Tabuk City, Kalinga – Forty-four iKalingas are now set to practice in the legal profession this year after passing the Bar examinations, considered among the toughest professional licensure exams in the Philippines.   On January 7, the Supreme Court of the Philippines released the names of the new lawyers who passed the 2025 Bar Examination, revealing that 5,594 or 48.98 percent of the 11,420 examinees successfully made the cut.   Among those who passed are iKalinga sons and

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The man who hacked his wife to death on Christmas Day in Kalinga has surrendered to the authorities, Kalinga Police Director, PCol. Gilbert Fati-ig confirmed.   The suspect, whose name was withheld, allegedly attacked his wife in Barangay Agbannawag on the evening of December 25 during an argument that escalated, resulting in the victim’s death. The incident was reportedly witnessed by their child.   Following the incident, the husband became the subject

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Two men detained at the Tabuk City Police Station for illegal drugs and illegal firearms violations escaped from jail early morning of Sunday, January 4, 2026.   The detainees were identified by the Tabuk City police as Andres Benito Jr., 35 and Michael Macagne, 39. They were arrested on December 17, 2025 due to violations of the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and RA No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammu

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Three minors were hurt after firecracker stalls in Bulanao were set on fire on New Year’s Eve, December 31, in Purok 4, Bulanao.   The victims were a 5-year-old, 13-year-old, and 14-year-old residents of Magsaysay.   Initial investigation of the Tabuk City police revealed that it was around 11:55 p.m. when a ‘kwitis’ set off from the other side of the road went straight to one of the firecracker stores in Purok 4, landing on a bundle of ‘kwitis’. This tr

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)–Kalinga reported the full completion of its aquaculture operations for 2025, successfully achieving all major targets in fishing gear distribution, fingerling procurement, trainings, technical assistance, and community-based fisheries projects.   According to the data provided by the bureau, despite the impact of Typhoon Uwan on both agriculture and aquaculture, Kalinga’s fisheries program recorded not

Tabuk City, Kalinga – With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, people in Kalinga are gearing up to welcome 2026 with cheer, positivity, gratitude, and hope. Part of the preparations for the celebration includes buying firecrackers.   As of December 30, more than 20 stalls selling firecrackers have been set up near the Bulanao Public Market in Purok 4, Bulanao, while one stall is located in front of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) office in Dagupan. These are the stalls

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Instead of celebrating Christmas Day, two families in Kalinga were left grieving after their loved ones were hacked and shot to death in separate incidents.   In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Kalinga Police Spokesperson Police Captain Ruff Manganip said that most areas in the province remained peaceful on December 25, except for Tabuk City, the provincial capital, where two crime incidents were recorded.   “All other municipalities were very p

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Tabuk City recorded the highest number of rape cases in Kalinga, accounting for 20 of the 25 total incidents, largely due to its larger population and higher reporting rates, according to data from the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD)–Kalinga.   The data showed that most victims are minors, with 14 cases recorded in Tabuk alone, underscoring that children remain the primary targets of sexual predators. The city also logged the youngest victim, a

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Amid claims that the Kalinga tribe is protecting former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gerald Bantag, the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO) clarified that Bantag does not belong to the Kalinga tribe, as he is of mixed Ifugao and Benguet heritage.   Bantag was declared a fugitive in 2023 after being indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the killing of radio broadcaster Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in 2022 and the alleged middleman C

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Rape incidents in Kalinga dropped by 16.6 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, based on data provided by the province’s Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD).   The data showed that in 2025, WCPD-Kalinga recorded 25 reported cases, lower than the 30 cases logged from January to December 2024. Of the cases recorded in 2025, nine have been filed in court, five were dismissed due to lack of interest on the part of the complainant or lack of pr

What started as an “average” student who rarely shared her thoughts during classroom discussions earned the third highest rating in the recently conducted X-Ray Technologist Licensure Examination.   Mikee Diaz Banag, 24, hailing from Sumadel 2, Tinglayan, Kalinga, and a graduate of the International School of Asia and the Pacific–Tabuk, was named Top 3 in the December 2025 X-Ray Technologist Licensure Examination.   In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Mikee admitted t

Tabuk City, Kalinga  – To ensure a safe and joyful Christmas celebration, the Kalinga Provincial Health Office (PHO), headed by Dr. Edward Tandingan, has urged the public to practice discipline, moderation, and safety, warning that failure to heed health reminders may result in unnecessary accidents and medical emergencies during the Yuletide season. As part of the health sector’s continuing efforts to protect the well-being of iKalingas amid increased festivities, travel, an

Tabuk City, Kalinga – A 37-year-old man from Rizal, Kalinga lost a finger to a firecracker on Monday afternoon, marking the first recorded firecracker-related injury in Kalinga this Yuletide season.   The Rizal Municipal Police Station said the victim, a resident of Barangay Macutay, was injured after picking up a pla-pla that initially failed to explode. The firecracker suddenly detonated in his hand, severing one of his fingers and injuring other parts of his body.   Pla-pl

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Three sons of Kalinga did not only endure the rigorous training and education at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); they also rose above every challenge at the Regional Training Center in Aurora Province and graduated among the top of their class on December 9, 2025.   The three belong to PCG Class 113 “NASIGLAT-SALAKNIB”: ASN Richmond E. Fernando, who finished Top 4; ASN James Vandame M. Daus, Top 5; and ASN Melvin Neil B. Banggolay, Top 9. All three are

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH) is conducting gift-giving activities this December and has already accumulated more than ₱60,000 worth of donations from generous iKalingas in support of the initiative. This reflects strong community solidarity and a shared commitment to bringing joy and assistance to patients, especially during the Christmas season.   This was evident in a series of posts by KPH Chief of Hospital Dr. Reynaldo A. Aranca on his personal