ORMOC CITY— A joint anti-smuggling operation led by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) resulted in the arrest of a couple and the seizure of thousands of pesos worth of unstamped cigarettes in Barangay Asuncion, Maasin City on Thursday, February 5.

Recovered during the operation were several reams and packs of illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of P56,000. Authorities said the cigarettes bore no BIR tax stamps, and the suspects failed to present permits or authority to sell the products.

The suspects were identified by police as alias “Joseph,” 56, a businessman, and alias “Shirly,” 56, a half-Taiwanese national. Both are residents of Purok Sunkist, Barangay Asuncion, Maasin City.

The operation was conducted from around 11:50 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by joint personnel from BIR Region VIII, the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office, the Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the Maasin City Police Station.

Confiscated items included various brands of cigarettes such as Fort, Millano, Modern, Onion, Red, RGD, M1, New Orleans, Napoli, Commando, Double Happiness, Mighty, Walter, and other assorted brands.

All seized cigarettes are now under the custody of the BIR Region VIII for proper disposition.

Authorities said criminal charges are being prepared against the suspects for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, in relation to the illegal sale and distribution of illicit cigarettes.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY— The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Northern Samar rescued a fisherman after his motorized banca became half-submerged in the waters off Capul, Northern Samar on Friday morning, February 6.

The rescued passenger was identified as Henry Gerero Jr., a fisherman and resident of Barangay Villa Flores, Lavezares, Northern Samar.

The Coast Guard said it received a report from a concerned citizen regarding a half-submerged banca with one person onboard, initially sighted near Barangay Cabacungan, Allen, Northern Samar. A search and rescue team from Coast Guard Station Northern Samar and the Special Operations Unit (SOU) was immediately deployed aboard RB-052, with coordination made with nearby vessels.

The distressed banca was later spotted by LCT GT Express 2 in the vicinity waters of Capul, where the lone passenger was successfully rescued. The Coast Guard team took custody of Gerero and the banca, refloated and towed the vessel, and safely brought them to Barangay Victoria, Allen, Northern Samar.

Investigation showed that Gerero was operating an unregistered motorized banca en route to Lavezares when strong waves caused seawater to enter the vessel, leaving it half-submerged. No injuries were reported.

The Coast Guard reiterated its commitment to ensuring maritime safety and conducting prompt search and rescue operations.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — Farmers in MacArthur, Leyte are appealing to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to halt proposed iron sand mining in their communities, warning that the project could destroy farmlands, irrigation systems, and local livelihoods.

Over 200 rice farmers from barangays Maya, Pongon, Liwayway, and Romualdez held a candlelight vigil on February 7 to voice their opposition to operations by MacArthur Ironsand Mining Corp. (MIMC), which covers a 2,268-hectare area under a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) held by Strong Built Mining Development Corp. since 2007.

In a petition dated February 4, the farmers warned that resuming mining would lead to income loss, hunger, and long-term environmental damage, including biodiversity loss and water pollution. “We appeal to you to issue an Executive Order stopping the damaging mining operations in our territory,” the residents said.

Spokesperson Jesus Cabias Jr. said the farmers are not against mining in principle but questioned the company’s compliance with permit conditions, particularly rehabilitation of mined areas since operations began in 2012. Cabias also claimed that some residents opposing mining have faced harassment and restricted access to their own lands.

MIMC suspended operations in 2022 after damaging a drainage canal but resumed last June following local government approval contingent on restoration efforts. Opposition intensified after the arrival of a large dredger on January 2, raising fears of further damage to rice fields and irrigation systems.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) clarified that while MIMC holds a valid MPSA, its work program—which includes environmental safeguards and rehabilitation plans—has not yet been approved.

“Without that, they cannot resume operations in MacArthur,” said MGB Eastern Visayas information officer Celeste Faith de la Cruz.

MIMC, however, maintains it is legally entitled to operate, with area manager Laurence Medua saying, “We have complied with the requirements under the mining laws, and our documents are in order.”

MacArthur Mayor Rodin Babante said he would not intervene as long as the company secures all necessary clearances and adheres to MPSA terms, noting that some farmers have entered into agreements with the mining firm, including land buy-back schemes.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — To enhance disaster risk assessment and strengthen evidence-based planning at the local level, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VIII and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) will conduct a GeoRiskPH training in Northern Samar next month.

The upcoming activity was finalized during a coordination meeting between Northern Samar Vice Governor Clarence Dato and officials from DOST and Phivolcs, underscoring the provincial government’s support for science-based disaster preparedness initiatives.

DOST and Phivolcs representatives said the training will focus on the use of the GeoRiskPH platform, a national hazard and risk assessment system that enables local governments to collect, analyze, and share data to support informed decision-making and development planning.

The program will cover lectures on building typology, earthquake hazards, and volcanic hazards, complemented by hands-on field data collection using the GeoRiskPH and GeoMapperPH mobile applications.

Participants will include Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers and Local Planning and Development Officers from various municipalities in Northern Samar, who are expected to directly apply the tools in local disaster risk reduction and management efforts.

Provincial officials welcomed the initiative, citing its importance in improving disaster preparedness, risk reduction strategies, and sustainable development planning across the province.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)