangay Poblacion and serves as the barangay’s Peace and Order Committee chairperson.

Two barangay councilors have been arrested for illegal drugs.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2254119/soldier-nabbed-for-firing-rifle-outside-brother-in-laws-house-in-cagayan

A 28-year-old Army corporal was arrested for allegedly firing his high-powered firearm outside his brother-in-law’s house in Barangay Luzon, Claveria, Cagayan, in the early hours of Sunday, June 28, police said.

Col. Mardito Angoluan, director of the Cagayan Police Provincial Office, identified the suspect only by his alias, Bugoy, from Calanasan, Apayao.

According to investigators, the soldier arrived at his brother-in-law’s house at 12:10 a.m. and challenged him to a fistfight.

When no one came out, the suspect allegedly fired several shots into the air before fleeing in a gray car toward the town of Abulug.

The soldier’s sister, who is married to the intended target, told police that she and her family were awakened by her brother’s shouting and the sound of gunfire outside their home.

Responding officers recovered six spent shells from an M-16 rifle, three spent .45-caliber shells, and a live M-16 round at the scene.

The suspect was later arrested in a hot pursuit operation inside a compound in Centro 8, Claveria, by personnel of the Claveria Municipal Police Station and the Quick Reaction Team of the 2nd Cagayan Provincial Mobile Force Company.

Authorities seized an M-16 rifle, a .22-caliber rifle with a scope, a .45-caliber pistol, a long magazine, two .45-caliber magazines, a .22-caliber magazine, 21 rounds of M-16 ammunition, seven .45-caliber cartridges, 10 .22-caliber cartridges, a bolo, an Armed Forces of the Philippines identification card, a License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) card, a Army uniform, a war belt, a bandolier, a sling bag, and the vehicle allegedly used in the incident.

Police said the recovered items were inventoried in the presence of barangay officials using an alternative recording device.

The soldier, who has yet to issue a statement, remains in the custody of the Claveria police while authorities prepare the appropriate charges against him.

A 28-year-old Army corporal was arrested for allegedly firing his high-powered firearm outside his brother-in-law’s house in the early hours of Sunday, June 28, police said.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/30/bulacan-teacher-held-for-fatal-stabbing-of-14-year-old-student

A 37-year-old teacher was arrested for the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old student in Barangay Subic, Baliwag City, Bulacan, before dawn on Monday, June 29.

Lt. Col. Eisbon L. Llamansares, Baliwag police chief, said they received a call from Baliwag City Hospital around 3:30 a.m. regarding a girl rushed in with stab wounds to the neck.

Despite efforts by medical personnel, she was declared dead on arrival.

Investigators learned that the suspect himself brought the victim to the hospital along with her mother. He was immediately taken into custody and is now detained while a thorough investigation is underway.

Police conducted an ocular inspection at the crime scene and requested the Bulacan Provincial Forensic Unit to process evidence.

Authorities are preparing charges against the suspect.

Col. Jay B. Baybayan, acting director of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office, said police are prioritizing a deeper probe to ensure accountability.

A teacher has been arrested for fatally stabbing a student. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/30/missing-former-vice-mayor-in-leyte-son-found-dead

Abuyog, Leyte Mayor Lemuel Gin Traya confirmed that former Abuyog Vice Mayor James Bohol and his son were found dead in Barangay Imelda, Silago, Southern Leyte, on Tuesday, June 30, three days after they were reported missing on June 27.

“We are deeply saddened by the confirmation received from the Philippine National Police (PNP) regarding the tragic and senseless demise of former Abuyog Vice Mayor James Bohol and his son, Carlou James ‘Jimbo’ Bohol,” he said.

The local government unit of Abuyog condemned their murder.

“Such profound lawlessness has no place in our society, as it directly violates the peace, order, and security that we uphold within our municipality,” Traya said.

“We extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to the immediate family, and to everyone who grieves this catastrophic loss. Our collective prayers, thoughts, and unwavering support are with the bereaved family during this unimaginably painful time,” he added.

Police have yet to issue a statement regarding the double murder.

Bohol, also a businessman, lost his bid for re-election in 2025. 

Silago is a neighboring town of Abuyog and lies at the boundary of Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces.

Abuyog Vice Mayor James Bohol and his son were found dead in Barangay Imelda, Silago, Southern Leyte, on Tuesday, June 30, three days after they were reported missing.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/01/quezon-city-court-convicts-3-ex-soldiers-4-others-for-kidnapping-78-year-old-businesswoman

Seven people, including three former soldiers, were sentenced to life imprisonment after a Quezon City court found them guilty in a kidnap-for-ransom case last year.

