Flash Newspaper

09/08/2025

09/08/2025

FILMINERA EYES MINING EXPANSION ON MT. PAJO IN AROROY, MASBATE

Filminera Resources Corporation (FRC) is seeking approval from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Masbate to expand mining operations to Mt. Pajo, covering three barangays in Aroroy.

During the August 6 hearing, provincial board members stressed the need for proof of public consultation before granting the request.

Board Member Ansbert Son said the council will follow national laws on mining permits. FRC’s lawyer confirmed that only a household survey has been conducted so far, backed by the barangay chiefs of Ambolong and Talabaan.

Liga President Eric Castillo questioned whether FRC has a Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan (FMRDP), concrete drainage system plan and an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Filminera officials claimed that documents are ready and will be submitted to the council.

29/07/2025

(Masbate holds successful PCL Election)
NEW PRESIDENT VOWS UNITY AND PURPOSEFUL LEADERSHIP

MASBATE — The recent election of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Masbate Chapter concluded successfully, with the newly elected president, the lady legislator of the Municipality of Batuan, Lalaine Yuson expressing gratitude and a strong commitment to service and good governance.

“Foremost, I thank our Lord for the success of this election,” the newly elected PCL president said in a statement following the results. “To my fellow councilors, thank you for the trust and confidence in choosing me to lead. I am deeply honored by your support.”

The president also extended appreciation to the province’s key leaders: Governor Richard Kho, Congressman Antonio Kho, and Congresswoman Olga Kho. “Your support and trust mean a great deal. Rest assured, this will be a shared commitment to good governance and meaningful service to our province.”

The new set of officers pledged to carry out their roles with integrity, unity, and collaboration.

The president emphasized a leadership guided by purpose and a shared vision aligned with the direction of the provincial government.

“As your president, I will ensure that we work together with mutual respect and unity, moving forward for the betterment of our communities. Together, we will pursue meaningful legislation and take action with honor” the president added.

The message concluded with a congratulatory note not only for the elected officers but for all councilors in the province.

“This is our collective success. Let’s serve with commitment, unity and integrity.”

Hereunder are the newly elected Set of Officers of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Masbate Chapter:

YUSON, LALAINE A.
President

RANA, JONALYN R.
Vice President
CONAG, CICERO S.
Secretary General

PILLEJERA, ALONA V
Treasurer

DIAMOS, RAYMOND IVAN
Auditor
PONFERADA, FELIX
Public Relations Officer
BUSTAMANTE, ELY
Business Manager

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. VALENZUELA HERNANDO
2. METEORO NORMAN
3. ABELLA RODOLFO
4. MADRILEJOS JEMMERY
5. DUMORAN GRACE
6. ANDUEZA MARK
7. ABAYON ALBERT
8. BALA JARVEY JASPER

Via RUBEN FUENTES/Quad Media News team

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Altarejos/Eller Narciso

19/07/2025

PROVINCIAL BOARD URGED TO BACK TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP AND ENERGY REFORMS OF GOVERNOR KHO

MASBATE-Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Masbate were called to align with and support the vision of Governor Richard Kho to transform the province into one of the Philippines’ top 10 economic hubs, during a privilege speech delivered at the session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently.

3rd District Board Member Ansbert ‘Bo’ Son shared highlights from the recent Transformative Leadership for Effective Governance course held from July 9 to 11, which was attended by key Masbate officials including Governor Richard Kho, Board Members Vince Revil, Teddy Danao, Jr., Nilda Tinegra and Eric Castillo.

The training spearheaded by the Local Government Academy and the EIG aimed to bolster leadership capacity for local officials.

Governor Kho selected by facilitators to present during the course, laid out his strategic roadmap for Masbate with a strong focus on bureaucratic efficiency, infrastructure development, reliable utilities and energy security.

The governor emphasized that achieving these goals would drive job creation, attract investment and elevate the province into a competitive economic zone.

