After more than a year off the air, veteran broadcaster and former Vice President Noli de Castro is slated to make his comeback to ABS-CBN’s flagship evening newscast, “TV Patrol.”
The news slipped out on Thursday, July 23, when co-anchor Karen Davila inadvertently revealed the return of “Kabayan”—de Castro’s well-known moniker—timing it with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27.
“Atsaka sa Monday exiting yan ha, dahil magbabalik… si Kabayan,” Davila blurted out, before fellow anchor Alvin Elchico quickly stepped in to clarify that no official announcement had been released yet.
The iconic news anchor had been absent from both “TV Patrol” and his flagship radio show “Kabayan” for over a year due to health concerns.
The public last saw de Castro during ABS-CBN News’ special coverage of the 2025 midterm elections, as well as during the official rebranding of AM station DWPM Radyo 630 back to its legendary name, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630.