It took only nine months of trial when the trial ended and such fete is an indication of improved case build-up but strong coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ) according to Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

Seven of the arrested suspects were sentenced to reclusion perpetua by a Quezon City Court without the eligibility of a parole. Four others who served as aides and caretakers were acquitted for failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

“This case is proof not only of good planning and conduct of operations but also efficient case build-up. In just nine months, we were able to get the conviction of seven kidnappers, including the mastermind and former military men,” said Nartatez.

“The strong coordination between the PNP and the DOJ in running after criminal elements in this case is but concrete evidence of what we can achieve in maintaining peace and order through certainty of conviction of those who would dare break the law,” he added.

The victim, whose family was engaged in large-scale manufacturing business, was forcibly taken by armed men along C3 Road in Quezon City on September 2, last year. The kidnappers later asked for P150 million ransom for her family. 

The family asked for police assistance and during that time, the kidnapping appeared to be a well-planned criminal activity that the police found a hard time identifying the perpetrators. 

Police, however, tracked the movement of the kidnaping group who hid the victim in a secured place in Batangas. The rescue operation was faced with numerous challenges, particularly that the victim involved is already a 78-year old woman. 

But the big opportunity came when the kidnappers brought the victim to a bank in Quezon City to withdraw P8 million. Police rescued the victim and arrested three suspects during the operation.

Eight more people, including former members of the military, were arrested in follow-up operations. 

Seven people, including three former soldiers, were sentenced to life imprisonment after a Quezon City court found them guilty in a kidnap-for-ransom case last year.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2256159/police-corporal-shot-dead-in-zamboanga-del-sur

A police officer was gunned down by still unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants in Barangay Tikwas in Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Phillip Basaya Jr., chief of the Dumalinao Municipal Police Station, identified the victim as Police Corporal Armaejo Unab Jornadal, 36, a resident of Barangay Kalubi, San Miguel town.

The victim was a member of the 2nd Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company.

Basaya reported that responding officers found Jornadal sprawled along the road, drenched in blood. 

Dr. Jovanie Vista, a physician at the Margosatubig Regional Hospital, who happened to be passing by, examined the victim and declared him dead at 5:16 p.m., Basaya said.

Initial investigation revealed that Jornadal was riding his motorcycle from this city toward his residence when the two suspects aboard a black Honda XRM 125 tailed him. 

Upon reaching Purok Lapu-lapu, the suspects overtook him. The back-rider fired multiple shots, hitting the victim in different parts of his body.

Basaya said the gunman alighted, seized the victim’s sling bag and then fled toward Guipos town with the motorcycle driver.

Investigators checked on the victim’s motorcycle compartment, which yielded an Armed Forces and Police Savings and Loans Association, Inc. (AFPSLAI) loan receipt dated July 1, bearing the victim’s name, indicating he had just processed a cash loan before the attack.

His government-issued firearm was missing and believed taken by the suspects.

Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered four fired cartridges of a suspected 9mm pistol.

Investigators are backtracking CCTV footage along the suspects’ escape route.

Members of the 2nd Police Mobile Force Company and the Dumalinao police launched a hot pursuit operation against the suspects.

A police officer was gunned down by still unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Nurse John, Queen of Matcha, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government. 

Matcha, a Japanese tea, is seeing quite the boom. One Filipina is now the "Queen of Matcha" after learning all about it during the pandemic. 

https://www.businesstraveller.com/insights/queen-of-matcha-jacque-deborja-medestomas/

For most of my career, I worked in digital publishing and production, far from anything related to F&B in the Philippines. Matcha was simply a personal interest. I drank it, learned about it and documented it during the quiet months of the pandemic.

When travel resumed, my trips to Japan would always include activities related to tea. Friends in Manila began calling me the “Matcha Queen”. Strangers asked for recommendations.

In 2023, I launched @jacqueandmatcha_ to separate my hobby from my personal account. The response was immediate. People started recognising me online and offline as the “matcha girl” – even though I had never set out to build a brand.

Around this time, I joined the Urasenke Tankokai Manila Association to study Chadō. Learning the Way of Tea sharpened how I talked about matcha and reframed how I approached content.

With the global matcha boom creating a crowded and often inaccurate space, going intentional became essential; anything I shared needed to add clarity, context or cultural understanding.

Last spring, while harvesting tea leaves in Japan, I understood that this was more than a passing interest. It was work that I wanted to pursue long term.

Instagram became my primary platform – from matcha diaries to café finds, pottery and recipes. Consistency led to pop-ups and my first café takeovers.

TikTok was less structured, yet the matcha content still resonated. I talked about matcha in a grounded, unpretentious manner, which made me more accessible to followers.

People would tell me they had seen – and enjoyed – my photos and videos, which reinforced how digital platforms shape credibility today.

