TACLOBAN CITY – The municipal government of Arteche in Eastern Samar province in partnership with Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) will be launching two banner programs targeting infants and their mothers, and school-age children.

Mayor Roland Boei Evardone said that these banner programs are called PROJECT SUStainable-nutrition And Nanay Empowerment or Project SUSAN.e and Lunchbox Library: Healthy Readers On-the-Go!

Project SUSAN.e is a 36-month-long program targeting infants and their mothers aiming to secure their nutritional needs in their first 1,000 days to prevent instances of malnutrition and stunting.

Mayor Evardone said that through this program, they will be providing maternal health support such as check-ups and laboratories, nutrition education, and complementary feeding program for babies from seven months until 2 years of age.

At least 30 mothers who are at their first trimester of their pregnancy will benefit the program and after they give birth, this will be expanded to their babies.

Meanwhile, the Lunchbox Library: Healthy Readers On-the-Go! Program targets 250 school-age children from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

This 20-week program aims to complement child’s in-school literacy development and promote the love of reading, targeting not only students but also members of the community.

It also aims to bring together community partners and education stakeholders to help improve learners’ reading skills in the context of partnerships.

Books and other reading session materials will be provided throughout the five-month implementation of the program.

Reading sessions will be conducted weekly and will be complemented with supplementary feeding every session in partnership with their parents.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY-The local police are conducting a thorough investigation over the identity of the suspect/s behind a robbery incident at the Immaculate Conception Church in Leyte, Leyte last January.

Based on the report of the local police, the incident took place at the office of the Immaculate Conception Church at Bonifacio St, in Barangay Poblacion at about 8:30 am.
The incident was reported to the local police by Corazon Delantar who works as the church secretary who said that at least P235,000, placed inside a cabinet, was missing.

The police investigator recovered from the crime scene two pieces of screwdrivers and one vice grip which could have been used by the suspect or suspects in destroying the padlock and steel cabinet where the stolen money was kept.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– An estimated 50. 1 gram of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P340,500 was recovered by joint forces from the City Drug Enforcement Team of the Maasin city police, the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) from a painter during a buy-bust operation.

Maasin city police chief Lt. Col Jason Balbarona identified the suspect as Johnny Lou Retana, 40, who was arrested in a sting operation at about 5:05 am on Wednesday (Jan/31) in Barangay Manhilo.

Recovered from the possession of the suspect, identified to be a high-value individual target both in police and PDEA, was one sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu procured by an operative in the amount of P500.

During the conduct of a body search in front of an elected barangay official and a representative from the media, the searching cops recovered from the suspect’s possession 14 more sachets containing suspected shabu with an estimated weight of 50.1 grams with a commercial value of P340,500.

No statement was issued by the suspect to the media covering the operation.

Charges of violations of Sections 5, 11, and 12 of Art II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, were filed against the suspect who is now detained at the locked-up cell of Maasin city police station.(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– An encounter between government forces and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in San Isidro, Northern Samar, resulted in the arrest of a rebel.

Based on the report from the 8th Infantry Division, based in Catbalogan City, the rebel was captured after an armed clash took place in Barangay Palanit last Jan.27 at about 8 am.
The rebel was identified as alias ‘Doming’ or ‘Nitoy’ was said to be a member of the sub-regional guerilla unit (SRGU) of the sub-regional committee (SRC) emporium of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

He was said to have a standing warrant of arrest for the crime of murder issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 20 on October 10, 2015.

The soldiers, belonging to the 43rd Infantry Battalion, were in the area after receiving information on the presence of a group of armed men.

A firefight between the two warring groups resulted in the arrest of Doming who was left behind by his companions.

Doming later revealed to the soldiers that their group bury their firearms in sitio Kahidwangan, part of Brgy. Happy Valley of the said town.

Recovered by the soldiers were an M-16 rifle and a short magazine.

Lieutenant Colonel Nasser Arojo, the commanding officer of the 43rd IB, attributed the success of their operation to the timely and relevant information provided by the residents.
He acknowledged that the cooperation of the residents led to the capture of alias Doming and the recovery of the arms cache containing high-powered firearms.

“This is a clear indication that the community appreciates the efforts of the government and has decided to support the fight of ending the local communist armed conflict,” Lt. Col. Arojo said.

Meanwhile, Major General Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th ID, reiterated his call for the remaining rebels and the community to unite and work together towards socio-economic development.

“Let’s give peace a chance. Let us join hands and find solutions to our problems. There is no need for armed struggle. The government has programs anchored in the NTF-ELCAC where all government agencies and other stakeholders provide solutions to the problems especially in the vulnerable areas and sectors in society, “Ligayo said.

The arrested rebel is now at the San Isidro municipal police station. (ROBERT DEJON)