The eras and anchors of TV Patrol: A breakdown

TV Patrol’s stories, segments, as well as the entire news team and their commitment to serve and report the news, no matter the challenge or season, have primarily driven the newscast’s success to this day.

Still, an essential part of its endurance and ability to stay relevant to audiences are the main anchors that nightly bring you “nagbabagang balita”.

These names and team-ups through the years–along with the historic events they delivered–have defined TVP’s identity and how Filipinos recall their formative years watching the groundbreaking program.

READ: How 'TV Patrol' evolved in 35 years

1987-1993: OG PATROLTV Patrol original anchors (L-R) Frankie Evangelista, Mel Tiangco, Noli De Castro, and Angelique Lazo. (ABS-CBN/TV Patrol still) 

When TV Patrol first went on the air in the first week of March 1987, it hooked audiences going all-out with its tabloid, action news format. But also part of its draw was its blend of anchors: Noli De Castro, Mel Tiangco, Frankie “Ka Kiko” Evangelista, and Angelique Lazo. 

In tandem with their respective segments, such as Tiangco’s “Lingkod Bayan” and Evangelista’s “Hoy Gising!”, the four-person anchor desk came to resemble a dinner table where everyone dished out a piece of information. This came front and center during the opinion discussion segment “PULSO” (Pangkalahatang Ugnayan Laan sa Opinyon) where at times even showbiz anchor Lazo chimed in. 

And the viewers were there for it. Its ratings success even led to a short-lived extension edition on Saturdays.

The first half-decade cemented TV Patrol as not only an engaging format but the place to witness history. Its reporters were literally in the line of fire, bringing the news from coups, shootouts, earthquakes and typhoons. Also with the newscast from the beginning was former Radyo Patrol reporter turned trivia king Ernie Baron who gave the weather forecast.

On September 21, 1992, TV Patrol first began airing abroad via San Francisco’s KTSF Channel 26, where the telecast continues to this day.

1993-1996: BREAK UPFrankie Evangelista, Mel Tiangco, Noli De Castro, and Christine Bersola. (ABS-CBN photo) 

In 1993, Christine Bersola joined the original “Patrol” cast, replacing Lazo in the hit “Star News” segment.

Midway through the Ramos years, TV Patrol continued to hold sway over primetime viewers, especially in 1995 when it reported on the visit of Pope John Paul II, the case and execution of overseas worker Flor Contemplacion, and the first total solar eclipse to be seen in the archipelago in seven years.

Early 1996 saw Mel Tiangco exit the newscast, relieved by a rotating set of pinch hitters that included Gel Santos-Relos, Ces Oreña-Drilon, and future anchor Korina Sanchez.

By then, “Patrol” was also slowly being eclipsed by competing shows on other channels, notably the Mexican telenovela “Marimar”, which prompted a reformat in the once-solid newsmagazine format.

1996-2001: KABAYAN TAKES SOLO FLIGHTNoli De Castro at the TV Patrol anchor desk in 1997. (ABS-CBN/TV Patrol still)

Noli De Castro, dubbed “Kabayan”, retained the sole anchor chair starting April 1996.

Billed as the Philippines’ answer to then US network TV anchors Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, and Tom Brokaw, De Castro helmed a tighter, more fast-paced “Patrol”. It was cut down to 30 minutes yet still bared its signature mix of big stories, police reports, showbiz updates and lighter fare (introducing Marc Logan’s novel storytelling style to audiences). TVP also began being heard on AM radio via DZMM Radyo Patrol 630.

Having a solo anchor also had its benefits, seen in the “TV Patrol Caravan”, where De Castro aired the newscast live from various parts of the country.

Despite its shorter runtime, TV Patrol was not afraid to go overtime or focus on a running story when needed, such as during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada in late 2000 and his ouster during what was dubbed “EDSA Dos” in January 2001.

Two months later, De Castro bid farewell to his nightly audience to run for the Senate.

2001-2003: ‘HANDA NA BA KAYO?’ON PRIMETIME

Korina Sanchez is flanked by Henry Omaga-Diaz (right) and Aljo Bendijo (left) (ABS-CBN/TV Patrol still)

Korina Sanchez, host of the “Patrol” spinoff show “Balitang K”, took over the newscast in 2001 with two partners: Henry Omaga-Diaz, who had been Kabayan’s substitute anchor, and Aljo Bendijo, until then an anchor of TV Patrol’s local edition in Davao.

The newscast, describing itself “Ang inyong sandigan sa katotohanan”, also returned to its hour-long runtime and made Logan’s news features a permanent segment.