By late-2024, collaborations with cafés arrived, followed by hotels and workshop organisers. Teaching pushed me to deepen my understanding of farming, milling and broader tea culture.

Last year, at a two-day pop-up coffee event in Manila that featured a matcha section, my booth sold out within hours.

Soon after, a major lifestyle platform featured me and coined me ‘the queen of everyone’s preferred green drink’. What began as a casual label became a recognised identity.

The visibility opened doors to communities and brands I never expected to reach. It also created pressure, which I used as motivation to keep learning.

If there is one principle this journey affirmed, it is this: personal branding begins with clarity. When you understand your values and your point of view, you can navigate noise with purpose. People may replicate what you do but never why you do it.

Authenticity is the true differentiator – and sometimes it is the catalyst that transforms a personal pursuit into a professional platform.

It's another case of a pandemic hobby/obsession leading to a lucrative career. 

The Pharmally fraud case is underway.  New documents have been submitted but the COA. 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2026/06/23/2537086/coa-submits-new-docs-p41-billion-pharmally-case/amp/

The Sandiganbayan accepted yesterday new documentary evidence against former health secretary Francisco Duque III and former budget undersecretary Christopher Lloyd Lao.

The documents, tied to the P41.46-billion Pharmally pandemic fund transfer case, were submitted by Commission on Audit (COA) records officer Eljun Jumamil.

Defense lawyers countered the submission, arguing that they were unaware of the documents’ nature since prosecutors failed to present these during the pre-trial conference.

Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, chairperson of the anti-graft court’s First Division, allowed the evidence, saying it remains subject to verification.

The court dispensed with Jumamil’s oral testimony after he stipulated that he had no hand in the actual COA investigation.

Duque and Lao posted bail of P90,000 each following their indictment in 2024.

They are accused of “gross inexcusable negligence” over the allegedly illegal transfer of billions of pesos from the Department of Health to the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management between March and December 2020.

It's been six years so it's reasonable to expect another ten years before its resolved. 

Consumer confidence is an a post-pandemic low. 

https://business.inquirer.net/597476/bsp-ph-consumer-confidence-slumps-to-postpandemic-low

Filipino consumers turned the most downbeat since the pandemic in the second quarter as the conflict in the Middle East fueled concerns over higher food and fuel prices, while businesses grew less pessimistic on hopes of stronger profits and lower energy costs.

The confidence index for households fell to -42 percent, from -15.8 percent in the first quarter, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Friday. It was based on a survey of 5,503 households from April 6 to April 18.

A negative reading means the pessimists outnumbered the optimists. The latest figure was the weakest since the fourth quarter of 2020, when the index sank to -47.9 percent as the country was still grappling with the pandemic.

Respondents cited rising fuel and food costs linked to the nearly four-month-old conflict in the Middle East as their biggest concern. They also pointed to corruption in government and what they viewed as inadequate policies to cushion households from higher living costs.

Consumer prices rose 6.8 percent in May from a year earlier, slowing from April’s 7.2-percent pace but still above the central bank’s 2-percent to 4-percent target range for a third straight month.

The survey suggests households are already pulling back on spending. More respondents said they did not intend to buy big-ticket items, while fewer expected to save, likely because higher prices are forcing them to devote a larger share of their income to essential expenses.

The gloom is expected to persist. The confidence index for the next quarter fell to -16.3 percent from 1.8 percent previously, while the 12-month outlook weakened to 0.2 percent from 9.6 percent, leaving consumers barely optimistic about the year ahead.

Businesses, however, struck a less gloomy tone. A separate BSP survey of 502 companies showed the business confidence index improved to -25.2 percent in May from -35.8 percent in April.

Firms also turned cautiously optimistic about the near term. The confidence index for the next three months rose to 0.6 percent from -7.5 percent, while the 12-month outlook strengthened to 27.8 percent from 19.5 percent, suggesting businesses expect operating conditions to improve over the coming year.

With the Middle East conflict winding down perhaps prices will stabilize and consumer confidence will once more grow. 

Nurse John transformed his pandemic burn out in a million dollar comedy career.

https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/business-life/2026/06/26/2537975/filipino-canadian-nurse-john-makes-forbes-new-top-creators-list

Fiipino-Canadian nurse and content creator John Dela Cruz, more popularly known as Nurse John, landed on Forbes magazine's "Top Creators of 2026" list.

Nurse John figured in the No. 28 spots, a good middle finish in between American content creators Marques Brownlee and Tana Mongeau.

Forbes noted that Nurse John scored a 12.97% average engagement from his over 19 million followers. His $7.2 million (PP441 million) earnings garnered him an Entrpreneurship Score of 3.

