TACLOBAN CITY– An alleged rebel member was killed and different ammunitions were recovered after an encounter with government troops in a hinterland village in Borongan City, Eastern Samar on Saturday (Feb. 18).

Report from the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, disclosed that the 11 am fire fight took place in Barangay San Andres in the said city.

This resulted in the death of one rebel and the recovery of firearms left behind the nine alleged rebels who engaged the soldiers from the 78th Infantry Battalion whose headquarter is in Borongan City, the report added.

Also recovered by the soldiers were an anti-personnel mine and assorted ammunition.
The government troopers learned on the presence of the rebels in the area after villagers reported it.

Lt. Col. Allan Tria, the commanding Officer of the 78IB, appealed to the rebels who continue to fight against the government to lay down their arms.

He also called on the villagers to help them the rebels who could have sustained wounds during the encounter so they could be provided with medical treatment.

Meanwhile, Major General Camilo Ligayo, the commander of 8th ID, commended the troops of 78IB for their efforts on their fight against the rebels and to bring peace in Eastern Samar province.

“Once again, the communist terrorist group leadership failed to take care of their fallen comrade. They have been deceiving the people of Samar Island to join their futile and ill-motivated armed struggle ever since. I call on the Samar Island people to join us in our efforts and once and for all End the Local Communist Armed Conflict here in Eastern Visayas,” he said in a statement.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CAMP VICENTE LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – The 8th Infantry “Stormtroopers” Division, Philippine Army welcomes a new breed of soldiers after having completed a six-month training at Camp Eugenio Daza in Hinabangan, Samar today, February 20, 2023.

A total of 564 new privates who graduated from the Candidate Soldier Course Classes 736, 737, 738, and 739-2022 have finished their Basic Military Training (BMT) during their Candidate Soldier Course, which started on July 18, 2022.

The new privates have completed their training that has put their physical and mental abilities to test while transforming them from civilians into military men and women.
Of the 564 new privates, 537 are males and 27 are females.

Two hundred ninety-one of them are from Samar, 42 from Eastern Samar, 45 from Northern Samar, 139 from Leyte, 13 from Southern Leyte, 5 from Cebu, 3 from Bohol, 1 from Biliran, 4 from Negros Oriental, 2 from Negros Occidental, 2 from Camarines Sur, 1 from Surigao del Sur, 6 from North Cotabato, 2 from Lanao del Norte, 2 from Agusan del Sur, 2 from Surigao del Norte, 1 from Davao del Norte, 1 from Bukidnon, 1 from Kalinga and 1 from Rizal.

Among the 564 new soldiers, a 22-year-old Pvt Joshua Regayas from Calbayog City, Samar topped the newest batch of Army soldiers in Eastern Visayas. And followed by a 24-year-old Pvt Angela Cayunda still from Calbayog City, Samar. Pvt Cayunda is a licensed criminologist, an advanced ROTC graduate, and a commissioned 2nd
Lieutenant in the Army Reserve Command.

Major General Camilo Z. Ligayo, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, presided over the ceremony.

In his speech, Maj. Gen. Ligayo lauded the trainees for overcoming the challenges that were part of the process of shaping and preparing them to be smarter, stronger, and better individuals equipped with the necessary knowledge as they begin their journey in serving the country.

He also emphasized the essence of being a soldier and the responsibilities it entails.
“Dugo’t pawis ang inyong naging puhunan upang maabot ninyo ang inyong kinatatayuan ngayon. At sa pagkakataong ito, ang inyong dedikasyon at pagsisikap ay nagbunga na sapagkat kayo ay ganap ng mga sundalo ng Republika ng Pilipinas,” Maj. Gen Ligayo said.

Maj. Gen. Ligayo also expressed his gratitude to the parents of the new troops for entrusting them with their children who would serve the nation as new soldiers.

“Alam ko ang lungkot na inyong pinagdaanan ng mawalay sila sa inyo ng panandalian subalit kapalit naman nito ay kasiyahan na sila ay masilayan suot ang unipormeng
kanilang pinaghirapang makamtan,” Maj. Gen. Ligayo added.

The new graduates will assist in fighting insurgency and bringing out peace to the entire region by serving in various army battalions and units throughout Eastern Visayas.
The distribution of certificates and awarding of individuals, oath-taking, and ceremonial entrustment of firearms are some of the highlights of the said activity. (PR)

ORMOC CITY– A businessman and his companion were arrested in a sting operation in Isabel, Leyte on Thursday (Feb. 23).

Seized from the possession of the two suspects, businessman Froilan Lascoña, 54, and Rodney Cabalud, 24, were four sachets containing suspected shabu with a street value of P5,000 during the buy-bust operation in Barangay Marvel at about 7:20 pm.

Charges of violation of RA 9165, or the comprehensive anti-drug law, were filed by the police against the two suspects who are temporarily detained at the locked-up cell of Isabel police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-A fisherman earlier reported to be missing was found dead in a coastal village of Guiuan town, Eastern Samar on Wednesday (Feb.22).

Police identified the fisherman as Ronnie Arceño, a resident of Barangay Campoyong, Guiuan, whose already bloated body was found in Brgy. Sulangan, also in the same town.
Initial investigation conducted by the local police disclosed that the said victim went fishing last Tuesday(Feb.21) but accidentally fell from the boat when it was hit by big waves due to inclement weather.

His companions were not able to rescue the victim due to the strong current despite the efforts exerted by them to retrieve victims.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY-Four persons, one of them a minor, were arrested on Thursday (Feb. 23) in Catbalogan City, Samar for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl.

The arrested persons who only identified by the police on their aliases as ‘Macmac’, 26; ‘Mar’, 22; ‘Jimbo,’ 20; and ‘Bong’, 15 were all charged with statutory rape and an additional one for Macmac for violation of RA 9995, or The Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009.

The four suspects were arrested in their village in Payao with the help of some residents, city police chief Lt. Col. Edwin Oloan, Jr. said.

It was learned that the rape incident happened on November 27 of last year near an elementary school in Payao.

Prior to the incident, the 14-year-old girl was invited by her girlfriend for a drinking spree but was brought to a beach instead where the four suspects were waiting.

The girl, who was already under the influence of liquor, was then dragged by the four suspects near a school where she was repeatedly raped with one of them, Macmac, taking some videos while she was being sexually abused.

The video was later uploaded by Macmac which was seen by the victim’s parents.
The suspects are now detained at the lock-up facility of the Catbalogan city police while the 14-year old girl was placed under the care of the city social welfare and development office. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

ORMOC CITY-Four sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu were recovered from a man working as a job order at the municipal government of Tanauan, Leyte.

The suspect, Jerson Vencito,35, was arrested in a buy-bust operation by the personnel of the drug enforcement team of the local police on Thursday (Feb.23) at about 3:48 pm inside the town’s public cemetery in Barangay San Miguel.

Charges of violations of R.A. 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, were filed against the suspect who is now detained at the Tanauan police station.

(ROBERT DEJON)