It continued to keep an eye on a tumultuous period in world history, from the so-called “EDSA Tres” in Manila to the September 11th attacks in the US and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

2003-2004: ‘SUBOK NA MAAASAHAN’Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao in 2004. (ABS-CBN/TV Patrol still)

By 2003, Julius Babao joined Sanchez at the studio, with Omaga-Diaz relegated to substitute anchor.

With the relaunch, the newscast began billing its reporters as “Patrol ng Bayan”, the precursor of the current tag “Patrol ng Pilipino”, alongside the news and current affairs division’s slogan “Maaasahan”.

It also debuted regular weekend editions: TV Patrol Sabado in February 14, 2004 and TV Patrol Linggo later that May.

Amid covering major political stories such as the run-up to the 2004 elections, “Meteor Garden” fever, and the 50th anniversary of ABS-CBN television, TV Patrol during this time reached peak viewership on September 24, 2003, when Kris Aquino gave Sanchez a live tell-all on her relationship with Joey Marquez.

READ: ALAMIN: Bakit tinawag na ‘Patrol ng Pilipino’ ang ABS-CBN reporters?

2004-2010: ‘PATROL’ GOES GLOBALJulius Babao, Karen Davila, and Ted Failon opening "TV Patrol World" in 2007. (ABS-CBN/TV Patrol still)

A new challenge to the newscast’s dominance in the crucial Mega Manila TV market led to TV Patrol rebranding to “TV Patrol World” in December 2004.

Emphasizing ABS-CBN’s overseas reach both in audience and news bureaus, the relaunch came with new anchors in Ted Failon and Karen Davila, joining Julius Babao.

The trio saw the passing of the torch for weather and trivia reports from Ka Ernie Baron to “Kuya Kim” Atienza, after the former passed away in 2006. “TV Patrol World” also brought back a regular showbiz anchor (after eight years) in model-actress Phoemela Baranda.

This era also saw an increasing emphasis in citizen journalism, with the public action segment “Citizen Patrol” and “Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo” for the 2007 midterm elections–what is now “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo”.

That same year, TV Patrol’s 20th anniversary, the show began to simulcast on DZMM TeleRadyo, DZMM’s cable TV counterpart.

The newscast’s coverage of the internment of former President Corazon Aquino in August 2009 led to its longest broadcast at the time at 2 hours and 30 minutes. But another breaking story a year later, the Luneta hostage crisis, would make TVP preempt Channel 2’s primetime programming.

On June 30, 2010, the newscast reverted to simply TV Patrol, brandishing augmented reality graphics first introduced in the 2010 elections.

2010-2015: KABAYAN, KORINA'S COMEBACK

Noli De Castro, Korina Sanchez, and Ted Failon, bantering at TV Patrol's close in 2014, represented over 25 years of history for the newscast at the time. (ABS-CBN/TV Patrol still)

Long-time anchors Noli de Castro and Korina Sanchez returned to TV Patrol on November 8, 2010. Only Ted Failon was retained from the previous set of anchors, with Davila and Babao moving to the late-night telecast “Bandila.”

The De Castro, Sanchez, and Failon trio saw many changes–some new and some returning–to TV Patrol. These included the return of the “balitaktakan” or “batbatan” segment at the end of the newscast, a nod to “PULSO” of the early “Patrol” days. Gretchen Fullido took the helm of “Star Patrol”, a post she continues to hold to this time.

The era was also marked by the launch of “CCTV Patrol,” a segment dedicated to news of caught-on-cam incidents and security footage, and “Kabayan Special Patrol,” De Castro’s current affairs and public service segment.

“Patrol” mounted a grand celebration for its 25th anniversary in 2012, with both TV specials and on-ground initiatives such as the unveiling of “Balitandaan” markers in the Philippines and abroad. By 2014, it had reclaimed its spot as the most watched primetime newscast in Mega Manila.

2015-2020: SEMBRANO MOVES TO WEEKDAY 'PATROL'

Noli De Castro, Bernadette Sembrano, and Ted Failon share a light moment at the end of TV Patrol in December 2017. (Shot by Jeff Canoy)

Bernadette Sembrano was formally welcomed as the newest TV Patrol anchor in 2015, replacing Sanchez who had gone on leave. She was no stranger to “Patrol”, as she had been filing reports for the public service segment “Lingkod Kapamilya” and was a weekend co-anchor until 2011.

De Castro, Failon, and Sembrano saw the newscast mark its 30th year on air in 2017 and its shift to high-definition broadcast a year later.

In 2020, it adapted to the onslaught of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, being ABS-CBN’s only program that kept production running during the first months of the lockdown.