The magazine mentioned in a write-up how the creator "turned hospital burnout into a multimillion-dollar stand-up career," recalling Nurse John's frontline services during the pandemic and the TikTok videos he posted to cope with his industry's chaos.

The past couple of years saw Nurse John sell out a number of comedy shows — including his "Short Staffed Tour" visiting the Philippines earlier this year — as well as appearances in several comedy events like Netflix Is a Joke and Just for Laughs.

It should come as no surprise that topping Forbes' list is Jimmy Donaldson or MrBeast, the most-followed YouTuber to date.

MrBeast was followed by Dhar Mann and Steven Bartlett, with Markiplier and Rhett & Link rounding out the Top 5.

Other familiar names on the list include Druski, I Show Speed, Mark Rober, Khaby Lame, Ms. Rachel, Jacksepticeye, Steven He, and the D'Amelio sisters Charli and Dixie.

Put together the 50 listed creators have combined earnings worth more than a billion dollars.

It's another Filipino pandemic success story. 

Residential Fires June, 2026

This is a reported list of residential fires in the Philippines for June, 2026. The Bureau of Fire Protection is on record saying the fire codes does not apply to residential areas which is why so many of them go up in flames during a fire. Being made of light materials all it takes is one spark to cause massive devastation. 

http://mb.com.ph/2026/06/03/81-families-seek-shelter-in-evacuation-center-after-pasig-fire

The Pasig City government reported that 81 families, or 291 individuals, are temporarily staying in an evacuation center after a fire broke out in a residential area in Barangay Maybunga on Tuesday night, June 2.

Authorities said the figures were as of 3 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, while validation is still ongoing to determine the total number of affected families. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire started along Westbank Road at 9:57 p.m., reached the second alarm at 10:04 p.m., and was extinguished at around 1:14 a.m. on Wednesday. 

Around 30 houses made of light materials were reportedly affected. 

Some of the affected residents were not able to save their belongings, while others managed to rescue their pets. 

The affected families are currently staying at the Westbank Community Center and were provided with hot meals, hygiene and sleeping kits, as well as food and non-food packs.

Authorities are now investigating the cause of the fire.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/07/fire-hits-residential-area-in-sta-cruz-manila

A fire broke out in a residential area along Felix Huertas Street, corner Yuseco Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila, early Sunday morning, June 7, prompting firefighters to rush to the scene. 

According to initial reports, the blaze occurred in front of the Vertex One condominium complex and Cecilio Apostol Elementary School. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire was declared under first alarm at around 3:10 a.m. as firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby houses in the densely populated community. 

Fire trucks from various volunteer and government fire brigades responded to the incident and immediately launched fire suppression operations. 

As of posting time, authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.  

Information regarding possible injuries, casualties, or displaced residents was not immediately available. 

The BFP continues its investigation into the incident while firefighters remain on site to ensure the blaze is fully contained.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/07/fire-hits-houses-in-bilibid-reservation

Fire razed three houses and affected 17 individuals before midnight on Saturday, June 6, in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation in Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.

The blaze affected four families in Vicar Village, according to the Muntinlupa City government.

The Muntinlupa City government’s Social Services Department (SSD) provided the fire victims with food and emergency kits.

These include family kits consisting of shirts, shorts, underwear, slippers and towels; kitchen kits, including forks and spoons, frying pan, pot, plates, stove and water container; sleeping kits consisting of mosquito nets, mats, pillows, blankets and folding beds; and hygiene kits, including toothbrushes, toothpastes, soap, shampoo and diapers.

For the food relief, the families were given 50-kilo sacks of rice, assorted canned goods, sugar and coffee.

The SSD conducted mapping and assessment and issued disaster cards to the families. It also coordinated with Barangay Poblacion for the provision of tents.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon assured families that financial assistance will be given to them and a referral to other agencies for other needs.

The fire was extinguished at 12:22 a.m.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/07/fire-hits-residential-area-in-sta-cruz-manila

A fire broke out in a residential area along Felix Huertas Street, corner Yuseco Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila, early Sunday morning, June 7, prompting firefighters to rush to the scene. 

According to initial reports, the blaze occurred in front of the Vertex One condominium complex and Cecilio Apostol Elementary School. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire was declared under first alarm at around 3:10 a.m. as firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby houses in the densely populated community. 

Fire trucks from various volunteer and government fire brigades responded to the incident and immediately launched fire suppression operations. 

As of posting time, authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.  

Information regarding possible injuries, casualties, or displaced residents was not immediately available. 

The BFP continues its investigation into the incident while firefighters remain on site to ensure the blaze is fully contained.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/11/pregnant-woman-3-others-killed-in-calamba-fire

A pregnant woman and three others were killed and another individual was injured in a fire in a building in Barangay Rea here on Thursday, June 11. 

