CALBAYOG CITY– A fire of still unknown origin resulted in the death of a minor and the injury of one occupant in Calbayog City on Wednesday (Jan.4).

The fire incident hit a residence at about 1:48 am in Purok 5, Barangay Capoocan in the said city.

Calbayog Fire Marshal S/Insp. Jimmy Pasague identified the fatality as Lou Renz Bacsal, 14, student of Calbayog City National High School, while the injured victim was identified as Michael Montes, legal age, self-employed.

Bacsal’s mother, who is a nurse, was on duty in one of the hospitals of this city when the fire occurred.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Winnie Bartolome, case investigator, in an interview said that the fire, according to witnesses, started in the room of Montes.

She added that the house, made of concrete and wood materials, is owned by Pastor Daniel Montes, father of Michael.

SFO1 Bartolome continued that the fatality was found during clearing operations lifeless inside the room they occupied after the fire and suspected to have died of suffocation as no burns were found in his body.

Montes incurred second-degree burns on his feet and first-degree burns on his right.
The fire was controlled at about 2: 26 am and was totally put out at 2: 55 am.
Damage of the fire was estimated to be worth P720, 000.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-An intoxicated man who created a disturbance inside a billiard hall who hacked its owner was shot dead by a responding policeman in an incident in Barugo, Leyte on New Year’s Day.

Major Alexander Alfonzo, the town chief of police, identified the victim as Emilio Diloy, 74, while the suspect was identified as Jaime Raagas, 49, both residents of Sta. Rosa village.

Initial investigation conducted by local police disclosed that prior to the incident, the suspect who was obviously under the influence of intoxicating liquor, caused disturbance at the billiard place owned by the victim.

The owner tried to pacify the suspect he was disturbing the people playing billiards at that moment.

However, the suspect got irked who went home. However, he returned again armed with a long-bladed weapon and hacked the victim several times.

Meanwhile, Pat. Rafael Maglinte, also a resident of the village, heard the commotion outside his house prompting him to go out and witness the suspect hacking the victim several times.

He tried to intervene only for the suspect to attack him, prompting the police officer to shot the suspect, hitting him on his abdomen.

Raagas was brought to the Carigara district hospital where he was declared as dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Pat. Maglente was brought to the Barugo police station proper disposition, and his service firearm was temporarily surrendered to the local police.

The police also brought to the police station the long-bladed weapon used by the suspect which was recovered at the crime scene. (ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY– The annual business renewal and payment of regulatory fees, which runs through January 20, 2023, attracts real estate and business taxpayers to the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS), this city.

According to the Business Permits and Licenses Division (BPLD), if all conditions are met, the expedited business renewal process just needs a few hours.

Through the City Government’s Electronic Payment Portal (EPP) System, business permits, real estate taxes, and transportation taxes can also be renewed and paid online.

The city government website at www.tacloban.gov.ph provides access to the EPP.

Meanwhile, the BLPD OIC Gemafiel Gaspay also announced that registration sites in Robinsons Marasbaras (Lingkod Pinoy), Robinsons North (Front of Robinsons Bank), and Gaisano Real were also set up to provide ease to taxpayers.

Business renewal applications are accepted at the Business One Stop Shop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, while the satellite registration sites are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Late applications will be assessed a 25 percent surcharge and 2 percent interest.
Here are the basic requirements for business renewal and transport permit:
Requirements for business renewal
* barangay clearance (Original-where the business is located); Mayor’s Business Permit; Mayor’s Business Plate (photocopy); and filled up application form for business permit.
Requirements for Transport Permit(Operator)-previous business permit; residence certificate (photocopy); barangay clearance; police clearance • TOMECO clearance
•LTO O.R/C.R (photocopy); LTFRB franchise (PUJ/PUV);
• authorization letter; and filled up application for business permit. And for driver-residence certificate(photocopy); barangay clearance; police clearance; TOMECO clearance; health card; and driver’s license (Photocopy).
(HJ ROCA/CIO)

TACLOBAN CITY– Eight persons were injured during the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the region.

Jelyn Lopez, the regional information officer of the Department of Health (DOH), said that this year’s cases of firecracker-related injuries were higher by 60 percent compared to the same period of last year which had only five cases.

“The increase is not alarming. Although our cases are 60% higher than last year, we are one of the regions with fireworks-related injuries,” she said.

It was learned that Friday (Jan.6) was the last day of monitoring and reporting of the DOH on firecracker-related injuries. The period of monitoring started on Dec.22, 2022.
According to Lopez, the increase in cases could be attributed to the lesser restrictions and increased gatherings this year.

Lopez said that despite of the increased cases, the region did not record any death related to the revelries.

Based on their monitoring, the eight cases were from Tanauan, Hilongos, all in Leyte; Zumarraga, Catubig, and Catbalogan City, all in Samar; Pambujan and Catubig in Northern Samar; and Oras, Eastern Samar.

The DOH said that the oldest blast victim was from Catbalogan City involving a 45-year-old man whose right index finger had to be amputated after the ‘kwitis’ exploded while he was to throw it.

The youngest, meantime, involved a 10-year-old boy from Zumarraga town whose right eye was hit by a ‘lantaka’, an improvised cannon.
(JOEY A. GABIETA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)