# Frontline Pilipinas

Frontline Pilipinas (lit. 'Frontline Philippines') is a Philippine television news broadcasting show broadcast by TV5. Originally anchored by Raffy Tulfo and Cheryl Cosim, it premiered on October 5, 2020, replacing Aksyon. Cosim, Julius Babao and Jiggy Manicad currently serve as the main anchors.

## Background

The newscast is based on News5's slogan "Nasa Frontline ng mga Balita" (transl. Delivering News from the Frontlines) and "Tapat at tamang pagbabalita para sa may alam at may pakialam" (transl. Honest and correct reporting for those who know and care).

## History
### 2020–2021: Tulfo-Cosim era

Frontline Pilipinas premiered on October 5, 2020, at 6:30 PM PHT with Raffy Tulfo and Cheryl Cosim as original anchors, along with News5 chief Luchi Cruz-Valdes, chief correspondent Ed Lingao, and Lourd de Veyra as segment anchors for Deretsahan, NEWS ExplainED, and Word of the Lourd, respectively. The program serves as the replacement to TV5's longest-running flagship newscast Aksyon, which ended abruptly on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the enforcement of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, as well as the two One-branded newscasts which aired on TV5. The following week, the program moved to 6:00 PM timeslot to give way for the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup and new primetime programming.
On February 15, 2021, athlete and TV host Gretchen Ho joined the newscast as "Sports" segment anchor (alongside The Big Story on One News). On February 22, 2021, the program extended its running time to one hour and 15 minutes as part of TV5's programming changes.
On April 5, 2021, the program moved to 5:30 PM with a shortened one-hour running time to give way for the new shows Sing Galing! and Niña Niño. On July 16, 2021, the show cut its airtime to 30 minutes on Wednesdays and Fridays to give way to the broadcast of the 2021 PBA season.
On September 20, 2021, the newscast moved to an earlier timeslot from 5:15 PM to 6:30 PM with 1 hour and 15 minutes every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Timeslots for Wednesdays and Fridays remain at 5:15 PM and extended to 45 minutes.

#### Tulfo's departure

On October 1, 2021, Raffy Tulfo bid farewell to the newscast to run for senator in 2022, leaving Cosim as the sole anchor starting October 4.

### 2022–2024: Cosim-Babao era

Julius Babao was named as Raffy Tulfo's replacement, joining the newscast on February 7, 2022. In conjunction with this, Frontline Pilipinas also debuted its new opening billboard, title card, and graphics. Babao was originally to make his debut on January 17, but was postponed due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases brought by the omicron variant. Ed Lingao took over as interim anchor of the newscast.
Also on the same day, Gretchen Ho took over the anchoring duties for Frontline sa Umaga from Paolo Bediones as he left News5 on February 1 due to the issues surrounding his company, Ei2Tech. The newscast returned to the original 6:30 PM timeslot and was extended to 90 minutes on May 22, 2023. In conjunction with this, Frontline Pilipinas also debuted its new opening billboard, title card, and graphics for the second time. Gretchen Ho permanently left the show as a sports presenter to focus on Gud Morning Kapatid; Mikee Reyes was chosen as her permanent replacement.

### 2024–present: Babao-Cosim-Manicad era

On January 8, 2024, Jiggy Manicad joined the newscast, becoming its first third main anchor. It also marked his return to journalism, after a nearly six-year hiatus.
From June 24, 2024 to February 10, 2025, the program's final 30 minutes were pre-empted on TV5 and One PH to accommodate Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa and Gus Abelgas Forensics, respectively. On July 1, it began its simulcast on RPTV during non-PBA game days.
On February 11, 2025, the show once again moved to an earlier timeslot at 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM to give way to the extended airing of Lumuhod Ka Sa Lupa.
From March 8, 2025, beginning with its weekend edition, all of the newscast's editions silently dropped its original theme music and began adopting the composition used by its predecessor program Aksyon from 2010 to 2017 throughout its broadcasts for unknown reasons, sharing the music with TV5's affiliate in Zamboanga City for its regional newscast Dateline Zamboanga. A week later, the studio and the graphics were changed.

