LSI allegedly raped while under quarantine in Leyte town
TACLOBAN CITY- Police arrested on Monday(August 17), a 49-year-old security guard who allegedly raped a female locally stranded individual (LSI) who is undergoing quarantine in Villaba, Leyte.
The suspect was identified as Ronie Condes, with live-in partner, and a resident of Barangay Tinghub of said town.
The victim, a 44-year-old married LSI from Cebu City, personally appeared to the Villaba Municipal Police Station to file her complaint.
In a statement released by Villaba Mayor Jorge Veloso, the suspect allegedly raped the victim twice –on August 15 and 17– while he served as a security guard at the Cayangian quarantine center of the said barangay.
The suspect allegedly entered the victim’s room and pointed a gun at her before sexually attacking her.
He also threatened the victim if she would report to the authorities.
According to the mayor, he already terminated the job-order contract of the suspect.
“We are very thankful that the victim did not hesitate to ask assistance from our troop for the immediate arrest of the perpetrator. She is brave and courageous enough to come out despite the threats posed by her perpetrator,” Captain Ricky Rubillos, town’s acting police chief.
The suspect is now detained at the municipal police station as two counts of rape were filed against him.
(RONALD O. REYES)
DPWH Samar 2nd district engineering office hosts coordination meeting with LGUs, LTO, and PNP
The DPWH, Samar 2nd District Engineering Office, hosted the coordination meeting with the local government units (LGUs) represented by their municipal engineers, Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) which focused on the removal of the illegally parked/abandoned vehicles within the Road Right Of Way (RROW) limits of the national roads under the Samar 2nd area of jurisdiction.
District Engineer Gulmatico and Engr. Joy Salino of the DPWH, Regional Office discussed all government issuances with regards to the illegally parked vehicles and prohibited use within the RROW of national roads.
Those problems encountered in the implementation of the said undertakings were also taken up.
The main problem in Catbalogan City is the lack of impounding area for the towed/removed vehicles; and the hard time in locating the registered owners of these illegally parked/abandoned vehicles.
To address those problems, all attendees were solicited with suggestions/recommendation regarding the matter.
In Catbalogan City, all towed vehicles were currently deposited in front of PNP which obstruct the National Highway.
In the municipality of Hinabangan: in consonance with their existing municipal ordinance, violators are penalized and that illegal parking/abandoning are under control said the Municipal Engineer.
The LTO said that the impounding area in the City seems to be a problem since all towed vehicles are deposited in the LTO Office.
The PNP headed by Chief Edwin Barbosa, informed that a task force was created before where all towed vehicles are impounded in the DPWH, Area Equipment Unit located in the Brgy. Maulong, Catbalogan City. But the reassignment of the former DPWH Regional Director stopped the operation as the current Regional Director doesn’t allow the use of the BOE-AES II to be the impounding area anymore.
DPWH will conduct inventories of all abandoned/illegally parked vehicles within the Right of Way of national roads under the area of jurisdiction and furnished LTO, the engine and plate numbers of the vehicles for the identification of owner. The LTO also suggested to scrap abandoned vehicles especially those that were found unregistered. They also suggested that different municipalities must have an apprehension policy regarding these illegally parked vehicles and penalized the violators.
In case this apprehension will be ignored by the violators, they have to furnish the LTO a copy of the violation/ticket to alarm their system and implement penalty/ies during the renewal of vehicle registration.
Should all problem be solved, so with the apprehension policy, the flow of the traffic in every municipalities will go smoothly and travelers are assured of a better and safe way to reach their respective destinations. (PR)
Cops rescue engendered eagle in Samar town
TACLOBAN CITY- A white-bellied sea eagle was recently rescued by personnel of the Marabut Municipal Police Station (MPS) after receiving report from a concerned citizen that it is being held captive by a man.
According to the captor, identified as Donato Labrague, he caught the eagle on August 16, 2020 at around 6 pm after it hit a coconut tree and fell on the ground in village in San Roque.
The Marabut MPS then turn-over the eagle to Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Sta. Rita, Samar.
Forester Glenn Garciano of CENRO-Sta Rita said eagle are generally territorial.
“Once there is disruption in its habitat it affects them and would go out,” Garciano said.
He said that they have intensified their information and education campaigns every year not only on environmental policies and laws but also including forestry and laws on wild fauna.
“We inform the people that there are sanctions and penalties if they are caught with a possession of endangered animals,” Garciano said.
Garciano added that when they conducted LAWIN or landscape and wildlife indicator, they have seen the threat to forest and wildlife which includes poaching and kaingin.
Marabut Municipal Police Station Chief, Cpt. Charmaine Cartalla, said that this is the third case of reported captive Philippine Eagle in their area this year.
The first case was reported in March 2020 and the second case was last month, July 2020.
The white-bellied sea eagle with a wingspan of 1.86 meters is considered as one of the endangered bird species in the Philippines.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
More healthcare workers, frontliners infected with COVID-19
TACLOBAN CITY- The dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to infect healthcare workers, frontliners, and close contacts of the infected patients here in the region.
On Monday (August 17) alone, the region recorded an all-time high cases at 95, where 30 are healthcare workers.
The following day, 86 new cases were added, infecting another three healthcare workers and 38 close contacts of COVID-19 patients.
While on August 19, a total of 19 frontliners out of the 58 new cases were infected with the virus.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in the region is at 1,819, with 1,177 (64.70 percent) recoveries and 663 active cases, as of August 19.
In Tacloban City, Dr. Gloria Fabrigas, acting city health officer, maintained that contract tracing is an effective public health intervention to reduce infections in the population and stop the spread of the virus.
The CHO urged the public to notify the contact tracing team of their respective barangays if they knew someone as a possible contact of a confirmed case within the city or from other municipalities, noting that there are lots of transient residents staying in the city.
“If you think you are a close contact, please do not hesitate to message us or get in touch with us so we can assist you,” Fabrigas said in a statement.
“Be vigilant. We cannot refuse entry of people coming from outside of Tacloban because referral health facilities are here. Pray for the city government of Tacloban, especially our frontliners. Encourage them as they can only do so much,” she added.
As of Wednesday evening, Tacloban recorded 37 active cases which include healthcare workers. (RONALD O. REYES/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA))