Jail guard yields ‘shabu’
TACLOBAN CITY-Anti-narcotics operatives and local police arrested on Wednesday (September 29) a prison guard for alleged selling and possession of illegal drugs in Carigara, Leyte.
The suspect was identified as Ricardito Javines, 54, and listed as a high-value target (HVT) of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Purchased from the suspect was a sachet believed to be containing shabu, while confiscated from his possession were 5 grams of suspected shabu worth 34,000, and a P1,000 bill used as buy-bust money, police said in the report.
The documentation and inventory of confiscated pieces of drug evidence were held at the place of arrest in the presence of the suspect.
Representatives from the barangay, Department of Justice, and media also witnessed the documentation and inventory, it added.
On September 27, PDEA and police operatives apprehended another HVT in Carigara.
The suspect was identified as Edsil Brier, a resident of the said town.
Confiscated during the operation were several sachets of shabu weighing 5 grams with an estimated market value of P35,000, according to PDEA.
Cases for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are now being prepared for filing in court against the suspects.
(RONALD O.REYES)
Leyte pastor nabbed over rape, child abuse charges
TACLOBAN CITY-Joint police operatives arrested a 27-year-old pastor for two counts of rape and child abuse charges in Barangay San Isidro, Mahaplag, Leyte Wednesday(September 29).
The accused was identified as Wennie “Pastor Wennie” Oghayon, single, and a resident of the said barangay.
Authorities identified him as Top 1 most wanted person in Leyte province.
Judge Carlos Arguelles, presiding officer of Regional Trial Court-Branch 14 in Baybay City, did not recommend bail to the accused for the rape case, while P200,000 bail bond was recommended for each case of violation of Section 5 (b) of Republic Act 7610, otherwise known as “An Act Providing For Stronger Deterrence And Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation And Discrimination, And For Other Purposes.”
The operating units were the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Northern Leyte Provincial Field Office (CIDG-NLPFU) led by Major Duane Francis Ducducan, Regional Intelligence Unit-8 led by Major Delfin Tan, Northern Leyte Maritime Police led by Major Glenn Michael Amoyen, Northern Leyte PHPT led by Master Sergeant Amancio Diola Jr, Leyte Provincial Intelligence Unit led by Lieutenant Colonel Dinvir Revita, and Mahaplag Municipal Police Station headed by Captain Rodolfo Renomeron.
Police brought the accused to the station for documentation and was subsequently brought to CIDG-NLPFU for proper disposition prior to turn-over to the court of origin.(RONALD O. REYES)
DOT says that over 1,100 tourism workers been administered with anti-COVID-19 vaccine
TACLOBAN CITY – Around 1,118 tourism workers here in the region are now fully vaccinated while 663 had already received their first dose of virus against the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).
These vaccinated workers are employed to the 389 hotels and resorts across the region that have already resumed their operations during this time of pandemic.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) in the region says that there are still 2,104 tourism workers who are still waiting to be vaccinated with 272 are still undecided.
Karina Rosa Tiopes, DOT regional director, said that part of their strategy to encourage those who remain hesitant to get the jab is to talk to them and encourage them to be vaccinated for their own good, in particular.
“Having them vaccinated is also a way of protecting ourselves,” she said.
To increase the number of tourism workers that gets the vaccine, Tiopes said that they are asking local government units to allocate a certain portion of their vaccines for tourism workers.
Tiopes added that Secretary Bernadette Puyat had also promised to provide an allocation of Covid-19 vaccines for all tourism workers in the country.
According to Tiopes, having more tourism workers getting vaccines would boost confidence for tourists to resume travels and visit to tourist destinations thereby helping the circulation of money that helps in improving the local economy.
In Samar province, 26% of the 350 tourism workers in the province are already fully or partially vaccinated.
The province, during the celebration of World Tourism Day 2021 on Tuesday(Sept.28) inoculated 61 individuals who are members of people’s organizations running community-based tourism in the towns of Paranas and Basey, and tourism facility workers in Catbalogan City.
The inoculation drive was also graced by Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan, Rep.Sharee Ann Tan (2nd district), and Catbalogan City Mayor Dexter Uy.
The vaccination of tourism workers in the province gives signal that Samar is already ready to welcome the arrival of tourist, according to Gov.Tan.
“Hopefully with this, we can now fully resume the operation of tourism activities in Samar,” he said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Balangiga Encounter marked in a low-key ceremony
120th year
TACLOBAN CITY- The 120th anniversary of the Balangiga Encounter was remembered on Tuesday (Sept.28) without much fanfare with its main guest, Senator Cynthia Villar delivering her message virtually.
The very low key commemoration of America’s greatest defeat in the hands of Filipinos during the Filipino-American War was mainly due to the continuing scourge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“The simplest so far because all of our visitors are from Eastern Samar. No national figures,” Fe Campanero, information officer of the municipal government, said.
The commemoration started with a Mass held at the St. Lawrence the Martyr followed with the blessing of the three bells enshrined at the grounds of the said church presided by parish priest Fr.Manny Lunario.
A wreath-laying ceremony led by Mayor Randy Graza was held at the monument of local hero Capt. Valeriano Abanador who led the uprising on Sept.28,1901.
A short program was held at the town’s gymnasium with its main guest, Sen. Villar delivering her message online. Several of mayors of the province were around with both Governor Ben Evardone and Rep. Ma. Fe Abunda, sending their respective representatives.
In her message, Villar paid tribute to the heroism and valour displayed by the Balangiganons 120 years ago.
Meantime, this year’s celebration of the Balangiga Encounter was also covered with sadness with the death of Donald “Bob” Couttie, a British national who helped in the campaign for the return of the bells from the possession of the Americans by writing books and articles regarding the bells and their return to the town of Balangiga.
The 71-year old died last September due to prostrate and lung cancers and was buried last Saturday (Sept.25) at the town’s public Catholic cemetery.
Couttie, who chose to live in Balangiga, married last year to widower Nita Mesa.
The bells of Balangiga were returned by the US government last December 11, 2018, 117 years after these artifacts were brought by the American forces.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Mayor Romualdez vows more facilities to be constructed at the Tacloban north
TACLOBAN CITY- More facilities in line for Tacloban North.
This was assured by City Mayor Alfred Romualdez as he told the more than 200 beneficiaries of housing projects for families displaced by Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ eight years ago.
“Housing is not enough. We need more facilities here,” Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez told the 222 Yolanda Pabahay beneficiaries who received their titles last September 23, 2021, pointing out that living condition improvement does not end in getting their own houses.
Moreover, Mayor Romualdez mentioned about putting up more facilities in Tacloban North, including a P20 million worth dry market, the budget of which was made possible by Sen. Imee Marcos.
He also talked about how the newly launched modern PUVs have been helping the commuters from the northern barangays, and how he has been pushing for 24/7 availability of water to be realized in the area.
Happy to see the 222 beneficiaries from St. Francis Village 1 & 2, North Hill Arbours 1 & 2, and Villa Diana going home to their respective houses as official property owners, the city mayor told them about how he has been working on saving them from the needed fees that the national agencies will charge them upon processing the documents, aside from the free notarization that the LGU is giving them.
He further stated his hopes for the release of the remaining 9,000 Yolanda Pabahay titles before 2021 ends, urging the concerned offices to fast track the needed processes.