Kapamilya reporter Jeck Batallones departs ABS-CBN

Longtime ABS-CBN reporter Jeck Batallones has officially ended his time at the network.

In an X tweet Thursday, Batallones announced his departure, writing: “After 10,168 days, the time has come—today is my last day at work. I’ve seen my friends move on 1 by 1, now it’s my turn. It’s time to close this incredible chapter & begin a new one. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey & contributed to each page of my story.”

Batallones first joined ABS-CBN in 1997 as a production assistant for the public service program Hoy Gising. Years later, he would join Mission X as “Agent Habagat,” one of the show’s agents doing undercover work for the investigative program.

After this, he also became part of the production team of some of ABS-CBN’s current affairs programs, including SOCO, Failon Ngayon, and XXX.

In 2010, Batallones became a full-time reporter for the Kapamilya Network, covering crime and disaster stories. Among his most recognized stories is about the lives of people living under a bridge during habagat. This earned him a Golden Dove Award in 2013.

Batallones also gained attention in 2020 during his coverage of the Greenhills hostage-taking incident, where he went viral for wearing a Spongebob-patterned shirt.

“The story behind that is that I hadn’t been airing those days and [it was] a slow news day, so I decided to wear something that I thought would be uneventful. Then boom, the hostage-taking happened. No chance to change,” he said in an interview with Media Newser Philippines.

During his last few years at ABS-CBN, Batallones shifted to sports reporting, which he describes as a career highlight. “I got to meet my NBA idols like Dirk, Grant Hill, Klay Thompson, and Dwight Howard. Also, lately I have been doing animal welfare stories as I have been an advocate of animal welfare. I also had the chance to cover the professional wrestling scene in the country,” he shared.

After 10,168 days, the time has come—today is my last day at work. I've seen my friends move on 1 by 1, now it's my turn. It's time to close this incredible chapter & begin a new one. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey & contributed to each page of my story. pic.twitter.com/rbmqGgBU2P

— jeck batallones (@jeck_batallones) November 28, 2024