Calamba City police chief Police Col. Dennis de Guzman said the fatalities were living and trapped on the second floor of the building as the fire spread rapidly. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection said the fire started at around 3 a.m. A bakery and nearby establishments were affected. One person was injured in the fire and received prompt treatment from first responders. 

Arson investigators said a loud explosion was heard from inside the building before the fire broke out. 

Follow-up investigation and mopping-up operations are ongoing. Damage to property is yet to be determined.

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/06/06/fire-hits-residential-area-in-parañaque

A fire gutted a residential area along Lopez Jaena Street in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City early Saturday morning, 6 June.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire was first reported around 12:44 a.m. and reachFP), the fire was first reported around 12:44 a.m. and reached the first alarm at 12:50 a.m.

The fire spread quickly, prompting a second alarm around 1:06 a.m. and a third alarm by 1:22 a.m.

It was declared under control around 4:26 a.m. before it was completely put out at 5:40 a.m.

Authorities are still determining the cause of the fire and the cost of damage to the affected properties.

No deaths or injuries have been reported in the incident so far.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/12/pwd-killed-in-laguna-fire

A 58-year-old Person with Disability (PWD) was killed and six families lost their homes in a one-hour fire in Barangay San Vicente here on Thursday morning, June 11.

Police identified the victim as Ricky.

The fire started at about 7:34 a.m. and was declared under control at about 8:18 a.m.

Arson investigators said the victim was trapped and failed to get out of his house, and firefighters discovered his body at 10:30 a.m.

Four houses were destroyed in the fire.

Firemen are determining the cause of the fire and damage to property.

Meanwhile, an unidentified person was killed in a fire in Barangay Malamig, Binan City, this province, before dawn on Wednesday.

The fire started at 2:56 a.m. and declared under control and fire out at about 3:46 a.m.

The victim's body was recovered during clearing operations.

The Bureau of Fire Protection has yet to determine the cause of the fire and damage to property.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/14/fire-hits-afp-officers-village-in-taguig

A huge fire razed about 150 houses and injured a man in AFP Officers Village (AFPOVAI) in Taguig on June 13. 

The Taguig City Fire Station reported that the blaze started at about 9:30 a.m. at Ato Side Zone 7-B in Barangay Western Bicutan. 

Firefighters raised the first alarm at 9:37 a.m. and elevated it to the third alarm at 10:10 a.m. The blaze lasted for nearly six hours before it was put out at 3:13 p.m. 

The 505th Search and Rescue Group (505th SRG) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) conducted a Bambi Bucket operation using a Sokol helicopter to help in extinguishing the fire. The 505th SRG conducted 20 sorties, each carrying 680 liters of water, for the operation. 

The fire station identified the injured as Dionisio Bahenteng, 51, who suffered second degree burns on his shoulder, legs and right foot. 

The fire damaged P2.5 million worth of properties and affected about 180 families or 500 individuals. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano went to the area to meet the affected families. The city government provided assistance and initial help to the families. 

A total of 55 fire trucks, a rescue truck and five ambulances responded to the incident. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2246386/ormoc-city-blaze-leaves-40-families-displaced-30-homes-razed

A late-night fire razed a residential area in Ormoc City, Leyte, leaving dozens of families homeless after destroying 30 houses and a classroom-laboratory building in Barangay Naugan on Sunday night.

The third-alarm fire broke out in Purok 3 at around 11:52 p.m., rapidly spreading through a densely populated community and causing an estimated P2 million in property damage.

The Ormoc City Fire Station received the alarm at 11:57 p.m. Firefighters arrived at the scene by 12:06 a.m. on Monday.

The blaze, which also gutted the laboratory classroom of Naungan Elementary School, was placed under control at 1:12 a.m. and fully extinguished at 2:14 a.m.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD) reported that 154 individuals from 40 families were affected by the fire.

Evacuees are currently sheltered at the barangay covered court, with additional tents set up by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).

The City Health Department (CHD) has provided hygiene kits, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended food assistance to the evacuation center.

Eight fire trucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), along with reinforcements from nearby fire stations in Baybay, Merida, Albuera, Kananga, and Isabel, responded to the incident.

No casualties or injuries were reported.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/17/toddler-killed-in-cebu-fire

A three-year-old boy was killed in a fire that destroyed his house on Wednesday morning, June 17, in Argao, southern Cebu.

Police said that investigation conducted by Fire Officer 3 Michael Angelo Rodriguez showed that the victim was playing with a lighter before the fire started.

Police said the flames spread rapidly and the boy was trapped inside the bungalow-type house in Barangay Upper Cansuje.

Neighbors tried to put out the fire to no avail. Responding firefighters contained the fire at 9:45 a.m. Fire out was declared at 10 a.m.

