TACLOBAN CITY — A 33-year-old man tagged as the No. 1 most wanted person in Eastern Visayas was arrested in Pasig City on June 8, 2026, for multiple counts of statutory rape.
Police identified the suspect as a carpenter and resident of Catarman, Northern Samar. He was arrested in Barangay San Miguel, Pasig City through the implementation of warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court in Catarman.
Authorities said the suspect is facing five counts of statutory rape, with no bail recommended by the court.
The arrest was carried out by personnel of the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office through the Lope de Vega Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the 1st Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company, Provincial Intelligence Unit, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Northern Samar Provincial Field Unit, Pasig City Police Office, and the Regional Special Operations Unit 8.
After his arrest, the suspect was brought to the Pasig City Police Office for documentation before being turned over to the court of origin in Northern Samar.
Police have not disclosed further details of the cases, citing ongoing legal proceedings, but urged the public to report individuals with outstanding warrants to authorities.
Malacañang on Monday assured that the government has sufficient funds to respond to the recent Mindanao earthquake.
“Nag-utos na ang Pangulo at kailangang tumugon ang lahat ng ahensiyang involved dito at concerned agencies at alam natin na ang pondo sa ngayon ay sapat pa para sa pagsasagawa ng pagliligtas at pag-rescue at para maibsan ang impact ng nangyaring sakuna nitong araw na ‘to,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the concerned government agencies to act immediately in addressing issues arising from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck offshore Sarangani on Monday morning.
According to President Marcos, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) are coordinating disaster response efforts and monitoring the situation across all affected areas.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been directed to pre-position relief goods and ensure the readiness of evacuation centers, while the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is on standby to assess damage to roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure.
The President said the national government is mobilizing all necessary resources and he has been in constant communication with regional offices and local chief executives on the ground.
TISSUE CULTURE LAB. Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan, together with officials from the Department of Agriculture, PhilFIDA, DTI, and the Provincial Agriculture Office, leads the inauguration of the Provincial Tissue Culture Laboratory at the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center in Catarman on June 8. The facility will produce disease-free planting materials to support the province’s abaca industry and other priority crops.
(The Provincial Government of Northern Samar Facebook)
TISSUE CULTURE LAB. Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan, together with officials from the Department of Agriculture, PhilFIDA, DTI, and the Provincial Agriculture Office, leads the inauguration of the Provincial Tissue Culture Laboratory at the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center in Catarman on June 8. The facility will produce disease-free planting materials to support the province’s abaca industry and other priority crops. (The Provincial Government of Northern Samar Facebook)
TACLOBAN CITY — The provincial government of Northern Samar has opened a new tissue culture laboratory in Catarman to produce disease-free planting materials and strengthen the province’s agricultural productivity, particularly in its abaca industry.
The Provincial Tissue Culture Laboratory, located at the Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center (PAFEC) in Barangay Galutan, Catarman, was formally inaugurated on June 8.
Supported by the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 8, the facility is expected to help rehabilitate and expand abaca plantations, one of Northern Samar’s key agricultural industries. It will also produce quality planting materials for banana, ube, and taro to improve crop yields and promote sustainable farming practices.
Governor Harris Ongchuan led the inauguration ceremony together with representatives of partner agencies, including Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Joseph Salas, Department of Agriculture Agricultural Program Coordinating Office-Northern Samar representative Engr. Jennifer Surio, and Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Mimosa Regis.
Officials and personnel from PhilFIDA, the Department of Agriculture, and the Provincial Agriculture Office also attended the event.
The Provincial Agriculture Office facilitated the activity, with Provincial Agriculturist Jose Luis Acompanado leading a tour of the laboratory and the PAFEC complex.
The facility is the second tissue culture laboratory in Northern Samar, complementing the existing laboratory operated by the University of Eastern Philippines.
Provincial officials said the laboratory forms part of the local government’s continuing efforts to modernize agriculture, improve the quality of planting materials, and increase the productivity and income of farmers across the province.
They added that the project is expected to contribute to the long-term sustainability and resilience of Northern Samar’s farming communities.
BAGS OF DREAMS.Officials and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office distribute school supplies and essential kits to pupils from far-flung elementary schools in Ormoc City, Matag-ob, Isabel, and Kananga as part of the 2026 Oplan Balik Eskwela outreach program held from June 2 to 4, 2026. A total of 456 learners benefited from the initiative.(DPWH-LEYTE 4TH DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE)
BAGS OF DREAMS.Officials and employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office distribute school supplies and essential kits to pupils from far-flung elementary schools in Ormoc City, Matag-ob, Isabel, and Kananga as part of the 2026 Oplan Balik Eskwela outreach program held from June 2 to 4, 2026. A total of 456 learners benefited from the initiative.(DPWH-LEYTE 4TH DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE)
ORMOC CITY– In support of the 2026 Oplan Balik Eskwela, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) conducted a three-day school outreach program on June 2-4, 2026.
The activity was spearheaded by OIC-District Engineer Peter Scheler V. Soco and OIC-Assistant District Engineer Jonathan A. Santiago, with employees of the DEO voluntarily contributing donations for the school essentials of five far-flung schools in the district.