During the session, Board Member Son reiterated Governor Kho’s five pillars of governance: Kuryente (electricity), Kalusugan (health), Kabuhayan (livelihood), Kaalaman (education) and Kapayapaan (peace and order).

He also disclosed that on July 9, a high-level meeting with DMCI, the province’s current power supplier was conducted to tackle Masbates’ long-standing electricity issues.

Among the proposals discussed was the opening of the province’s electricity distribution system to private sector investment as DMCI revealed several power companies are interested in entering the Masbate market.

However, the local cooperative Masbate Electric Cooperative (MASELCO) currently faces over ₱300 million in debt, posing a challenge to energy reform.

"The Governor is open to pursuing solutions that will finally resolve our power problems. But the success of these reforms will depend on the unity and oversight of this provincial board" the board member stated.

He further emphasized the legislative and oversight roles of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in complementing the administration's thrust.

This includes proactive visits to project sites and raising concerns over implementation gaps or community feedback.

“Masbate is already experiencing significant growth” the board member concluded.

“We must sustain this momentum through good governance—anchored in transparency, accountability and inclusive progress.”

Via RUBEN FUENTES/Quad Media News Team

Video courtesy: A. Son FB page

19/07/2025

MAYOR MARITES DELA ROSA REPRESENTS BALENO AT PMNP MAYORS’ FORUM

Manila, Philippines – Lady Mayor Marites Dela Rosa of Baleno, Masbate, proudly represented the municipality at the Philippine Multi-sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) Mayors’ Forum held recently in Manila, reaffirming Baleno’s commitment to health and nutrition as pillars of good governance.

Despite her demanding schedule, Mayor Dela Rosa was accompanied by two of Baleno’s dedicated public servants: Municipal Information Officer Pilar Ovilla Valdemoro and Municipal Health Officer Dr. Maria Eliza Ramirez.

The forum gathered local chief executives from across the country to exchange insights and best practices in implementing effective nutrition and health programs at the local level.

The Lady Mayor shared Baleno LGU’s accomplishments and ongoing challenges in advancing health services, particularly for children.

“It felt like I was back in college,” she quipped, recalling the moment she was asked to present in front of her fellow mayors. “But I was deeply honored to represent our people and reaffirm our commitment to the country’s nutrition program.”

Quoting the mayor during the forum:

“Balenian children deserve nothing but the best—especially in health services. If we want to raise strong, resilient, and capable citizens, we must begin with proper health and nutrition from early childhood.”

She emphasized that health has always been a top priority under her administration’s Serbisyong Totoo program, and she assured that this advocacy will continue for the next three years and beyond.

“There may be challenges,” she said, “but as we’ve proven time and again, with collaboration and consistency, we can deliver results.”

The Lady Mayor also thanked her team for their support and dedication. “Thank you, PIO Pilar and MHO Dr. Ramirez, for the responsive assistance. This is teamwork in action. Truly, good health is wealth.”

The forum served as a vital venue for learning, inspiration, and renewed commitment to grassroots governance for better health outcomes.

Via RUBEN FUENTES/Quad Media News Team

Photo of Siklab Onelab

09/07/2025

(Patient Transport Vehicles ipinamahagi ng PCSO at ni PBBM)
BAYAN NG BALENO SA MASBATE, BENEPISYARYO

ISA ang lalawigan ng Masbate na nabiyayaan ng Patient Transport Vehicle na ipinamahagi mismo ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) sa pangunguna ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. na ginanap sa Quirino Grandstand ngayong araw, Hulyo 9.

Labing-apat na bayan sa Masbate ang nabigyan ng nasabing sasakyan na magagamit sa paghahatid ng mga pasyente tuwing emergency.

Ang mga bayan na nakatanggap nito ay ang Baleno, Aroroy, Esperanza, Cawayan, Placer, Uson, Dimasalang, Milagros, Claveria, San Fernando, San Pascual, Mobo, Pio V. Corpus at Mandaon.