The boy’s charred remains were found in the debris during mopping-up operations. Property damage was pegged at P10,000.

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/6/16/three-fires-hit-cebu-in-less-than-a-day-1346

Three fires hit Cebu City in less than a day on Monday, the Bureau of Fire Protection has confirmed.

The first incident was at Sitio Upper Camparang, Barangay Kalunasan, where one structure was burned affecting six individuals. The fire was raised to first alarm.

A few hours after, the second incident was reported at Sitio Bugnay Dos, Barangay Labangon, where 18 houses were affected. Only four were partially burned.

There were 14 families or 70 individuals that were immediately relocated to the nearest evacuation center following the fire, with the damage pegged at P210,000.

On Monday dawn, another fire was reported at Sitio Stacionan, Barangay Mabolo.

Three structures were burned affecting 28 individuals, with damage estimated to be at P450,000.

All causes of the fires are still under investigation, said SFO3 Wendell Villanueva, spokesperson of BFP Cebu City.

“We are reminding the public again in using their electric device, especially that it is too hot now,” added Villanueva in Cebuano.

He is also asking the public to be vigilant especially as the effects of the El Niño will be felt in the next months.

“Actually, we are also ensuring that there is enough supply of water as we respond to different incidents,” Villanueva further said.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/18/fire-tears-through-olympic-tower-3-in-qc-reaches-3rd-alarm

A fire tore through Olympic Heights Tower 3 in Barangay Bagumbayan, Quezon City on Thursday morning, June 18, quickly escalating to third alarm as thick smoke engulfed the condominium and sent residents rushing out in panic.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire was first reported at around 6:53 a.m. as a rubbish fire, prompting an initial first alarm as firefighters immediately responded to the scene.

Fire suppression operations were promptly carried out as the blaze intensified, leading authorities to raise the alarm level while prioritizing the safe evacuation of residents inside the building.

Residents were swiftly evacuated amid heavy smoke conditions, while responders maintained continuous monitoring of the area and checked for any possible casualties during the operation.

A resident identified as Aileen Caspillo-Nunag told Manila Bulletin that the fire appeared to have started from the lower portion of the building, particularly in the condominium’s garbage storage area.

The fire was placed under control at around 9:28 a.m., according to FSSUPT Roberto Samillano Jr., District Fire Marshal of the Quezon City Fire District.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, the extent of damage, and possible injuries as investigation continues.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/19/all-residents-safe-after-fire-hits-manila-residential-building

Residents of a mid-rise building in Santa Cruz, Manila, were safely evacuated after a fire broke out on Friday morning, June 19. Firefighters were also seen attempting to revive a dog that had been trapped inside.

Smoke was first reported at around 8:30 a.m. at the Golden Valley Building at the corner of Tomas Mapua and Recto Avenue. 

The fire escalated to first-alarm by 8:34 a.m., prompting an immediate response from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The blaze struck the residential structure, with occupants initially reported trapped. 

Authorities immediately launched rescue operations alongside fire suppression efforts, successfully evacuating all residents from the building.

During the operation, a dog that had been reportedly left inside the structure was retrieved by responders.

A firefighter was seen administering aid to the animal, although its condition has yet to be disclosed.

The fire was declared out at 9:22 a.m., contained in less than an hour.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/23/fire-engulfs-residential-area-in-sauyo-quezon-city

A fire broke out in NIA Village, Area 5A, Barangay Sauyo, Quezon City, on Tuesday morning, June 23, reaching third alarm before being brought under control and declared out.

The blaze quickly spread through the community, sending thick smoke over the area and prompting an immediate response from authorities.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire was raised to first alarm at 10:42 a.m., escalated to second alarm at 10:52 a.m., and further increased to third alarm at 11:43 a.m. as firefighters worked to contain the flames.

Firefighting operations continued until the fire was placed under control at 12:38 p.m. and declared out at 12:57 p.m., with at least 12 fire trucks deployed to the scene.

Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage and verifying possible casualties, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Response operations were supported by the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO), which assisted in coordination, monitoring, and possible evacuation efforts.

The NIA Covered Court was identified as a possible evacuation site for affected residents.

Various local agencies, including the Quezon City Fire District (QCFD), Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), Traffic and Transport Management Department (TTMD), Barangay Sauyo, and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), worked together to ensure public safety and order during the incident.

That is 16 reported incidents for June. Remember, these are only the major fires reported in the national media. Residential fires are up all across the nation and they do not all make the news. This is the tip of the iceberg concerning the real situation in the Philippines. 

