Abbey M.

Sarangani has been placed under a state of calamity following the severe damage the province sustained from Monday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

The declaration of a state of calamity in SOCCSKSARGEN was made in accordance with the recommendation of provincial and local government units to allow for the immediate release of funds to assist those affected by the earthquake, as well as for the repair of public facilities and roads.

Access to the town of Glan in Sarangani remains difficult at this time, making the delivery of food, water, and other forms of assistance to residents in the area an ongoing challenge.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck at 7:37 AM on June 8, 2026, with its epicenter located 32 kilometers west of Maasim, Sarangani, at an estimated depth of 33 kilometers. PHIVOLCS issued a tsunami warning for the coasts of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato. 

As of June 10, the death toll had risen to 47, with at least 688 individuals injured and 31 reported missing, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

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Residents of Glan, Sarangani, among the hardest hit areas by Monday's powerful earthquake — are already running low on food supplies.

Delivery of large volumes of relief goods to the area has been hampered by damaged roads and bridges.

The local government is now calling on the national government to urgently send food, drinking water, and milk for children.

Vice Mayor Victor James Yap Jr. of Glan, Sarangani appealed directly for assistance, saying the municipality needs immediate help.

"Sana masilip ninyo kami sa Glan — kami na ang nasa dulo-dulo ng mapa ng Pilipinas. Municipality ng Glan, Sarangani, nasalanta kami ng napakalakas na lindol. So kailangan namin ng tulong. Ang munisipyo namin, wala na — sira na yung mga tao namin. Marami pa masyado na kailangan ng tulong. Ngayon nga, marami pa na hindi masyado nakuha na natabunan ng landslide. So marami pa, sir."

["We hope you can check on us here in Glan — we are at the very end of the map of the Philippines. The Municipality of Glan, Sarangani was devastated by a very powerful earthquake. We need help. Our municipality is in bad shape — our people are in ruins. So many still need help. Right now, there are still many who have not been properly reached — those buried by landslides. So there are still many, sir."]

Yap also flagged the critical shortage of basic necessities in the area.

"Kasi problema pagkain, tubig, mga gatas ng mga bata. 'Yung mga nasa barangay, paubos na rin ang stocks dito sa mga palengke natin dahil sa sobrang dami ng namimili."

["The problem is food, water, and milk for children. Those in the barangays — stocks in our markets are also running out because so many people are buying."]

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Former Police Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Dumlao was arrested by operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Quezon City on the morning of June 9, 2026.

According to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, authorities conducted a three-week surveillance operation before tracking Dumlao to a house in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City. The warrant of arrest was served at around 5:00 AM.

In a press conference, Secretary Remulla announced the arrest and said it marked only the beginning of efforts to locate other high-profile fugitives.

"Today, June 9, 2026, at around 5:00 AM, operatives of the PNP successfully arrested Police Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Dumlao. He was arrested in a house in Pasong Tamo, Quezon City pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued by the court," Remulla said.

[Ngayon, June 9, 2026, bandang alas singko ng umaga, matagumpay na inaresto ng mga operatibo ng PNP si Police Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Dumlao. Inaresto siya sa isang bahay sa Pasong Tamo, Quezon City alinsunod sa warrant of arrest na inilabas ng hukuman.]

The secretary also emphasized the government's resolve to uphold the rule of law.

"This morning's operation is a clear demonstration of the government's commitment to enforce the law and court decisions. The PNP acted in accordance with its mandate and sends a strong message that nobody is above the law, regardless of rank, position, or former authority," Remulla added.

[Ang operasyon ngayong umaga ay malinaw na pagpapakita ng pangako ng pamahalaan na ipatupad ang batas at mga desisyon ng hukuman. Kumilos ang PNP alinsunod sa kanyang mandato at nagpapadala ng malakas na mensahe na walang sinuman ang nasa itaas ng batas, anuman ang kanyang ranggo, posisyon, o dating awtoridad.]

Dumlao's group was implicated in the kidnapping and killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo in September 2016. Jee was abducted in Angeles, Pampanga, and was later found dead inside a vehicle at Camp Crame in October of the same year. Authorities said he was strangled inside the camp while his captors were negotiating a ransom with his family.

The victim's family was only able to pay P5 million of the ransom demand. The remaining P3 million was not paid after the suspects could no longer present proof of life. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) later discovered that Jee's body had been cremated and his ashes flushed down a toilet at a funeral parlor in Caloocan.

Dumlao's group faced charges of kidnapping with homicide, serious illegal detention, and carnapping. The Pampanga Regional Trial Court acquitted them in 2019, but the Supreme Court reversed the ruling in 2024, prompting Dumlao to go into hiding.

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A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province on Monday morning, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to issue a tsunami warning for nine coastal provinces in Mindanao.

Phivolcs recorded the earthquake at 7:37 AM and initially logged it at magnitude 7.0 with a depth of 10 kilometers. In a second advisory, the agency upgraded the magnitude to 7.8, with a revised depth of 33 kilometers. The epicenter was located 32 kilometers south-southwest of Maasim, Sarangani.

Phivolcs attributed the earthquake to movement along the Cotabato Trench. 

