Bohol police arrest syndicated estafa suspect
Police in Bohol arrested a man wanted for syndicated estafa inside the Davao City Jail-Male Dormitory in Ma-a, Davao City, on Sept. 1, 2025.
Authorities identified the suspect as Cerrone Posas, 46, unemployed and a resident of Davao City.
The operation was led by Lt. Roldan Glenn Nabehet Loman of the Bohol Provincial Mobile Force Company, under the supervision of Maj. Philip Cabardo Quilala, with the Tracker Team of the Tagbilaran City Police Station headed by Lt. Col. John Kareen Escober. They were assisted by officers from Police Station 10 of the Davao City Police Office.
Posas was arrested on a warrant for syndicated estafa issued by Judge Jorge Cabalit of the Regional Trial Court Branch 48 in Tagbilaran City.
He remains in the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology at the Davao City Jail while awaiting presentation to the court that issued the warrant.
Woman arrested in Pilar, Bohol drug bust; P72,000 worth of shabu seized
Police arrested a woman in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion, Pilar, on Sept. 2, 2025 seizing suspected shabu worth P72,000.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jona Quiao, 47, a widowed and unemployed resident of Purok 4 in the same barangay.
According to Pilar police chief PLT Rogelio A. Baluran, officers confiscated from Quiao a small sachet of suspected shabu as the subject of the sale, two medium-sized sachets of shabu, a P500 marked bill used in the operation, and a black sling bag.
The seized drugs, weighing an estimated 10.04 grams, were valued at about P72,000 under the Dangerous Drugs Board’s standard price.
The evidence was submitted to the Bohol Provincial Forensic Unit for examination and safekeeping. Police said charges for violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article 2 of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against Quiao.
New officers sworn in at Abatan River council
New officers of the Abatan River Development Management Council (ARDMC) formally took their oaths of office on Sept. 2, 2025 in a ceremony led by Provincial Legal Officer Jojo Namocatcat.
The newly inducted officials are Cortes Mayor Rodolfo “Rudy” Uy as chairman, Maribojoc Mayor Jojo Rojas as vice chairman, Balilihan Mayor Trisha Chatto as treasurer, Antequera Vice Mayor Cecille Salomon as assistant treasurer, Maribojoc Vice Mayor Boyet Castilla as secretary, Vice Mayor Niño Lumanas as assistant secretary and Mayor Benjie Oliva as auditor.
The ARDMC, composed of the towns of Cortes, Balilihan, Catigbian, Maribojoc and Antequera, oversees preservation and sustainable development of the Abatan River, which is regarded as a cultural, ecological and economic resource in Bohol.
In his message, Uy expressed gratitude for the trust given to Cortes as the new chairing municipality.
He vowed to push for stronger initiatives to protect and develop the river, which serves as a livelihood source, cultural landmark, tourism destination and biodiversity hub for the province.
Local officials said they hope collaboration among member towns and support from stakeholders will turn the Abatan River into a model for sustainable river management in Bohol.
Bohol Flood Control Projects Under Scrutiny
Bohol is among the provinces entangled in a growing controversy over flood control projects, as contractor Sarah Discaya revealed her nine construction firms secured at least 400 government contracts since 2022, including projects in the province of Bohol, during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025.
Discaya, whose family has been in the construction business for 23 years, admitted to owning nine companies that began securing contracts from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 2012.
When questioned by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada about the nature of these contracts, Discaya said they include flood control projects and nationwide road projects in places such as Romblon, Cebu, Bohol, Bacolod, and Zamboanga.
The controversy stems from a corruption scandal involving flood control projects in the Philippines, where President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. revealed in August 2025 that 15 contractors, including Discaya’s firms, secured P100 billion—20% of the P545-billion national budget allocated for flood control.
One of Discaya’s companies, St. Timothy Construction Corp., was responsible for a Bulacan river project reported as completed despite an unfinished 200-meter revetment. Another firm, St. Gerrard, faced suspension by the DPWH in 2025 and was blacklisted in 2020, further fueling scrutiny over the quality and oversight of these projects.
The Senate hearing is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in flood control project contracts, with lawmakers pressing for reforms to ensure public funds are used effectively, especially in flood-prone areas like Bohol.
Leptospirosis Cases Rise in Central Visayas
Central Visayas reported 188 leptospirosis cases, including 20 deaths, from January to August 2025, a 68 percent increase from the 112 cases recorded in the same period in 2024, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
The DOH attributed the spike to the rainy season, which facilitates the spread of the bacterial disease.
