Mimaropa News

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident at the Senate, where a commotion occurred as gunshots rang out on Wednesday night.

During a Palace press briefing, NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed that he attended a meeting convened by President Marcos to receive updates on the Senate incident, during which the President directed authorities to ensure that the investigation is conducted in a fair, impartial, and truthful manner.

“Opo, meron po kaming pagpupulong (kasama si Presidente) na sa nangyari po kahapon...(Naging bilin) siguraduhin ang imbestigasyon ay makatotohanan at parehas at lumabas kung sino talaga ang may mga pananagutan. At siguraduhin na tawagin at pananagutin yung mga taong may dapat na panagutan sa pangyayaring ito,” Matibag added.

At the same briefing, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the PNP would also coordinate with proper authorities to get to the bottom of the Senate incident.

“We are coordinating such that we can go into the bottom of this case and the personalities who are involved should be accounted and/or fully investigated, not only for the NBI but, of course, including the personalities, especially security personnel at the building of the GSIS, as well as the GSIS building being occupied by the Senate security led by the sergeant-at-arms,” Nartatez said.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro gave a detailed account of the sequence of events surrounding the Senate incident on May 13, saying it stemmed from heightened tensions following reports of a possible arrest of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa.

Castro said Dela Rosa conducted a livestream around 4 p.m., claiming he might be arrested, which was followed by a statement from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms led by retired Police Major General Mao Aplasca indicating that an arrest could take place within the Senate.

Shortly after, Senate security personnel reported spotting NBI agents within the nearby Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) compound, which shares an access point with Senate offices.

Castro said GSIS General Manager Wick Veloso had requested assistance from the NBI to secure its premises, prompting the deployment of agents around 6 p.m.

“Walang operasyon ang NBI o PNP na arestuhin si Senator Bato,” Castro said, confirming the pronouncement of President Marcos that there was no instruction to arrest the senator.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed that dela Rosa has a warrant of arrest for alleged crime against humanity over the death of suspected drug users during his term as PNP chief starting in 2016.

Castro said upon confirming the presence of NBI agents near the GSIS-Senate access bridge, Senate security personnel reportedly went on alert. When an NBI agent identified himself near the bridge, Aplasca allegedly fired a warning shot, prompting the agent to also discharge a warning shot in response.

Matibag said the NBI and the PNP have asked the Senate authorities to share CCTV footage inside the Senate building for their review.

Matibag said part of the investigation involved three separate occasions—first, when dela Rosa was not intercepted at a Senate stairwell; second, during the commotion on Wednesday, when the senator remained inside his office; and third, when he was able to leave the Senate premises without the NBI confirming his whereabouts.

“Kaya nga po ako humihiling ng buong kopya ng CCTV mula noong dumating siya sa parking, kung kanino siya nakasakay na sasakyan hanggang sa pumasok dahil ang nakita na lang nating video ay iyong takbuhan na lang eh, iyong habulan. Hindi po naipakita roon na magsi-serve na ng warrant, kakausapin na po si Senator Bato; tinackle [tackle] niya po iyong babaeng ahente, kaya po nagkaroon ng takbuhan,” the NBI chief added.

Matibag noted that when the Senate declared that Dela Rosa was under its protective custody, the NBI agents chose to respect the decision, citing the importance of honoring the independence of a coequal branch of government.

“Noong nagdeklara po ang Senado ng protective custody nila si Senator Bato, minabuti po namin na irespeto iyong sinabi na iyon ng Senado sapagkat ang respeto po natin sa co-equal branch po ng executive ay nandoon,” he added. | via PND

A homegrown agricultural innovation from Oriental Mindoro is set to gain renewed national exposure as the Palatak Palay Seeder, previously recognized as a 2025 Presidential Filipinnovator Awardee, will be showcased once again during the Sustainability Solutions Exchange (SSX) 2026 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City.

