ORMOC CITY– A security guard shot to death his fellow security guard assigned in a shopping mall in Calbayog City on Saturday (Dec.9).

A report from the local police said that the two, whose names were withheld, were both on duty at the J&F Department Store at about 7:30 pm when they discussed pertaining the Bible.

However, a witness said, that their discussion turned nasty with the suspect drawing his service firearm and shot to death the victim.

Both were said to be residents of Santa Margarita town, also in Samar.
The suspect, the police said, remains at-large. (ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Leyte III Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II) was bestowed with a prompt payer award from First Gen Corp., one of its power suppliers.

The recognition was received by Leyeco III accounting section head Ramil Quebec and disconnection section head Manuel Ellaso during a ceremony held at the Marriott Courtyard in Iloilo City last December 7, 2023.

The recognition is not only a testament to the efficiency of Leyeco III but also extends to the commendable commitment of its member-consumer owners (MCOs), the management said.

“Our dear MCOs, it is your consistent and timely payment of your monthly obligations that empowers the electric cooperative to fulfill its responsibilities to power suppliers punctually,” the Leyeco III management said in a statement.

The Leyeco III management has asked its MCOs for them to continue their ‘exemplary practice of paying your obligations on time’ for the utility to maintain its status.
“Your continued dedication ensures the sustained success and reliability of Leyeco III in meeting its monthly commitments,” it said.

Leyeco III covers the towns of Barugo, Carigara, Capoocan, San Miguel, Tunga, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Jaro, and Pastrana with more than 40,000 MCOs. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

ORMOC CITY– An incumbent barangay leader in Mahaplag, Leyte was arrested in a buy-bust operation on Saturday (Dec.9).

Arrested was identified as Joel Coderas, 47, who just won for his second term as a village councilor in Barangay Polahongon.

Lawyer Gil Pabilona, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said that the suspect was arrested in a sting operation at about 4:48 pm which resulted in the recovery of six sachets containing suspected shabu weighing six grams with an estimated commercial value of P36,000.

The suspect is now detained at the locked-up cell of the Mahaplag municipal police station and was charged with illegal selling and possession of the prohibited drugs.
(ROBERT DEJON)

Tacloban among with high fire incidents

TACLOBAN CITY – The cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, Calbayog, and Catbalogan and the municipality of Merida, Leyte recorded the most number of fire incidents in 2023 based on the data from the regional office of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Tacloban and Ormoc both recorded 13 fire incidents from January to November, Calbayog with 10, and Catbalogan and Merida both with six.

The month of August, the BFP said, has the most reported fire incidents with 34 cases in the whole of Eastern Visayas which is 54.54% higher compared to the same period last year with 22 fire incidents.

This is followed by the month of July with 25 fire incidents, a 13.63% higher than the 22 incidents in 2022, then November with 25 fire incidents, a 108.33% increase than the 12 incidents in 2022.

The month of March, designated as the Fire Prevention Month, recorded 22 fire incidents this year or 22.22 % higher than the 18 recorded fire incidents in 2022.

As of November this year, the region has already recorded 246 fire incidents, higher than the entire record of last year which was just 228.

Most of these fire incidents were due to faulty electrical wiring and overheated electrical appliances and happened in highly populated areas where houses are made from light materials and business establishment that sells combustible materials, BFP-8 assistant regional director S/Supt Randy Mendaros, said during the recently held ‘Kapihan sa PIA’ media forum.The BFP-8 estimated the initial worth of damage of these 246 fire incidents at PP149.72 million, relatively lower compared to last year’s P150.58 million.

Meanwhile, the BFP as part of its preparation for the Christmas celebration is on heightened alert and regularly conducts information dissemination or “Oplan Paalala” to prevent firecracker and Christmas decoration-related fire incidents during the holiday season.
S/Insp. Darwin Orsolino, BFP8 chief safety enforcement division chief, said that inspection of business establishments selling electrical Christmas decorations had started since November.

Orsolino also advises consumers to ask for assistance when buying Christmas lights to know if these are good for outdoor or only for indoor usage to avoid any possible fire incident. (ROEL T.AMAZONA)