The Bicol Tribune

03/01/2026

4 FAMILIES IN GUINOBATAN EVACUATED AS PNP BICOL PLACED ON HEIGHTENED ALERT DUE TO MAYON VOLCANO

GUINOBATAN, ALBAY – Several residents living at the foot of Mayon Volcano have begun evacuating as a precautionary measure amid the volcano's continued unrest.

According to reports, four (4) families, consisting of 16 individuals from Barangay Muladbucad, Guinobatan, voluntarily fled their homes yesterday. These families are currently staying with relatives in safer areas after expressing concern over the volcano's current activity.

Strict PNP Monitoring

Following the elevation to Alert Level 2 (Moderate Level of Unrest) on January 1, 2026, Albay Police Provincial Office (PPO) Director, Police Colonel Noel Nuñez, has ordered intensified monitoring of the areas surrounding the volcano.

Albay PNP personnel have been deployed to ensure the following:

No Entry Policy: Strict enforcement of the ban on entering the 6-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ).

Public Safety: Maintaining peace and order in potentially affected areas and providing assistance to residents who choose to evacuate.

24/7 Monitoring: Close coordination with PHIVOLCS and local DRRMCs for rapid response should Mayon's activity escalate.

Public Advisory

The Provincial Government advises all residents near Mayon, especially those within the danger zone, to remain vigilant and comply with directives from local authorities.

At present, threats of sudden phreatic eruptions, rockfalls, and lava flows persist. Possible lahar flows are also expected in rivers near the volcano due to recent rainfall in the province.

Photos by: PNP Kasurog Bicol / PLTCOL Malu Calubaquib

02/01/2026

Woman’s Body Found Inside Plastic Cooler Discarded in Basud River

BASUD, CAMARINES NORTE — A chilling discovery shocked residents of Barangay Pinagwarasan early Friday morning, January 2, 2026, after the body of an unidentified woman was found stuffed inside a plastic cooler floating in the river.
The Basud Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), has launched a full investigation into what appears to be a brutal dumping incident near the Pinagwarasan Bridge.

The Discovery

According to local residents, the incident likely occurred under the cover of darkness. Witnesses reported hearing a tricycle speeding through the area around 4:00 AM.
Observers noted that the vehicle sounded as if it were "pulling something heavy." The tricycle reportedly stopped momentarily on the bridge before residents heard the distinct sound of a large, heavy object being thrown into the water.
At daybreak, locals spotted a plastic cooler bobbing in the river. Initially dismissing it as floating garbage, they were horrified to discover a human co**se inside upon closer inspection. They immediately alerted the authorities.
Victim Description
Police have yet to identify the victim, but initial assessments provide the following profile:

Gender: Female
Age: Estimated between 30 to 40 years old
Height: Approximately 4’8” to 5’0” tall

The remains have been transported to a local funeral parlor in Basud to undergo a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Police Appeal

Authorities are currently reviewing nearby CCTV footages and gathering further witness statements to track the tricycle involved.
The Basud PNP is urging the public—especially those with missing female relatives matching the description—to come forward and coordinate with the station. Anyone with information regarding the suspicious tricycle seen in the early hours of January 2 is encouraged to contact the Basud MPS immediately to assist in the swift resolution of the case.

Photos by Ruel Santelices

10/06/2025

10/06/2025

SENADO, NAG-CONVENE NA BILANG IMPEACHMENT COURT PARA SA IMPEACHMENT TRIAL NI VP SARA DUTERTE

Nagtipon o nag-convene bilang impeachment court an mga senador sa trial ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte.

An mga senador nagsumpa pasado alas 6 nin banggi.

Primero kaini nagsumpa bilang presiding officer kan impeachment court kan lunes.

Sa ibong na lado dai nagsulot nin robe an mga senador na sinda Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, asin Cynthia Villar alagad sinda nagsumpa bilang mga senator-judges.

Mtatandaan na ipinagbusol ni Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa na obhetong ibasura an verified impeachment complaint laban kay Sara Duterte.

19/02/2023

BREAKING: The Cessna plane missing yesterday was found today at about 6,500 feet above and approximately 350 meters away from Mayon Volcano's crater.

Photos by Jesar Adornado of OCD 5

06/01/2023

ALBAY POWER BACK ON TRACK

After a shaky transition from the Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC), the erstwhile management concessionaire of Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO), the province’s power is back on track. This was made possible through the efforts of the National Electrification Administration, ALECO, the Local Chief Executive of the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA) and San Miguel Energy Corporation (SMEC).