The tsunami warning covers the provinces of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato. Phivolcs warned that tsunami waves exceeding one meter above normal tide levels are expected. The first tsunami waves were forecast to arrive between 7:37 a.m. and 9:37 a.m. and may continue for hours. 

The strongest shaking was recorded at Intensity VII in General Santos City. Intensity VI was felt in Palimbang and Senator Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat, while Intensity V shaking hit Davao City, Kidapawan City, and several municipalities in Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Zamboanga del Norte. 

The tremors were felt across a wide area of Mindanao, extending as far as Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Malaybalay City, and parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula. Residents in portions of Leyte and Southern Leyte also experienced weak but noticeable shaking. 

Buildings collapse, casualties reported

A three-story commercial building housing a Jollibee restaurant and a Love Radio station collapsed in General Santos City. Parts of SM City General Santos and a building at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University also sustained major damage.

At least three people were killed, while authorities were still gathering reports on additional casualties, structural damage, and disruptions to infrastructure and utilities in affected communities. Several deaths have been confirmed by the Office of Civil Defense, while response teams are still trying to verify more reports of casualties on the ground. 

Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani, told Reuters that the police building sustained some cracks after the quake, which struck during their flag-raising ceremony. He said some people fainted following the strong tremor. "This is the strongest earthquake we've experienced," Ancheta said. 

Classes, government work suspended

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake disrupted the opening day of classes across parts of Mindanao, forcing the suspension of classes and government work and causing damage to buildings and infrastructure in several areas across the southern Philippines. 

In Sarangani, province-wide classes and work in government offices were suspended until further notice. The suspension covered all levels in public and private schools and all government offices in the municipalities of Alabel, Maasim, Maitum, and Malungon. 

Marcos orders immediate government response

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered all relevant government agencies to mobilize immediately and respond to the disaster.

"A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of Sarangani this morning, and a tsunami warning is now in effect across several coastal provinces in Mindanao. I have directed all relevant government agencies to act immediately," Marcos said in a statement.

The President called on residents in affected coastal provinces to evacuate without delay. "To our kababayans in the affected provinces, please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind," he said. 

Marcos also ordered the suspension of classes in all levels across affected areas in Mindanao until further notice, stressing that the safety of students must come first. 

The President directed the DSWD to pre-position relief supplies and ensure evacuation centers are ready and operational for residents who may be displaced. He also ordered the DPWH to stand by for damage assessment and the clearing of roads, bridges, and other critical routes needed for rescue and relief efforts. 

Under the directive of President Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, DND and OCD officials immediately headed to the affected areas to assess damage and conduct response operations. OCD Administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros scheduled an immediate flight to General Santos City to personally oversee the deployment of relief goods and personnel. 

Marcos assured the nation that "the national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind." 

Government response activated

The Department of Budget and Management assured the availability of quick response funds for concerned agencies to support disaster response efforts in Mindanao. "For the Sarangani earthquake response, existing QRF resources remain available for immediate deployment by the concerned agencies," the DBM said. 

The Department of Energy, through its Task Force on Energy Resiliency, activated coordination with electric cooperatives, distribution utilities, and oil industry stakeholders to assess the impact of the earthquake on energy facilities in Sarangani and nearby areas. 

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines suspended operations at the General Santos Airport while assessment of facilities and equipment was underway. The Department of Health also activated all crisis protocols in all DOH hospitals and Center for Health Development offices in Mindanao. 

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami threat had largely passed about five hours after the quake struck, but urged people to stay alert and heed warnings from local authorities, as sea levels may continue to fluctuate. 

Meanwhile, Phivolcs has lifted the tsunami warning for all coastal communities in the affected provinces of Mindanao. 

Authorities across the region, including in Indonesia, also cancelled their tsunami warnings, though a tsunami advisory remained in place for Japan's southern coast and outlying islands. 

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which initially warned of possible waves of up to three meters, later said the tsunami threat had largely passed about five hours after the earthquake. 

Phivolcs reminded the public to remain vigilant for aftershocks and to continue following the instructions of local disaster risk reduction and management offices.

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PASAY CITY—Palawan 2nd District Representative Jose "Pepito" Alvarez vehemently denied receiving a suitcase filled with money from former lawmaker Zaldy Co, dismissing the claims shortly after his name surfaced during Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on June 4. 

Alvarez made a surprise appearance at a press conference hosted by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano immediately after the committee suspended its proceedings. 

He firmly stated that no financial exchanges or debts exist between him and Co that would warrant any such delivery.

The allegations reportedly stem from social media posts involving 18 former Marines, which Alvarez flagged as highly questionable. 

“Wala akong natanggap… Wala kaming transaction na maari niyang (Zaldy Co) bigyan ako ng pera,” Alvarez stated, addressing the viral reports he saw on Facebook. 

He openly questioned the validity of the claims and insisted that a "maleta" (suitcase) of cash was never brought to him.

The sudden development has thrown a spotlight on the ongoing Senate investigation, turning a regular committee review into a high-stakes political denial. 

By confronting the rumors directly on the Senate floor, Alvarez attempted to shut down the bribery narrative before it gained further traction. 

Meanwhile, the Blue Ribbon Committee has yet to announce if Alvarez will be formally summoned to testify under oath when hearings resume.

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