The trio were also the final anchors of TV Patrol’s run on ABS-CBN Channel 2, when it signed off on May 5, 2020 after its broadcast franchise expired. They remained when the newscast returned on cable television and digital platforms two days later.

2020-2021: OMAGA-DIAZ RETURNSDe Castro, Sembrano, and Omaga-Diaz. (ABS-CBN/TV Patrol still)Ted Failon bid TV Patrol farewell on August 31, 2020 after over a decade and a half as co-anchor. For almost a month, his place was filled in by interim anchors, until Henry Omaga-Diaz was named as his permanent replacement. This was Omaga-Diaz’s homecoming to “Patrol” after almost two decades.

Due to the restrictive pandemic health protocols, Omaga-Diaz and Sembrano anchored from the open-air ABS-CBN Dolphy Plaza at the time. Only De Castro remained in Studio 7, along with segment anchors Fullido and Atienza. The newscast also frequently saw pinch-hitters anchoring the newscast for extended periods due to necessary quarantine protocols when members of the production team were on monitoring or tested positive for COVID-19.

Atienza eventually made his last broadcast as “Weather Weather Lang” and “Kaunting Kaalaman” anchor a month after Failon’s departure.

2021-2023: NEW, RETURNING FACES

Sembrano, Omaga-Diaz, and Davila. (ABS-CBN/TV Patrol still)

Noli De Castro left TV Patrol in October 2021 to file his candidacy for senator. Filling the vacated anchor position was Karen Davila, who returned to the newscast after eleven years. This also moved Omaga-Diaz to the lead anchor post.

New segments were launched in the same month, alongside the returning “Mga Kuwento ni Marc Logan.” These were “Winning Moment” with Winnie Cordero and “Alam N’yo Ba?” with Boyet Sison and later Migs Bustos, after the former died in 2022.

In December 2021, “Patrol” welcomed former PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas for “Weather Patrol,” making him the first meteorologist on the newscast. He eventually ventured into trivia and meteorology-related features on the occasional segment “Kuwentong Napapanahon.”

Omaga-Diaz, Sembrano, and Davila were the faces viewers saw during the return of the weekday TV Patrol on free TV via A2Z on January 3, 2022. It came with the newscast’s first visual refresh (including logo change) since 2016.

With the return to free TV, another segment anchor was introduced: Migs Bustos for “Uso at Bago.”

2023-2024: ‘ALL STARS’

Sembrano, De Castro, Davila, and Omaga-Diaz pose together in this April 2024 photo. (Photo by Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News) 

Over a year after De Castro withdrew his senatorial candidacy, he returned to TV Patrol in time for the Traslacion of Jesus Nazareno in 2023. With “Kabayan’s” return, four main anchors helmed the newscast—the most in “Patrol” history.

This set of anchors each came from one of TV Patrol’s iterations: Omaga-Diaz from the “Sandigan ng Katotohanan” era, Davila from “World,” Sembrano from “Weekend,” and, of course the OG, Kabayan.

TV Patrol had also begun expanding its brand in digital. It ventured into TikTok in 2023 and launched the 15-minute bulletin “TV Patrol Express”, first on streaming and later picked up on broadcast, in January 2024.

And from just A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, ANC, and The Filipino Channel, the broadcast has since been airing on ALLTV and Prime TV on free TV, and on DWPM Radyo 630 and FMR on radio.

2024-PRESENT: TV PATROL PLUS

De Castro, Davila, Sembrano and Elchico after the newscast on March 26, 2025. (Photo by Haztin Jardin, ABS-CBN News Intern)

In August 2024, Henry Omaga-Diaz hung up his anchoring duties in the Philippines to migrate to Canada. With yet another hole in the cast, long-time weekend anchor Alvin Elchico moved to the weekday edition.

The current era firmed up TV Patrol beyond just a traditional newscast, utilizing digital as the platform for extended coverage, such as “TV Patrol Express’s” off-hours stream of Typhoons Kristine and Carina.

The main newscast, meanwhile, pulled off a four-hour special edition to cover the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his departure for the Netherlands on March 11, 2025.

After the regular newscast aired on traditional and digital channels, the marathon coverage continued online, with Davila and Elchico anchoring. 

At present, TV Patrol has eight mainstays: main anchors De Castro, Davila, Sembrano, and Elchico; and segment anchors Fullido, Rojas, Cordero, and Bustos.

Despite the changing faces of its news presenters, TV Patrol has remained faithful to its commitment to viewers for now close to 40 years: ”Anumang hamon, anumang panahon, tapat na maglilingkod sa inyo saan man sa mundo.”

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