The Palatak Palay Seeder, developed by Farmwell Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing and inventor Engr. Delfin Cuevas Jr. of Bongabong town, is among the featured innovations under the agri-tech and food innovation category of the SSX Exhibition, which will run from May 21 to 23 alongside IFEX Philippines 2026. | via Ace Sapit/PIA

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) announced that the premium contribution rate for 2026 will remain at 5 percent of a member’s monthly basic income, in line with the provisions of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

In an advisory released through its official social media platforms on May 6, PhilHealth said the 5-percent premium rate represents the final scheduled adjustment under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act. | via Ace Sapit/PIA

The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Palawan is set to implement 187 feeding days for School Year 2026–2027, as part of its efforts to improve the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) and strengthen health initiatives for learners across the province.

Education Program Supervisor and Officer-in-Charge Chief Allyn G. Gonda said the feeding program is part of Oplan Kalusugan sa DepEd (OKD), which also covers mental health, adolescent reproductive health (ARH), and water, sanitation and hygiene in schools programs.

Gonda said the feeding program currently covers 639 elementary schools in Palawan, while the Division provides health personnel support to around 840 schools across the province. | via Orlan Jabagat/PIA

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Romblon is targeting nearly 26,000 children for vaccination under the Measles-Rubella Supplementary Immunization activity set to be launched in August.

Ma. Crisel Ann Fallaria, Health Education and Promotion Officer of the PHO, said the campaign forms part of the nationwide immunization program of the Department of Health (DOH) in partnership with provincial health offices and rural health units across the country.

According to Fallaria, the campaign targets at least 95 percent of children aged six months to 59 months in the province. | via Paul Jaysent Fos/PIA

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has issued a stern warning to the public following the reported spread of the deadly “box jellyfish” or “sea wasp” in several coastal waters across the country this summer season.

BFAR Fishery Officer Joel Malabanan urged residents and tourists, particularly those planning to swim at beaches, to exercise extreme caution against the highly venomous marine creature.

According to BFAR, the box jellyfish is nearly transparent and difficult to spot in the water as it resembles floating plastic. It is commonly found in shallow coastal areas and tropical regions such as the Philippines. | via Dennis Nebrejo/PIA

Passengers traveling on roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) vessels between Batangas and Oriental Mindoro may soon experience lower fares as the government prepares to launch a subsidy program aimed at easing transportation costs amid fluctuating fuel prices.

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Regional Office IV Franchising and Legal Service Head April Uy announced the upcoming rollout of the government’s “Marina Lakbay Alalay ng Gobyerno” or LAYAG program at Batangas Port.

Under the program, passengers traveling the Batangas–Calapan and Batangas–Puerto Galera routes will receive fare subsidies from the government. | via Ace Sapit/PIA

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday night called for calm following a reported shooting incident inside the Senate building, saying authorities are investigating the situation.

President Marcos also assured the public that no government forces were ordered to enter the Senate premises or carry out any operation in the Upper Chamber.

In a video message, the President said he had been closely monitoring the situation for over two hours and immediately called Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla to check on the situation in the Senate.

Media reports indicated that shots were fired at the Senate premises on Wednesday night.

“Mga dalawang oras at kalahati ko nang mino-monitor ang sitwasyon. At noong una kong nabalitaan na nagputukan, ang una kong tinawagan ay si Sec. Jonvic Remulla ng DILG. At tinanong ko, magpa-report ka sa mga pulis na nandoon na kung may nangyari, kung mayroon silang ginawa,” President Marcos said.

The President added that he also reached out to the National Bureau of Investigation to confirm whether its agents were involved.

“At tapos ang sunod na tawag ko naman ay sa NBI. At tinanong ko sa mga NBI at kay Director Matibag, eh kayo ba ay pumasok sa Senado? Sabi niya, “Wala. Wala kang instruction. Ang sabi sa akin, wala kang instruction, sir. Kaya ba’t namin gagawin ‘yun?” President Marcos said.