A total of 456 learners received backpacks filled with school supplies, along with tumblers, lunchboxes, umbrellas, and food packs. The beneficiaries were 121 pupils of Mahayag Elementary School in Ormoc City, 101 pupils of Esperanza Elementary School in Ormoc City, 66 pupils of Masaba II Elementary School in Matag-ob, 110 pupils of San Francisco Elementary School in Isabel, and 58 pupils of Sto. Domingo Elementary School in Kananga.
During the distribution, OIC-DE Soco encouraged the students to pursue their education and make the most of the opportunities available to them. “These bags are bags of dreams,” OIC-DE Soco said. “We hope that every learning material inside will inspire you to study hard, believe in yourselves, and work toward your dreams.”
The teachers, parents, and pupils were thankful to the DPWH Leyte 4th DEO for extending assistance to their schools and helping ease the burden of preparing children for the new school year. (PR)
REBEL-FREE.Officials from the local government of Matuguinao, the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government gather during the declaration ceremony of the municipality under a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) at the municipal gymnasium on June 8, 2026. The declaration marks the end of decades-long insurgency influence in the area.(DILG SAMAR FACEBOOK)
In Samar
REBEL-FREE.Officials from the local government of Matuguinao, the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government gather during the declaration ceremony of the municipality under a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) at the municipal gymnasium on June 8, 2026. The declaration marks the end of decades-long insurgency influence in the area.(DILG SAMAR FACEBOOK)
MATUGUINAO, Samar — This municipality has been officially declared under a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC), marking what officials described as a major milestone in ending the decades-long influence of insurgency in the area.
The declaration was made during a ceremony at the municipal gymnasium on June 8, attended by local officials led by Mayor Aran Boller, military representatives headed by 8th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Peter Burgunio, and officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
For decades, Matuguinao had been considered one of the strongholds of insurgency in Samar, with communist rebel influence reported in nearly all of its barangays.
Local officials said the situation began to improve in 2019 following intensified government security operations and the municipality’s declaration of the New People’s Army as persona non grata.
Mayor Boller, visibly emotional during his speech, described the declaration as the result of years of effort and sacrifice.
“It has been a long journey toward the total emancipation of Matuguinao from the influence of the CPP-NPA-NDF,” he said, recalling the deaths of soldiers, barangay officials, and civilians during the armed conflict.
The town mayor said the SIPSC declaration signals that the municipality can now fully focus on development and long-term progress.
Boller also cited improved access to the town as a key factor in its transformation. Once accessible only by a four- to six-hour motorboat ride, Matuguinao is now connected by road to Gandara through a PAMANA-funded project completed in 2019, reducing travel time to less than an hour.
“By delivering services to all citizens equally, we have eliminated the grounds for complaints used by the NPA to justify recruitment,” he added.
The mayor credited the sustained support of military units, including the 63rd, 19th, and 43rd Infantry Battalions and the 8th Infantry Division, for helping restore peace in the municipality.
The local government is currently assisting around 60 to 70 former rebels through reintegration programs, livelihood support, and planned housing projects under the “Saad nga Balay” program, in partnership with national and provincial agencies.
Maj. Gen. Burgunio commended the cooperation of the local government and residents, saying the achievement was made possible through community support alongside security operations.
He noted that while Matuguinao had once been a difficult area for peace efforts due to its terrain and isolation, significant improvements have been achieved not only in the municipality but across Samar Island.
The SIPSC declaration means insurgency-related threats have been effectively addressed and that local institutions are now deemed capable of sustaining peace and security, based on assessment and validation by security forces.
LOCAL PRODUCTS. Visitors can buy local products from Leyte’s MSMEs in this year’s Layag Leyte Fiesta Bonanza Trade Expo 2026 at Robinsons Place Tacloban which opened on June 10. The five-day trade fair features 36 exhibitors from across Leyte and aims to generate at least ₱4.5 million in sales while promoting local entrepreneurship and innovation. (Photo Courtesy, Sarwell Q. Meniano)
LOCAL PRODUCTS. Visitors can buy local products from Leyte’s MSMEs in this year’s Layag Leyte Fiesta Bonanza Trade Expo 2026 at Robinsons Place Tacloban which opened on June 10. The five-day trade fair features 36 exhibitors from across Leyte and aims to generate at least ₱4.5 million in sales while promoting local entrepreneurship and innovation. (Photo Courtesy, Sarwell Q. Meniano)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Leyte is aiming to generate at least P4.5 million in sales during the five-day Layag Leyte Fiesta Bonanza Trade Expo 2026, which opened on June 10 at Robinsons Place Tacloban in Marasbaras and will run until June 14.
The annual trade fair brings together 36 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from across Leyte, showcasing a diverse range of locally produced goods, including processed food products, fruits and nuts, cacao-based and coconut-based items, wearable products, home décor, furniture, and health and wellness products.
Among the new products featured this year is “Rain Purple,” a healthy beverage made from blue ternate, a plant widely known for its use in herbal and wellness drinks.
According to DTI-Leyte Provincial Director Faustino Gayas Jr., several products on display are outcomes of the agency’s continuing support programs for local entrepreneurs, including training, product development, packaging enhancement, labeling assistance, and capacity-building initiatives.
The trade expo serves as a platform for MSMEs to promote their products, expand market reach, and connect with consumers and potential institutional buyers.
DTI-Leyte said the event is also intended to strengthen local entrepreneurship by enhancing the competitiveness of small businesses and providing opportunities for wider market exposure through trade fairs and business promotion activities.