In a press conference held today at the Governor’s Guest House, Governor Edcel “Grex” Lagman revealed that Albay’s continuous supply of power is assured in the next twelve (12) months because of the efforts of the abovementioned agencies through an Emergency Power Supply Agreement (EPSA).

ALECO Acting General Manager, Engr. Wilfredo Bucsit assured Albayanos of the viability of ALECO’s operations in the coming months. Bucsit confirmed that the guaranteed and continuous supply of electricity has buoyed up the spirit of Albayano consumers. Starting 3 January 2023, there was a welcome spike in the number of consumers who have recently started diligently paying their current electric bills to ALECO.

Bucsit who admitted that ALECO is an ailing cooperative with “stage three cancer” could still recover and be a viable electric cooperative again. Governor Lagman also said that the PGA has already readied disbursement vouchers for the payment of its. 1.7 million electric arrearages. He wants the PGA to take the lead in paying ALECO SO that the other 18 LGUs to follow suit. He expects the PGA to pay said arrears within next week.

Governor Lagman also disclosed that 68M local funds are available to purchase at least two (2) electric substations that will reduce the transmission losses of ALECO. Once said losses are lowered, the electricity rates will also go lower as this is passed on to consumers.

To recall, ALECO had a concession agreement with APEC. But the same was terminated when former Governor Rosal actively initiated the convening of a Special Annual General Membership Assembly on 3 September 2022. This paved the way for the ALECO to fully manage and operate the purchase and distribution of electricity to the whole province starting 25 December 2022.

However, there was no power supplier willing to help ALECO. Hence, no power supply agreement was in the offing as there were zero takers.

Left without a power supplier, Rosal still continued to raise the hopes of Albayanos in October assuring them not to worry as NEA was willing to shell out two hundred (200) million pesos to pay the debts of ALECO and claimed that the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and/or Aboitiz will supply electricity to ALECO. He even went as far as announcing that the PGA will bail out ALECO to the tune of 200 million pesos using local public funds.

Faced with the looming energy crisis owing to its indebtedness to WESM and IEMOP as well as the absence of any power supply agreement, ALECO issued a statement that it sees massive power outages starting 25 December 2022, Christmas Day, when it fully takes control.

In the presscon, Engr. Bucsit debunked Rosal’s claim that NEA will bail out ALECO in the amount of P200Million. He also said that NEA can only loan a maximum id P50 Million to ALECO but it was not legally allowed to subsidize it. GM Romeo Acuesta also said that Rosal’s claim the PGA can use its funds to bail out ALECO in the amount of 200 million pesos is legally untenable because LGUs cannot use public funds to subsidize or loan to an electric cooperative.

Thie foregoing prompted Governor Lagman to support the backdoor negotiations of NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda with San Miguel’s Ramon S. Ang. The latter acceded to Mr. Almeda’s appeals for him to help start the process of securing an EPSA between SMEC and ALECO.

Despite of being hurt from what the Albayanos did with APEC, Ramon Ang agreed to shell out P500M to pay ALECO’s supplier and has granted an Emergency Power Supply Agreement to ALECO in the next twelve (12) months.

Governor Lagman ended the presscon by committing to the management team headed by Bucsit full support to ALECO’s clearing operations starting on January 18 until January 31 by providing at least three (3) dump trucks for said effort. Lagman also promised the support of the PNP and the Army in ALECO’s campaign to eradicate illegal connections and electricity pilferage.

26/12/2022

IN PHOTOS: An SUV and a UV Express involved in a road mishap at Barangay Morera, Guinobatan, Albay on Monday afternoon.

It results to a heavy flow of traffic and incured undetermined cost of damages.

Photo Credit to the Owner

18/11/2022

NEWS UDPATE: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) stays firm in its decision to disqualify Albay Governor Noel E. Rosal from the 2022 provincial race he earlier won for violating the election code provision on the ban on public spending.

The Comelec en banc said that it found no clear reason to accept the motion for reconsideration filed by Governor Rosal on September 20 to reverse the findings of the Comelec First Division.

After 5 days without temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court, the disqualification of Rosal will be executed immediately

13/11/2022

NEWS UPDATE: A fire broke out in the Municipal Hall of Sto. Domingo, Albay about 4 o'clock in the afternoon sunday.

According to Municipal Mayor Jun Aguas, it was declared fired out on or about 8 o'clock in the evening.

Meanwhile, Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Cong. Zaldy Co confirms to Albay 2nd District Congressman Joey Salceda that he will help in the renovations of the facilities that had damaged caused by the fire.

Photos by Aksyon Agad/Paula Gomez