A 45-year-old fisherman from Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, is recovering in the hospital after a needlefish—locally known as bilaan—leapt from the water and pierced his neck while he was fishing early Thursday. The victim, Edilberto Lacerna, was spearfishing with a companion around 3 a.m. when the incident happened. Rescue teams brought him first to local facilities in Sablayan and Mamburao before transferring him to Batangas Medical Center, where doctors successfully removed the fish lodged in his neck.

Espiritu, R. (2025, November 23). Mindoro fisherman injured by needlefish. Manila Standard, p. A3.