Insurgency: Mistaken as NPA

The recent deaths of two NPA leaders in combat has weakened the insurgency in Bukidon says the Army. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2250762/army-deaths-of-rebel-leaders-weaken-npa-forces-in-bukidnon

Two key leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) were killed in separate clashes with government troops in Bukidnon, “further weakening” the forces of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area, the military said.

Brig. Gen. Seigfred Tubalado, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, identified the fatalities as Edward Pantandon, alias “Wando” and Romeo Manpinsahan, alias “Kakoy” and “Yuman,” who were killed on June 20 and 21, respectively.

The first encounter between troops from the 1st Special Forces Battalion and NPA rebels erupted around 11 p.m. on June 20 in Sitio Tagiptip, Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan town.

The operation resulted in the death of Pantandon, team leader of Headquarters Force NEO under the NCMRC, and the seizure of an M16 rifle.

Government troops tracked the same group to Sitio Nalumosan, Barangay Silae, Malaybalay City.

At 11:30 a.m. on June 21, soldiers from the 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) engaged in another clash that left Manpinsahan dead.

Troops also recovered two additional high-powered firearms, magazines, ammunition and personal belongings from the encounter site.

The operations formed part of intensified military efforts to dismantle the remaining armed units of communist rebels operating in Northern Mindanao, Tubalado said.

He noted that the operations reflect the continued weakening of the NCMRC’s armed capability as government forces maintain pressure against remaining rebel units in the region.

Lieutenant Col. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division, said Manpinsahan’s death “is a definitive victory for peace, but more importantly, it is long-awaited justice served to the communities of Bukidnon.”

“For years, this notorious leader and his remnants exploited, threatened and victimized innocent civilians and local livelihoods across the province; today, those families can finally breathe easier knowing that accountability has been delivered,” Martinez told the Inquirer on Monday.

In a text message, Martinez said that troops from the 8IB, which is under the 403rd Infantry Brigade, launched a focused military operation after receiving information from concerned civilians.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, the NPA has not issued a statement on the incidents.

Maj. Gen. Marion Angcao, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said the military remains committed to preventing the resurgence of communist insurgency activities and maintaining security in Bukidnon and neighboring provinces.

The bodies of the slain rebels were brought to a funeral parlor, while pursuit operations against remaining NPA leaders, including a certain alias “Ka Reda,” are ongoing.

Supporting units included personnel from the 8IB Battalion, 26th Infantry Battalion, 41st and 42nd Division Reconnaissance Companies, artillery units from the 4th and 7th Field Artillery Battalions, and intelligence elements of the 4th Infantry Division.

It is doubtful the NPA will admit this as a setback. It is likely new leadership has already been chosen to replace them. 

The Caraga region has recently been declared insurgency-free and yet the Army "expects complete cessation of active communist rebel activities."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1277811

The Philippine Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) expects complete cessation of active communist rebel activities within its Areas of Responsibility (AOR) following the recent declaration of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) in Caraga Region.

4ID commander Maj. Gen. Marion Angcao said SIPS demonstrates an interagency mechanism to coordinate with communities that would yield remnants of the New People's Army (NPA) either through military operations or surrenders.

"Following the successful declaration of SIPS across the entire Caraga Region, we are determined to sustain the momentum of our peace efforts in Northern Mindanao," he said in an interview.

SIPS is an official designation conferred by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to a municipality, province, or region, certifying that NPA operations have been neutralized to foster secure and progressive communities.

On June 18, Caraga Region, one of 4ID's AORs, was formally declared under SIPS.

On Sunday, June 21, troops from the 1st Special Forces Battalion and the 8th Infantry Battalion encountered NPA combatants in Bukidnon province, resulting in two rebel deaths.

In Sitio Tagiptip, Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan town, the slain rebel was identified as Edward Pantandon. In Sitio Nalumosan, Barangay Silae, Malaybalay City, a ranking NPA combatant identified as Romeo Manpinsahan (alias Kakoy), commanding officer of Headquarters Force NEO under the NPA's North Central Mindanao Command, was killed. Three high-powered firearms were also recovered.

Shouldn't "complete cessation of active communist rebel activities" be the criteria for an area being declared insurgency-free?  Well, no because the AFP admits there will never be zero insurgents.

Año admitted insurgency cannot be totally eliminated, but he believes the issue may be brought down to a negligible point.

“While we may not be able to attain this zero insurgents, but at least reduced to an irrelevant number that will not cause concern for peace and order,” he said.

“They will become isolated and just become bandits, because of lost ideology and non-support from the people,” he projected.

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2023/09/insurgency-communist-insurgency-to-end.html

But, then again:

“Insurgency-free”, according to Luga, means that they have received no more reports of armed men in the province. 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2019/09/martial-law-insurgent-free.html

That definition is crucial to understanding how the AFP classifies these areas. Insurgency-free does not mean insurgency-free.

