ORMOC CITY– A newly identified drug personality listed as a street-level individual was arrested by local police during a buy-bust operation conducted Monday afternoon, July 14, in Sitio Pingag, Barangay Matlang, Isabel, Leyte.

The suspect, identified only by the alias “Rustom,” 26 years old, self-employed, and a resident of the said barangay, was apprehended by operatives of the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Isabel Municipal Police Station (MPS).

Police said the suspect sold a sachet containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu to an undercover operative for P500. During a subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of mandatory witnesses, authorities recovered five more sachets of suspected shabu hidden inside a cigarette pack found in the suspect’s pocket.

Also seized was the marked P500 bill used during the transaction, which had been pre-coordinated with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as part of standard operational procedure.

The suspect was informed of his constitutional rights in a language he fully understood at the time of arrest. He is currently detained at the Isabel MPS custodial facility.

Charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against the suspect before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Ormoc City.

Police noted that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to curb the illegal drug trade in the municipality and surrounding areas.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY – A habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) driver was arrested for allegedly stealing a pig in Barangay Libo, Carigara, Leyte, in the early hours of July 17, 2025.
The complainant, a 52-year-old teacher identified as alias “Gen,” reported to Carigara Municipal Police Station (MPS) that her pig—white with dark spots and weighing about 80 kilograms—had been taken without her consent.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Gundo,” 43, married, and a resident of Barangay Canlampay, also in Carigara.

Acting on the report, Carigara police, accompanied by the complainant, went to the suspect’s residence. There, they found the stolen pig confined inside an improvised pen. The victim positively identified the animal as hers.

The suspect was arrested on the spot, and both he and the pig were brought to the Carigara MPS for proper documentation and further investigation.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY – A 30-year-old man was arrested after he was caught stealing a goat in Zone Gumamela, Barangay Candahug, Palo, Leyte, on the evening of July 17, 2025.

The suspect, identified as alias “Von,” single and a resident of Barangay Cogon, Palo, was caught in the act by a witness, alias “Vin,” 34, a private employee from Babatngon, Leyte. The goat belonged to alias “Hec,” 36, a local businessman.

According to police, at around 10:16 p.m., Palo Municipal Police Station received a call from another concerned resident about the incident. When police arrived at the barangay hall, the suspect was already in the custody of barangay tanods.

The witness told authorities he was about to sleep when he heard a disturbance near the victim’s farm, located about 30 meters from his house. Using a cellphone flashlight, he saw the suspect holding one of the goats by the neck.

Upon being discovered, the suspect tried to escape by jumping off a seawall toward the shoreline, injuring himself in the process. He was later cornered and detained with the help of the witness, the goat owner, and barangay officials.

The suspect remains in the custody of Palo MPS for documentation and further investigation.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY-A 24-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly operating an illegal numbers game known as “swertres” during a police operation in Barangay Talahid, Almeria, Biliran at around 6:50 p.m. on July 16, 2025.

The suspect, identified as alias “Kim,” a resident of the same barangay, was apprehended by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Biliran Provincial Police Office, in coordination with the Almeria Municipal Police Station.

Police said the suspect was caught in the act of collecting bets for “swertres” without proper authorization or documentation.

Seized from her possession were P1,934 in various denominations, two tally sheets, a blue notebook, and a transparent pen with an orange cap.

Authorities informed the suspect of her arrest and constitutional rights in a language she understood. She is currently detained at the Almeria Police Station, while the seized items are being held as evidence for proper disposition.

Charges for violating anti-illegal gambling laws are being prepared against the suspect.
(ROBERT DEJON)

PALO, Leyte – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Regional Office 8 (BJMP-8) on Wednesday, July 16, officially welcomed 93 newly-appointed Jail Officer 1 (JO1) recruits during a solemn oath-taking ceremony at the Archbishop’s Palace Gymnasium in Palo, Leyte.

The event was graced by BJMP personnel and the proud families of the new officers, marking a significant milestone in their entry into public service.