## Newscast editions
### Frontline Pilipinas (Primetime edition)
#### Weeknight main anchors

* Cheryl Cosim (since 2020)
* Julius Babao (since 2022)
* Jiggy Manicad (since 2024)

#### Segment presenters

* Ed Lingao (since 2020, NEWS ExplainED)
* Lourd de Veyra (since 2020, Word of the Lourd)
* Jervy "KaladKaren" Li-Wrightson (since 2023, Showbiz Eto Na Nga and K-alaman)
* Marc Logan (since 2024, Kwento 'Sang Minuto ni Marc Logan)

#### Former anchor

* Raffy Tulfo (2020–2021)

#### Former segment presenters

* Gretchen Ho (2021–2023, Sports)
* Luchi Cruz-Valdes (2020–2024, Diretsahan)
* Mikee Reyes (2023–2024, Sports)

#### Segments

* Una Sa Lahat (Intro)
* Abroad (World)
* News ExplainED (Factual)
* Weather
* Showbiz (Entertainment)
* Sports
* Word of the Lourd (Editorial)
* Singko Minuto (Special Report)

### Frontline sa Umaga (Morning edition)

Frontline sa Umaga (lit. transl. Frontline in the Morning), a morning edition of Frontline Pilipinas, premiered on May 10, 2021, with Paolo Bediones and Marga Vargas as its original anchors. Airing on the network's morning block replacing Aksyon sa Umaga, the program first aired at 6:00 AM for 30 minutes from May 10 to October 1, 2021.
On October 4, 2021, the program moved to a new timeslot at 10:50 AM and was extended to 40 minutes, filling the vacancy left by Idol in Action; its original timeslot was succeeded by the replays of One PH's Mag-Badyet Tayo! and the 30-minute simulcast of Ted Failon at DJ Chacha sa Radyo5.
On December 24, 2021, Vargas left the newscast and was filled in occasionally by Maricel Halili. On January 17, Bediones left the newscast due to pending lawsuits filed by former employees of Ei2 Technologies, Inc. Halili served as the interim anchor.
On February 7, 2022, Gretchen Ho joined the newscast as the main anchor. On April 18, 2022, the newscast moved to an earlier timeslot, at 10:00 AM to give way for Lakwatsika. On January 9, 2023, Jes delos Santos joined the newscast. On May 1, the newscast began simulcasting on 92.3 Radyo5 True FM. On June 5, the newscast aired for less than 30 minutes as a result of the network's broadcast of the 2023 NBA Finals. For the same reason, editions for June 2, 8 and 13 were pre-empted.
The morning edition temporarily stopped its run on June 16, 2023, to give way for Gud Morning Kapatid, where it became a segment still anchored by Delos Santos and Ho. Meanwhile, it was replaced by the replay of Julius at Tintin: Para sa Pamilyang Pilipino on its timeslot on 92.3 Radyo5 True FM. Ho was later replaced by Maoui David to focus on The Big Story. Its run as a segment of Gud Morning Kapatid ended on May 3, 2024, to become a separate lead-in program for the morning show beginning on May 6 at 8:30 AM, with Delos Santos, Ruth Cabal, and Andrei Felix as anchors. The segment of the said newscast was renamed Frontline sa Umaga Express.
On July 15, 2024, it began its broadcast on RPTV as a simulcast. It was also rescheduled to a later timeslot, airing from 9:45 to 10:15 AM on TV5, and eventually aired as a delayed broadcast on RPTV.
The morning edition ended on October 18, 2024, as part of the major changes on TV5's Gandang Mornings morning programming block. The change featured the transfer of Gud Morning Kapatid to an earlier timeslot of 5:30 AM on October 21.

#### Final anchors

* Jes Delos Santos (2023–2024)
* Ruth Cabal (2024)
* Andrei Felix (2024)

#### Former anchors

* Paolo Bediones (2021–2022)
* Marga Vargas (2021)
* Maricel Halili (2023)
* Gretchen Ho (2022–2023)
* Maoui David (2023–2024)

#### Segments

* Una Sa Lahat (Intro)
* Abroad (World)
* Happy News (Features)
* For Today's Video (Trending)
* Showbiz (Entertainment)
* Sports

### Frontline Tonight (Late-night edition)

Frontline Tonight, a late-night news edition of Frontline Pilipinas, premiered on September 27, 2021, on the network's TodoMax Primetime Singko evening block. It is anchored by Ed Lingao and Maeanne Los Baños. It is TV5's first flagship late-night newscast since Aksyon Tonite, Pilipinas News, and Aksyon JournalisMO. It is also aired on RPTV on a slightly delayed basis on February 1, 2024, replacing The Final Word with Rico Hizon on CNN Philippines late-night timeslot.