In the very same city where the AFP neutralized NPA commander Kakoy they also killed a Lumad woman they mistook for an NPA rebel. 

https://www.bulatlat.com/2026/06/20/mistaken-as-npa-soldiers-kill-lumad-woman-in-bukidnon/

Indigenous people’s organizations denounced the killing of a Lumad woman after the military admittedly mistook her and her husband as members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Mahayag, Barangay Saint Peter, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, on June 15.

The slain victim was identified as Nenita Buscada. Her husband was reportedly wounded and currently recuperating in a hospital.

For a network of Indigenous women’s organizations, the incident was not a simple mistake or misencounter but a violation of the rights of civilians amid armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL).

“The apology of Lt. Col. Arnold Bautista, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 88th Infantry Battalion, was not enough. These words were pointless in front of a life that was taken, families bereaved, and communities victimized by militarization,” Kim Falyao, national coordinator of Bai Indigenous Women’s Network, said in a statement in Filipino.

Bautista said in an interview with Bombo Radyo Malaybalay that soldiers at a military detachment in the area went down as part of their relieving assignment when they faced the couple. He claimed that the soldiers saw a pistol belonging to one of them and they opened fire.

The military official who said that they have a goal to end the insurgency in the area in June 2026 stressed that some of the troops involved were victims of an NPA ambush in the same area in 2024 where soldiers got killed.

A netizen who introduced herself as Buscada’s relative commented in the same interview posted on Facebook and called for justice, saying that the couple reportedly went to the forested area just to gather wood and sell them to buy school supplies for their children.

Bulatlat reached out to the supposed relative on June 18 but there was no response as of this writing.

Datu Janjan Lailay, Buscada’s relative, told XFM Bukidnon in an interview that the initial discussion was about forwarding the case under their Tribal Justice System since the incident took place within their ancestral land. He ensured that there would be a dialogue to achieve justice.

Lailay said that Buscada was an active participant in the counterinsurgency program and helped organize women in their community. He added that the victim’s sons are members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), an auxiliary force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Bai Indigenous Women’s Network said that the demand for justice does not end with the military’s apology. 

The Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Indigenous People Student Advocates (MIPSA) called for an immediate, transparent, impartial, and independent investigation into the killing, adding that it should not be controlled solely by the AFP.

“We also call for the immediate protection of the victim’s family and community from intimidation, harassment, or pressure while the investigation is ongoing,” MIPSA said in a statement.

The Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu), an alliance of Indigenous people’s organizations, said that the military should be held accountable for reckless shooting at civilians.

This story is only to be found on Bulatlat.com, a website which was blocked by the government because they claimed it of being affiliated with terrorists.

The list also includes websites of progressive groups and independent media such as Bulatlat.

“They have established a pervasive online presence through their websites that they continually use to publish propaganda and misinformation campaigns in order to malign the Philippine government, recruit new members, and to solicit funds from local and international sources,” Esperon said in his letter to Cordoba.

“In this regard, may we request the NTC to issue legal instruments to order Philippine internet service providers to block access to the following websites affiliated to and are supporting these terrorist and terrorist organizations,” he added.

The list also includes websites of progressive groups and independent media such as Bulatlat, which said that the move “sets a dangerous precedent for independent journalism in the Philippines.”

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1614457/ntc-orders-blocking-of-websites-affiliated-to-supporting-terrorist-organizations

The decision was eventually overturned by the courts. 

The NPA has killed another civilian claiming him to be a military asset. 

https://www.dailyguardian.com.ph/blog/npa-claims-killing-of-alleged-negros-military-asset

The New People’s Army claimed responsibility for the June 16 killing of a 54-year-old man alleged to be a military asset in Negros Occidental.

The Leonardo Panaligan Command, in a statement, said it killed the man identified only as Henry.

According to a police report citing a village chief’s statement, the barangay official learned of the incident shortly after it happened and urged the victim’s family to report it to police for investigation.

The family refused, citing safety concerns, and instead immediately buried the victim’s remains after the incident.

The barangay official told police the killing happened in Sitio Carnawan, Barangay Amontay, Binalbagan, not in Barangay Makilignit, Isabela, as initially reported.

He said a river serves as the boundary between Barangay Makilignit and Barangay Amontay.

The Isabela Municipal Police Station relayed the information it gathered to the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station.

Binalbagan police, however, said they have yet to confirm whether the killing happened within their jurisdiction.

The Leonardo Panaligan Command, through spokesperson JB Regalado, said Henry had previously surrendered to its revolutionary court but later allegedly became involved in crimes.

The group warned that those who continue to commit crimes would face punishment.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has waged a decadeslong insurgency against the government.

Add him to the long list of alleged military assets being killed in Negros.