Approximately 77 percent of affected individuals were hospitalized, though the DOH noted that hospital utilization rates remain at normal levels.
Farmers, students, school escorts, and others exposed to floodwaters were among those infected, according to DOH data.
The 20 fatalities in 2025 mark a doubling of the 10 deaths reported in the same period last year.
Cebu City, Cebu Province, Bohol Province, Mandaue City, and Lapu-Lapu City recorded the highest case numbers, though exact figures for each location were not disclosed by the DOH, which directed inquiries to local government units.
The DOH also warned that, in addition to rats, infected dogs and cats can carry the Leptospira bacterium, increasing transmission risks.
Drunk Boholano Rescued After Jumping From Lite Shipping
A 23-year-old Bol-anon from Loon town, Bohol jumped overboard from a passenger ferry Monday while intoxicated, prompting a rapid Coast Guard rescue operation in waters near Cabilao Island.
The Philippine Coast Guard Substation in Loon received a distress call at 5 p.m. via VHF radio from MV Lite Ferry 10 reporting the man-overboard incident that occurred shortly after the vessel’s departure.
Coast Guard personnel responded within 16 minutes, arriving at Barangay Mocpoc where they launched search and rescue operations. The victim, identified only as Emong, was pulled from the water at 5:45 p.m.
Investigators determined the Loon resident was under the influence of alcohol when he jumped from the ferry, according to the Coast Guard spot report.
The rescue operation concluded successfully with no reported injuries to the victim or rescue personnel.
Tagbilaran City to Lead Climate-Smart Urban Development in Philippines
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Germany’s Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a five-year program aimed at fostering sustainable, climate-smart urban development in Philippine cities, with Tagbilaran City among the pilot areas.
The agreement, signed Aug. 29, 2025 in Makati City by DILG Assistant Secretary Jesi Howard Lanete and German Ambassador Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, initiates the Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (Urban-Act) Project.
The project seeks to bolster urban climate resilience nationwide, the DILG announced Tuesday.
Urban-Act aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a sustainable, inclusive Philippines and supports the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Funded by Germany’s International Climate Initiative through its Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the project extends to India, Thailand, China, and Indonesia.
The program will enhance cities’ abilities to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation into urban planning, ensuring local strategies align with national climate policies.
Tagbilaran City, alongside Antipolo City and Bacolod City, will serve as pilot areas for crafting and testing climate-responsive urban development plans.
The DILG will lead project management, ensuring operational and financial accountability while deploying experts and providing support.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the Department of Transportation will contribute to policy updates, technical services, and cross-sectoral collaboration to accelerate urban climate action.
Cebu-Bohol Bridge Project Stalled Due to Lack of Feasibility Study
The proposed Cebu-Bohol Expressway, also known as the SugBohol Bridge, remains far from implementation due to the absence of a feasibility study, Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said.
Aumentado told the Regional Development Council 7 during its reorganization meeting that a comprehensive feasibility study is essential for advancing major infrastructure projects.
“That’s why we say it is still far from reality because there is no clear feasibility study yet. It all begins with the feasibility study,” he said.
The governor noted that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) must lead the study’s funding and oversight.
Without this commitment, the project, first proposed nearly a decade ago under the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build program, will remain stalled.
Aumentado also noted the need for the study to address environmental concerns, particularly the project’s potential impact on the Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef, a protected seascape between Cebu and Bohol.
He suggested that a Public-Private Partnership could accelerate the process by involving private sector funding for the study.
Aboitiz eyes passenger growth at Bohol Panglao International Airport
Aboitiz Infracapital is projecting an uptick in passenger traffic at the Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA) in the coming months as the holiday travel season begins.
The airport operator said it also expects a rebound in arrivals from South Korea, which has seen a noticeable drop in recent months.
“There has been a marked decline in Korean tourists, not only in Bohol but across the country,” said Ricia Montejo of Aboitiz Infracapital. “We hope to see those numbers pick up again as we enter the ‘ber’ months and move toward the summer season.”
Currently, BPIA handles 12 domestic flights and five international flights daily, with no chartered flights from South Korea.
Aboitiz said it is pursuing a P4.3-billion upgrade plan to modernize the airport and enhance the passenger experience.
The improvements include an expanded terminal, upgraded facilities and new aviation systems, with some developments expected to be completed by year’s end.
The company secured a 30-year concession agreement to operate, maintain and develop BPIA in 2024.