Dumalo sa turn-over ceremony ang mga Municipal Mayor sa nasabing mga munisipalidad na kinabibilangan nina Mayor Marites Dela Rosa, Arvin Virtucio, Edgar Condor, JJ Talisic, Saki Lazaro, Natividad Isabel Magbalon, Michael Demph Naga, Eusebio Dumoran, Felipe Sanchez, Karen Ballesteros, Kristin Hao- Kho, Raymund Salvacion, Mark Antonio at Marvi Espinosa-Bravo.

Samantala, Dahil sa mahusay at maayos na pamamahala sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni re-elected Municipal Mayor Marites C. Dela Rosa, ang Bayan ng Baleno sa Masbate ay isa sa mga benepisyaryo ng isang (1) brand new Patient Transport Vehicle (PTV) mula sa Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) sa ilalim ng PCSO Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP) nito.

Via RUBEN FUENTES/QUAD MEDIA news team

09/07/2025

(Hamon ni Vice Mayor Charmax Yuson)
‘GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT’ DAPAT TUPARIN NI BATUAN, MASBATE MAYOR MARCO CAM

Sa kabila na dating magkalaban ang angkan sa pulitika sa bayan ng Batuan sa Masbate ay pinag-isa ni dating gobernador at ngayon ay 1st District Congressman Antonio Kho sina newly elected Mayor Marco Cam at Vice Mayor Charmax Jan Yuson sa bisa ng gentleman’s agreement noong nakaraang taon.

Ito ngayon ang pinaninindigan at panawagan ni Yuson kay Cam sa katatapos lang na pagdeliber ng kanyang inaugural speech kaugnay ng kanilang kauna-unahang sesyon nitong Hulyo 7 sa nasabing bayan.

Sumentro ang usapan sa ‘word of honor’ ng bawat isa sa kanila, ayon kay Yuson na kilalang tapat sa usapan pagdating sa pulitika.

Ang nasabing kasunduan ay pinagtibay ng dalawang kampo sa harap ng mag-amang Kho, mga Barangay officials at supporters ng mga ito.

Aniya pa, handa siyang makipagtulungan sa alkalde ng may integridad at respeto bilang mga halal na opisyal ng bayan.

Samantala, hindi naman sumipot sa inaugural session ng mga Sangguniang Bayan si Mayor Cam sa kabila ng paanyaya ni Yuson dito.

At habang isinusulat ang balitang ito ay hinihintay pa ang kasagutan ng alkalde tungkol sa kaniyang hindi pagdalo.

via RUBEN FUENTES/QUAD Media news team

03/07/2025

(Matapos makulong dahil sa illegal recruitment sa pabrika ng pekeng sigarilyo)
KASO NG 47 MASBATE WORKERS SA PANGASINAN DINISMIS NG KORTE

Dahil sa mahusay na depensa at matiyagang pagdalo sa hearing ng mga akusado ng magaling na abogadong si Atty. Renfred Tan ng Tan Briones & Associates ay dinismis ng Pangasinan Regional Trial Court (RTC) ang halos dalawang taon ng paglilitis sa mga Masbatenyong naging biktima ng human trafficking sa bayan ng Rosales.

Ayon kay Atty. Tan, ang mga biktima ay nakulong ng halos dalawang taon na anila’y wala namang kasalanan.

Ang nararapat anilang habulin ay ang mga chinese national tulad ng isang nagngangalang ‘Wu Niko’ na siyang nag-recruit sa kanila bilang mga workers sa isang tagong pabrika ng sigarilyo kung saan ito ay sinalakay ng BIR at CIDG noong Nobyembre 2023 na nagresulta sa kanilang pagkakaaresto.

Dahil dito, kaagad nagpadala ng mga abogadong tumulong sa kanila si noo’y Governor at ngayon ay Masbate 1st District Rep. Antonio Kho para magsilbing lead council ng mga ito.

Sa isang 24-pahinang resolusyong may petsang Hunyo 25, 2025, pinayagan ng hukom ang Demurrer to Evidence na inihain ng depensa at iniutos ang agarang pagpapalaya sa lahat ng 102 bilanggo mula sa lokal na kulungan.

