TACLOBAN CITY– Government troops recovered a cache of high-powered firearms allegedly belonging to the communist rebels in Can-avid, Eastern Samar.

The recovered high-powered firearms include five M14 rifles, four M16 rifles, a shotgun, an M79 grenade launcher, and assorted ammunitions and explosives in Barangay Buco.
The firearms were recovered after the soldiers belonging to the 42nd Infantry Battalion conducted a strike operation on July 15.

“We will be stepping up our military and non-military operations to track down the location of communist New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists’ loose firearms and prevent their recovery efforts here in Eastern Samar,” said Lieutenant Colonel Rodito Gotladera, commander of the 42nd IB.

Meantime, Major General Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division, lauded the accomplishment of the 42nd IB saying it will contribute to the ending of the communist insurgency in the region.

He also reiterated their target to quell the decades-long insurgency problem of the region within this year.

“During the visit of President Bongbong Marcos (in Northern Samar), he said that he is confident that we can finish the fight against the insurgents by the end of the year in the region. Having been said by the President, I am also confident we can really end the insurgency problem but of course through our collaborative efforts,” he added.

(RONALD O. REYES)

In Samar

TACLOBAN CITY– After much of waiting, former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who earlier surrendered to the government will soon have a house of their own.

Next month, a groundbreaking for the construction of houses for reformed rebels will be held in San Jose de Buan, Samar, Emilda Bonifacio, Samar area manager of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), said.

Initially, 17 former rebels have been identified to occupy the housing village, she added. All are from San Jose de Buan and have a family of their own and does not own a house of their own.

The OPAPRU did an orientation to the former rebels who were made to understand the basic concepts of peace and conflict and a deeper appreciation of the conflict-sensitive and peace-promotion (CSPP) approach for contextualization purposes and in ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of its project implementation.

The housing project cost P4 million of which P2.5 million was donated by the provincial government of Samar through Governor Sharee Ann Tan while the remaining P1.5 million will come from the local government under Mayor Joaquin Elizalde.

Personnel from the 546Engineer Construction Battalion (ECB) and 543ECB did the site development and house design.

Partner agencies of the project like the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) helped in training the former rebels in carpentry which is necessary for constructing the house that will be built thru bayanihan while the Department of Science and Technology will do the social preparation for the upcoming implementation of Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) activities for the former rebels.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has significantly improved the monitoring of transport of fish products to and from Leyte following the setting up of the first permanent fisheries checkpoint at the San Juanico Bridge, an official said on Friday(July 21).

BFAR Eastern Visayas Regional Director Hannibal Chavez said that since the checkpoint was put up two months ago, there have been no interceptions of illegally-caught fish products.
BFAR and the Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel have been checking all vehicles carrying fish and fishery products passing the 2.16-kilometer bridge.

The BFAR regional office here has assigned two staff members from the fisheries inspection and quarantine section and the fisheries protection and law enforcement group to man the checkpoint along with the PNP.

“Through the implementation of this measure, the stationed law enforcement team effectively prevents and apprehends illegally caught and transported fishery products, safeguarding the integrity of the checkpoint and ensuring compliance with regulations,” Chavez said.

The permanent checkpoint is stationed at the foot of San Juanico Bridge (Leyte side), being the main gateway for products not only for Samar and Leyte provinces but for all the products transported to and from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The law enforcement team checks the auxiliary invoice and the local transport permits of vehicles carrying fishery products to determine the origin of the fishery commodities they carry and conduct other necessary standard procedures on the appropriate transportation of aquatic and marine products.

“With great optimism, we anticipate nothing short of positive outcomes resulting from the implementation of the first joint permanent fisheries checkpoint. Together, let us continue to work hand in hand, progressing towards a prosperous fishing industry, safeguarded marine resources, and a thriving community,” Chavez added.

Setting up the fisheries checkpoint at the San Juanico Bridge is crucial since the infrastructure forms part of the nautical highway that links the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. (PNA)