#### Main anchors

* Ed Lingao (since 2021, News ExplainED)
* Maeanne Los Baños (since 2021, Frontline Tonight Special Report)

#### Substitute anchors

* Andrei Felix (since 2024)
* Nikki de Guzman (since 2024)
* Ruth Cabal (since 2024)
* Jes delos Santos (since 2024)
* Maricel Halili (since 2020)
* Mon Gualvez (since 2024)
* Ces Drilon (since 2025)

#### Segment Presenter

* Jannie Alipo-on (since 2023, Showbiz and Ride Tayo, Jan)

#### Segments

* Una Sa Lahat (Intro)
* News ExplainED (Factual)
* Fact Checked
* Special Report
* Konteksto (Context)
* Abroad (World)
* Weather
* Frontline Balita (Top Stories)
* Showbiz (Entertainment)
* Sports
* Pampa-Good Night (Features)
* Ride Tayo, Jan (Lifestyle)

### Frontline Pilipinas Weekend (Weekend edition)

Frontline Pilipinas Weekend (lit. 'Frontline Philippines Weekend'), a weekend edition of Frontline Pilipinas, premiered on October 14, 2023, on the network's Weekend Trip evening block. It is anchored by Jes Delos Santos, Nikki de Guzman, and Andrei Felix. It is TV5's first flagship weekend newscast since Aksyon Weekend and Pilipinas News Weekend. It is also simulcast on 92.3 Radyo5 True FM, later simulcast on One PH on January 6, 2024, replacing One Balita Weekend.
The Saturday edition premiered on October 14, 2023, while the Sunday edition premiered on November 12, 2023. Delos Santos and De Guzman served as the first anchors of both editions.
In January 2024, along with the launch of TV5's primetime block Weekend Trip, Frontline Pilipinas Weekend updated its news desk. On February 3, 2024, it began airing on RPTV on a delayed basis, replacing Newsroom Weekend on CNN Philippines weekend evening timeslot. Andrei Felix joined the newscast on April 27, 2024, as its third anchor.
On February 8 and 9, 2025, it was extended up to one hour and moved to an earlier timeslot from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM in preparation for the new reality show, Be the Next: 9 Dreamers. However, on March 1, the Saturday edition was shortened to 45 minutes in preparation for Sing Galing!'s new reincarnation.

#### Main anchors

* Jes delos Santos (since 2023)
* Nikki de Guzman (since 2023)
* Andrei Felix (since 2024)

#### Substitute anchors

* Mon Gualvez (since 2025)
* Maricel Halili (since 2024)

#### Segments

* Una Sa Lahat (Intro)
* Abroad (World)
* Happy Weekend (Features)
* Weather
* Showbiz (Entertainment)
* Sports
* Word of the Lourd (Editorial)

### Frontline Express (Afternoon edition)

Frontline Express, an afternoon edition of Frontline Pilipinas, premiered on April 8, 2024, on the network's Hapon Champion afternoon block replacing Wanted sa Radyo. It is anchored by Ruth Cabal. It is TV5's first flagship afternoon newscast since Aksyon sa Tanghali and Balitaang Tapat. On July 8, 2024, it began its simulcast on RPTV.

#### Main anchor

* Ruth Cabal (since 2024)

#### Substitute anchors

* Nikki de Guzman (since 2024)
* Jes delos Santos (since 2024)

#### Segments

* Showbiz Express
* Sports Express
* Frontline Pilipinas Mamaya

## News5 Alerts

News5 Alerts is an hourly news bulletin of TV5 that premiered on October 5, 2020, replacing Aksyon Alerts.
On March 16, 2025, the studio was changed.

### Presenters

* Nikki de Guzman (Weekends)

### Substitute presenters

* Jes delos Santos (since 2025)

### Former presenters

* Mariceli Halili (2020–2023, Weekdays)
* Ed Lingao (2020–2021, Weekdays)
* Maeanne Los Baños (2020–2021, Weekdays)
* Cherry Bayle (2022–2023, Weekdays)
* Maoui David (2023–2024, Weekdays)

## Accolades

Frontline Pilipinas received nominations for Best News Program and Best Female Newscaster (Cosim) at the 35th PMPC Star Awards for Television.