ORMOC CITY-The local police served a warrant of arrest to 17-year old boy in conflict with the law (CICL) at the Bahay Pag-asa located in Barangay Larrazabal, Naval town, Biliran on May 24 at about 5 pm.

The accused, identified as alias “Mac-Mac”, 17,and from Cabucgayan, Biliran, was arrested by virtue of a warrant dated May 16, 2023, issued by Judge Constantino F. Esber, executive judge of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 37, Naval for the crime of rape.

The accused was informed of his constitutional rights in the dialect/language understood by him under the Miranda Doctrine and remained under the custody of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) at said facility.
(ROBERT DEJON)

The region’s employment rate in January 2023 decreased to 96.2 percent, from 97.0 percent in October 2022.

The 96.2 percent employment rate translates to about 2 million employed persons out of the 2.08 million persons in the labor force in January 2023.

This number was lower by about 31,000 employed persons compared with the 2.03 million employed persons reported in October 2022. However, the number of employed persons in January 2023 was higher by around 257,000 persons than the estimated 1.74 million employed persons in January 2022.

Eastern Visayas registered a Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of 63.7 percent in January 2023. This placed the region’s labor force at 2.08 million persons who were either employed or unemployed out of the estimated 3.26 million population 15 years old and over.

The 63.7 percent LFPR was lower by 0.6 percentage point than the 64.3 percent LFPR recorded in October 2022. However, this figure was higher by
5.7 percentage points compared with the 58.0 LFPR in January 2022.

Eastern Visayas’ unemployment rate was estimated at 3.8 percent in January 2023, higher by 0.8 percentage point than the 3.0 percent unemployment rate in October 2022.
The 3.8 percent unemployment rate was equivalent to around 79,000 persons in the labor force who were unemployed in January 2023, higher by about 16,000 unemployed persons compared with the 63,000 unemployed persons in October 2022.

However, the 3.8 percent unemployment rate in January 2023 was better compared with the 7.0 percent unemployment rate in January 2022 which was equivalent to 132,000 unemployed persons.

The underemployment rate in January 2023 was posted at 18.8 percent or about 375,000 persons out of around 2.00 million employed persons registered during the month. This was 3.6 percentage points lower than the rate in October 2022 at 22.4 percent.
This was also lower by 0.9 percentage point compared with the 19.7 percent underemployment rate registered in January 2022. (PR)

CALBAYOG CITY– A regular member of Yunit Militia, widely known as New People’s Army (NPA) recently surrendered to Police Major Marval Diaz, the officer-in-charge of the First Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st SPMFC) based in Barangay Palanas Cara, this city.

The former rebel, identified as “Van” who is from Gandara, Samar, also surrendered a magnum 357 revolver.

Van was convinced by his elder sibling alias Ben to the armed movement in 2012 under Team Uno, Squad Uno, Angel Platoon, front committee-6 of the sub-regional committee browser (SRCB) of the NPA.

His group operates in remote villages of Sta. Margarita, Gandara, and Matuguinao and even attend rallies in Tacloban City.

“I want to go back to my normal life, hence, I surrendered to Police Major Diaz. I am already exhausted because the government forces intensified their offensive operations against our group”, the former rebel said, citing his reason for giving up the armed rebellion.

Police Major Diaz said that Van is the 14th NPA member who denounced the revolutionary movement through voluntary submission to 1st SMPFC and the second surrenderer under his stint as commander of the unit.

“We admire Van’s courage to leave the terrorist group in his desire to live peacefully with his family again. Since Van identified 36 NPA squad members and 2 commanders, we urge his fellows to lay down their arms and we will gladly welcome them along with the 14 surrenderers”, Diaz concluded.

Upon compliance of necessary documentary requirements, Van and 13 other surrenderers will be availing the privileges of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), enshrined under Executive Order No. 70 also known as the whole-of-nation approach, an anti-terrorism program of the Philippine government.
(LEVIRESA ATIS GETIGAN)