TACLOBAN CITY– A woman who was caught in a buy-bust with more than half-a-kilo of ”shabu” or methamphetamine hydrochloride last December 9, 2022 in Ormoc City was sentenced to a two life sentences by a regional trial court judge here for her crimes.

Facing the double life sentence is Reaiza Wenceslao alias “Madame or Lyka” who was busted for selling a police-poseur 45.15 grams of shabu worth P 350,000 and whose bag, on inspection, yielded another 58 sachets of shabu weighing 693.6 grams during the buy-bust in Barangay Linao, Ormoc City.

She was also ordered to pay a fine of P 500,000 for each count.

Judge Maria Corazon Vergara-Naraja, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 46, issued the decision on June 2, this year.

Police filed two cases of violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Anti-Illegal Drugs Act against her. One for selling and another for possession.

Wenceslao, 29, it was learned, initially pleaded guilty to the charges against her. She retracted it later, claiming she only pleaded guilty because she was threatened by the police, especially one named “Cyrus.”

The court, however, did not allow Wenceslao’s retraction of her guilty plea.

The judge noted that the suspect was educated having gone to college and finished second year of her education course.

She, however, noted that in one hearing, it was gleaned that the pusher was not fully cognizant of the difference between selling and possession.

Judge Naraja said that the elements of illegal sale under Section 5, Article 11 of RA 9165 were present. The same also for illegal possession under Section 11, Article 11 of RA 9165. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

MATAG-OB, Leyte– Several activities have been lined up as this town is to mark its 66th town fiesta on June 13.

On June 2, Mayor Bernardino “Bernie” Tacoy led in the kickoff ceremony relative to the forthcoming fiesta with a motorcade.

Mayor Tacoy said that he aims that as the town will celebrate its fiesta in honor of its patron saint, San Jose de Padua, unity among its leaders and people would be achieved.
Tacoy’s call for unity also extends to the rest of Leyte’s fourth district.

The town mayor has forged an alliance with the mayors of Palompon, Isabel, Merida, and Albuera, the two as the latest members of the group.

“This alliance was created for us to share ideas on how to improve our towns, on how to give opportunities for our constituents in order to find better community,” Tacoy said.

Among those invited during the kickoff ceremony were Palo Mayor Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla and Maasin City Mayor Naccional Mercado.
(ROBERT DEJON/ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY-A man who was just walking on the road beside their residence died after he was hit by a fast-running single motorcycle on Sunday (June 4).

Killed was Jolito Lace, 51, and a resident of Barangay 105, Suhi district at about 10:45 pm.
The police identified the suspect as Kristian Perco, 35, also residing in the same place.
The police said that the suspect was on board of single motorcycle 110 and was traversing the Suhi- Babatngon Road before the incident happened.

And upon reaching a certain point of the road, the suspect took over to the right portion of the road and accidentally hit the victim who was walking beside the road.

Bystanders immediately called the local rescue group who upon arrival learned that the victim was already dead.
(ROBERT DEJON)

In Samar

TACLOBAN CITY– About 41 former members of the New People’s Army (NP) and sympathizers received financial assistance from the provincial government of Samar on Monday (June 5).

The granting of financial assistance, in a total amount of P1.79 million, to the former rebels and sympathizers was made under the government’s local social integration program.
The amount received by the former NPA members and supporters ranged from P10,000 to P35,000, depending if they surrendered their firearms.

These surrenderees were previously operating or residing in the towns of Basey, San Jose de Buan, and Villareal, all in Samar.

Of the 41 beneficiaries, 17 of them were regular members of the armed front of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

One of them was alias ‘Maya’ who once belonged to the Bugsok Platoon of the sub-regional committee sesame of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

“We are thankful to the government for giving to us this financial assistance. We will use this to put up a small business that can provide us our daily needs,” she said.
She and her husband, alias ‘Otip’ both received P75,000.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said that she is happy that these former rebels and supporters have decided to return to the folds of the law.
She also vowed to help them as they start to live a normal life.

“Welcome home to the true government. Do not ever think that the government has forsaken you or that we do not listen to your needs. We are always here and the people, our constituents, are always our top priority,” Tan said in her message during the program held at the camp of the 8th Infantry Division in Catbalogan City.

Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th ID, also expressed his gratitude to the former rebels for surrendering.

He also reiterated their campaign to finally end the insurgency problem of the region.
‘I enjoin the former rebels to be agents of peace and be active partners of the government in its quest to have a community free from the influence of the communist terrorist groups(and) make use of the assistance provided by the government to start anew life,” Ligayo said.

Ligayo had earlier said that he sees the end of Eastern Visayas insurgency problem by this year, saying their main focus now is in Northern Samar province where there are still two communist guerilla fronts still operating.
(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– To provide more ease to the public and its clientele, the city government here, through the City Management Information Systems Office (CMISO), has automated some of its processes and services that have to do with business permit registration and renewal and health card application, among others.

According to the CMISO, among the online services currently being offered and readily accessible to Taclobanons is the Business Permit Renewal Online Application, a convenient and efficient platform that simplifies the renewal and registration process of businesses by allowing clients to submit their requirements and have them processed online.

On the other hand, the real property tax online application is a user-friendly platform that revolutionizes how property owners handle their tax obligations by offering a simple and straightforward process for making and monitoring real property tax payments online.
Meanwhile, the online health card and sanitary permit online application minimizes in-person processing of health documents that ensure compliance with health and safety regulations while ensuring individuals and businesses easily comply with health and sanitation regulations via a user-friendly and time-saving online application.

The online services can be accessed through https://businessportal.tacloban.gov.ph. and the client needs only to select the appropriate service, said the CMISO.

Meanwhile, the CMISO has disclosed that it is also in the process of launching an online platform that will handle construction permit applications.

The system, which will be called One-stop Shop Construction Permitting, will allow clients to apply for building permit applications, occupancy clearance, and locational clearance online and be provided with the utmost transparency and real-time updates as to the status of their application. They are just finalizing some details before the formal launch, it said.

Per CMISO Officer-in-Charge Randy Calahi, they are committed to developing new online systems and programs for the city government under the able leadership of Mayor Alfred Romualdez in order to provide efficient and people-oriented programs for Tacloban residents.
(H.ROCA with E. LAGAHIT/CIO)