The ceremony signified the formal acceptance of the new recruits into the BJMP family and their commitment to uphold the bureau’s mandate — championing the welfare and reformation of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL).

JSInsp. Ma. Karmen S. Rizabal, acting chief of the Personnel and Records Management Division who reads the General Orders of Recruitment, shared that the batch is composed of 74 males and 19 females, carefully selected from a competitive pool of 1,231 applicants who underwent a rigorous selection process.

Newly-installed Regional Director JSSupt. Rill F. Sonon, who administered the ceremonial oath and integrity pledge, emphasized in his message the deep responsibility that comes with joining the uniformed service.

“New jail officers embrace an oath of honor and service. Their entry into public service marks not just a career milestone, but a sacred vow — to God, the nation, the law, and humanity,” Sonon said.

Sonon encouraged the new officers to uphold the core values of the bureau as espoused in the WASTONG BIHIS Program, a flagship initiative that promotes discipline, respect, and professionalism.

He emphasized that discipline must guide them through adversity; respect must be shown especially to PDLs whose dignity and capacity for change must be recognized; integrity should be their foundation as public servants; humility must define their leadership and service; and faith in God should remain their source of strength and direction.

He also reminded the officers that the road ahead will be challenging, but they are not alone as they are supported by the BJMP organization, their families, and divine guidance, stressing that their duty goes beyond personal interest and must be anchored on justice, transformation, and public service.

Following the ceremony, the new JO1s will undergo onboarding under BJMP-8’s Human Resource Development Division, in preparation for their formal training at the National Jail Management and Penology Training Institute (NJMPTI). They will complete the Jail Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (JBRC), a comprehensive program designed to equip officers in custodial operations, human rights, and inmate reformation.

The ceremony is part of the simultaneous oath-taking held across all BJMP Regional Offices nationwide, with a total of 1,862 newly-appointed Jail Officers — 1,479 males and 383 females — formally inducted into the Bureau as part of the agency’s continued expansion and professionalization of its ranks.

(VTG/BJMP-8)

Globe has joined the Asia United Gateway East (AUG East) submarine cable system consortium to help address East Asia’s growing demand for high‑speed, high‑capacity connectivity required by artificial intelligence (AI) and other data‑intensive technologies.
Representing Philippine opportunities and investments, Globe’s participation in the project demonstrates its commitment to strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure, supporting economic growth, and AI-driven innovation.

Industry forecasts show that traffic from AI and AI‑enhanced applications will surpass conventional usage by 2031. Asia‑Pacific organizations will also continue to lead global investment in generative AI and digital infrastructure.

“This new data superhighway strengthens our nation’s digital backbone. It gives businesses the scale, speed, and reliability they need to compete globally and embrace technologies that can uplift lives and drive inclusive progress for all Filipinos,” said Carl Cruz, Globe President and CEO.

“This investment in the AUG East cable system is a cornerstone of our long-term strategy to future-proof the Philippines’ digital infrastructure,” said Raymond Policarpio, Globe Business VP and Head of Strategy Management and Business Investments. “As AI-powered applications become increasingly pervasive, the demand for resilient, high-capacity international connectivity will also experience a surge. By securing our stake in this vital digital thoroughfare, we are proactively enabling our enterprise clients to leverage cutting-edge technologies, drive innovation, and expand their global reach, ensuring the Philippines remains a competitive hub in the digital economy.”

In response, the 8,900-kilometer AUG East cable aims to deliver additional bandwidth and strengthen network diversity and reliability along a key route linking digital hubs Singapore and Japan, with landing points in the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, South Korea, and Taiwan.

To be built as a next-generation system with high optical fiber count, AUG East can deliver massive capacity for data-hungry enterprises, equivalent to streaming millions of ultra-high-definition movies simultaneously. It is set for completion by the third quarter of 2029, providing additional protection during natural disasters.

To learn more about how Globe Business empowers enterprises with future‑ready connectivity solutions, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/business.html. (PR)