“Tagumpay ng hustisya — hindi lang para sa aming 47 Masbateñong kliyente kundi para sa lahat ng 102 Pilipinong nalinlang ng mga Chinese recruiter na nag-alok ng lehitimong trabaho pero nauwi sa pagkakulong dahil sa nanduroon sila “sa maling lugar sa maling panahon,” pahayag ni Atty. Renfred Tan, lead counsel ng TBA.

Ayon kay Atty. Tan, ang 102 biktima ay nagmula pa sa mga lalawigan ng Masbate (47), Negros (28) at Bulacan (27).

Aniya, inalok ang mga ito ng trabaho sa pabrika na may maayos na sahod ngunit nang makarating sa Rosales, Pangasinan ay lumalabas na pugad pala ang lugar ng ilegal na pabrika ng sigarilyo na gumagamit ng pekeng BIR stamps.

Nang salakayin ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng BIR at Criminal Investigation and Detection Group ang lugar sa Brgy. Carmay noong Nobyembre 28, 2023, inaresto ang mga Chinese employer pati na ang 102 Pinoy na manggagawa.

Ayon sa rekord ng korte, tinukoy si Wu Niko, isang Chinese national, bilang pangunahing akusado kasama ang 27 pang kasamahan nito, habang sinangkot din ang 102 Pilipino sa kasong may kinalaman sa ilegal na pag-iingat ng mga pekeng BIR stamps at kagamitan sa paggawa ng pekeng sigarilyo.

Habang 64 sa mga akusado ay pansamantalang nakalaya sa pamamagitan ng piyansa, 38 naman ang nanatili sa kulungan ng BJMP hanggang sa inilabas ni Judge Andrada-Borja ang desisyon ng pagpapawalang-sala sa lahat ng kaso.

Napag-alaman rin sa dokumento ng korte na ang mga akusadong Chinese, kabilang si Wu Niko, ay nakapag-piyansa sa ibang sangay ng RTC ngunit hindi sumipot sa itinakdang arraignment noong Enero 8, 2024 sa sala ni Judge Andrada-Borja at hanggang ngayon ay nananatili silang mga pugante.

Binigyang-diin ng TBA ang naging pahayag ng isang testigo mula sa panig ng prosekusyon na inamin sa cross-examination na ang pagsasama sa 102 Pilipino sa kaso ay “batay lamang sa hinala” dahil naroroon sila sa lugar nang maganap ang raid.

Sa kanyang desisyon, pinuna ni Judge Andrada-Borja ang kabiguang maipakita ng prosekusyon na may bisa ang isinagawang search and seizure ng BIR at CIDG o kung ito ba ay pasok sa alinmang exception sa batas.

Ipinaliwanag din ng hukom na kahit may kapangyarihan ang BIR na magsagawa ng paghuli, ito ay kailangang alinsunod sa karapatang nakasaad sa Seksyon 2, Artikulo III ng 1987 Konstitusyon laban sa unreasonable search and seizure.

Dagdag pa rito, binanggit ng hukom ang hindi pagsunod ng mga operatiba sa chain of custody rule na nagdulot sa kawalang bisa ng mga nakumpiskang ebidensya.

“Ang prosekusyon ang may pananagutan na patunayan ang pagkakasala ng mga akusado nang walang pagdududa. Dapat itong umasa sa lakas ng sarili nitong ebidensya at hindi sa kahinaan ng depensa,” nakasaad sa panghuling punto ng resolusyon ni Judge Andrada-Borja.

Via RUBEN FUENTES

02/07/2025

TINGNAN: 'ANG PANUNUMPA 2025'

Nanumpa na si Batuan, Masbate Vice Mayor Charmax Jan A. Yuson sa harap ng mga supporters, Barangay officials at mga kawani sa kanilang lokalidad nitong Hunyo 30, 2025.

via RUBEN FUENTES/Quad Media news team