The family of the late Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Representative Crispin Beltran is demanding a public apology from Legazpi Bishop Lucilo Quiambao, after he reportedly issued orders not to say mass for the late labor leader in his hometown in Bacacay, Albay over the weekend.Quiambao acknowledged ordering priests in his diocese not to say mass for Beltran because “he was not Catholic.”But Balleta said Quiambao was wrong about her father. “He was baptized a Catholic in his hometown in Bacacay, Albay, he was baptized there and he even had his first communion there. In fact, all his public records state that he is Roman Catholic,” she said.Balleta explained that the reason they chose to hold her father’s wake at the national cathedral of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI, Philippine Independent Church) was because it was “the first to open its doors to Ka Bel. Plus, Ka Bel is non-sectarian in that he respects other religions.”She added that the IFI also has a militant history. She explained that a wake for Ka Bel was held in the Aglipayan national cathedral on Taft Avenue in Manila because one of its founders, Isabelo delos Reyes, was a great labor leader. Balleta also added that although the Bishop had apologized to their family, it had felt insincere.

Another bicolano has added pride to the Region after graduating at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. John Berjuega from the province of Catanduanes  was one of the 1,037 cadets who had graduated in the prestigious Academy in Annapolis. Aside from Berjuega, Carl Catalan, another Filipino from Dumaguete also graduated in the academy together with 14 cadets from 10 different nations. The Philippine government had funded the 4 years studies of Berjuega and Catalan who would be serving a minimum of 8 years in the Philippine Navy.

BACACAY, Albay, Philippines – Bishop Lucilo Quimbao of the Diocese of Legazpi confirmed Saturday that Roman Catholic priests in Albay had been ordered not to say Mass for Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, whose remains were flown to his home province of Albay yesterday morning.In a mobile phone interview Saturday afternoon, Quiambao said Catholic priests could not say Mass for Ka Bel because "he was not Catholic."He added that the Catholic Church had nothing to do with funeral services of those from other religions.Quiambao said what was only allowed of priests was to hold an ecumenical service or a prayer for the dead but not to say Mass.Olive Beltran-Lalusis, 45, Ka Bel's fourth daughter, said the family expected that Ka Bel's remains would be blessed in a cathedral in Legazpi City.But due to radio reports that diocesan priests were ordered refuse to say Mass for Ka Bel, his remains were were instead taken to the Redemptorist church, a small congregation in Gogon Legazpi City where a Mass was held.

LEGAZPI CITY- Another Bicolano was tagged as one of the current 100 most influential Filipinos. According to the result of the survey conducted by BizNews Asia, Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda placed 23rd among the list of influential Filipinos of the present time. Leading the said list which also included famous businessmen, actors and politicians, is President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Only one of the 16 Regional Offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways was able to complete their task of completing the construction of school buildings identified for the year 2007. Engineer 4 Ric Mobo, a staff of DPWH Undersecretary Bashir Rasu-man, chairman of the agency's task force for School Buildings, said that as of April 30, only Eng. Orlando Roces, regional Director of DPWH in the Bicol Region was able to submit a 100 percent completion report to their office. Records culled from the DPWH showed that as of April 30, three of their regional offices were still below 50 percent completion, name­ly the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), 24.41 percent; Western Visayas, 33.58 percent; and Central Mindanao with 44.80 percent.

Pope Benedict XVI yesterday announced the appointment of Auxiliary Bishop Jose Rojas of Caceres in Naga City as the new bishop of the Prelate of Libmanan in Camarines Sur.The CBCPNews said that the 52-year-old Auxiliary Bishop Rojas would replace the 71-year-old Bishop Prospero Arellano who reportedly resigned because of illness. The Pope accepted his resignation. Arellano has been the head of the Prelature of Libmanan since 1989.

DARAGA, Albay -- Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas waylaid on Tuesday morning soldiers transporting the body of a comrade slain in an earlier ambush in Catanduanes back to his family in Bulan, Sorsogon. 901st Infantry Brigade commander, Colonel Ariel Bernardo said in an interview that the rebel group have blocked the Bulan-Matnog road using logs while another group have blocked the road in Irosin Sorsogon to ambush the unsuspecting group of soldiers who were taking the body of Private First Class Gilbert Sembrano home.No casualties were reported except for a soldier who suffered gashes on his face, though not from the gunfire, Bernardo said.The road was made passable early this afternoon after the clearing operations by the deployed Army scout rangers who had used chainsaws to clear the logs. Sembrano was killed on Sunday when communist guerillas attacked troops on a dental and medical mission in Pandan, Catanduanes.

LIGAO CITY--  Cedric Daep of Provincial Disaster Management Office Albay have  disclosed that they are closely monitoring an upland area in Ligao City due to the possibility of landslide. According to the latest monitoring by the PDMO due to the continuous rain in the province, a crack in the upland area of Ligao have been noted that may eventually collapse and cause landslide in the city. Daep also said that they have already advised the Local Disaster Coordinating Council of Ligao City of the pending disaster which had resulted to the immediate evacuation of the families residing at the said place. Daep also assured the public that their office have already prepared some contingency measures for immediate action and assistance to the public in case a landslide or flashflood occurs.

LEGAZPI CITY-- Albayano's are presently working hard to reach its goal of  food sufficiency by next month. Coun. Mon Alsua, Committee on Agriculture Chairman disclosed that they are encouraging  farmers to use high yield certified seeds to ensure the increase the rice production in the province. The official also said that they see no need to import rice from outside the province. Alsua said that only the unpredicatble weather condition in the province is the only hindrance to reach the said goal.

LEGAZPI CITY-- The number of suspended NFA Retail Outlets in the Bicol Region have climbed to 184 from the 172 retail outlets that was earlier reported. National Food Authority Regional Director Edgar Bentolan disclosed that of the said number, 46 have already been penalized by the cancellation of their accreditation. Bentolan explained that this is the result of their heightened campaign against oppurtunistic NFA retail outlets. Aside from this, the said official also revealed that 3 NFA employees in the region now faces charges at the DOJ and Office of the Ombudsman.