The President clarified that uniformed personnel seen inside the Senate were part of regular security forces assigned to the premises.

“Yung nakikita po ninyo na nakauniporme sa loob – sa mga news, ang mga nakauniporme doon, dalawang klase. Iyong PNP police na naka-duty sa Senado. Nandoon sila para bantayan ang Senado, para mag-crowd control, para maging secure ang Senado. Iyong isa pang nakauniporme ay ‘yung Marines, may Marine detachment na nandoon talaga sa Senado, taga-doon sila,” President Marcos explained.

The President added that other armed individuals seen were part of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, an internal security group.

“Iyong isa pang nakita ninyong grupo nakasibilyan at may hawak na mga mahahaba, mga OSAA ‘yun, ‘yun naman sa Sergeant-at-Arms ng Senado. So lahat ng nakikita ninyong nakauniporme o armado ay taga-doon. Nandoon sila talaga. Doon sila nag-du-duty,” President Marcos added.

The President also said no directive was made to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

“Wala pong instruction kahit na kanino na hulihin si Senator Bato. At ang nangyari ang NBI ay sinabihan ko noong lumabas ‘yung resolution ng Supreme Court, mga alas kwatro ‘yun kaninang hapon, ay sinabi ko, “umalis na kayo diyan.” Nag-comply naman sila,” the President said, noting that NBI personnel had already left the area.

President Bongbong Marcos said he had spoken with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and agreed to call for calm while authorities investigate the incident.

“Nakausap ko na si Senate President Alan Cayetano at nag-agree kami. We agree that the thing to do now is to tell our people all to calm down and we will get to the bottom of this,” the President noted.

President Marcos added that a joint investigation by the Senate and the Philippine National Police would determine whether the incident was an isolated encounter or a deliberate attempt to cause disruption.

“At masasabi ko lang at para hindi po mag-aalala ang taong-bayan, hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Walang pumasok na taga-labas na sundalo, na militar, na NBI sa Senado. Hindi po natin alam kung sino ‘yun na sumubok na pumasok at dahil doon ay nagkaputukan. Aalamin po natin the President said.

Authorities are now gathering evidence related to the incident, the President said, reiterating his appeal for sobriety. “Kalma lang po. Asahan ninyo, ‘yung gobyerno po ninyo hindi gagawin ito,” the President added. | via PND

The local government of Pola committed to complete key infrastructure projects in the municipality before the end of 2028.

In a statement, Mayor Jennifer Mindanao Cruz cited the ongoing development of the covered court at Calima High School and the construction of the footbridge at Calima Talon Falls, describing them as part of her administration’s promises to the people of Pola.

“These projects are among the commitments I made to our constituents. Before my term as mayor ends, I want to make sure that no promise will be left unfulfilled,” Cruz said.

She acknowledged the municipality’s limited budget but cited that her administration found ways to push through with the projects for the benefit of residents.

“Even if our budget is small, we worked hard to find solutions so these projects could be realized,” she added.

Residents welcomed the projects, saying the covered court will provide students and the community with a safer venue for school and public activities, while the footbridge will improve access and safety for visitors and locals near Calima Talon Falls.

The local government unit continues to prioritize infrastructure and community development projects aimed at improving public services and boosting tourism in the town. | via Ace Sapit

More than 600 runners joined the first-ever Coastal Half-Marathon Challenge held on Sunday, May 10, with proceeds set to support the completion of a church in Barangay Balatero, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, and provide educational assistance to Mangyan Iraya students.

Puerto Galera Mayor Robinhood D. Ylagan said the event was organized not only to promote tourism and healthy living, but also to raise funds for community development projects. | via Ace Sapit/PIA

More than providing equipment, Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) helps local farmers manage their livelihoods professionally while securing the country’s food supply.

Municipal agriculturist James Pedraza of Paluan Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) said that the recent distribution of farm tractors is a big step in changing how the town’s farmers work. | via Voltaire Dequina/PIA