TACLOBAN CITY– Several firearms owned by the members of the communist armed group, the New People’s Army (NPA), were recovered by soldiers in a mountainous village in Mahaplag, Leyte on Thursday.

The cache of firearms was buried by the rebels who have either lied low or now in hiding, said Col. Noel Vestuir, the commanding officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade based in Ormoc City, Leyte.

Vestuir said that the firearms were recovered by his troops in Barangay Maligaya, a remote village of Mahaplag town on Thursday at about 9:30 am.

He added that some civilians and former rebels who have earlier surrendered reported where these firearms were buried by the rebels.

These firearms consist of an M1 Garand rifle, a 40mm M79 Grenade Launcher, and assorted magazines belonging to the Platoon 1, Sub-Regional Command-LEVOX, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, Vestuir said.

The Army official said that the recovery of the firearms due mainly to the information from former rebels is an indication that the communist armed group is no longer ‘welcome’ by the villagers.

“I reiterate my call to the remaining NPAs who are still hiding in the mountains in our area of responsibility to surface and join their families in the mainstream of our society,” Vestuir said.

“You are no longer welcome by the people in the communities since they are already with us in our efforts to end this 54 years of local communist armed conflict. They are now giving us the information on your whereabouts, the locations of your pre-positioned foods in the area and even your arms caches,” he added.

He reminded the still active rebels to surrender and avail programs of the government that provide them benefits like the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program(E-CLIP). (JOEY A. GBIETA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA )

CALBAYOG CITY– A fire of still unknown origin resulted in the death of a minor and the injury of one occupant in Calbayog City on Wednesday (Jan.4).

The fire incident hit a residence at about 1:48 am in Purok 5, Barangay Capoocan in the said city.

Calbayog Fire Marshal S/Insp. Jimmy Pasague identified the fatality as Lou Renz Bacsal, 14, student of Calbayog City National High School, while the injured victim was identified as Michael Montes, legal age, self-employed.

Bacsal’s mother, who is a nurse, was on duty in one of the hospitals of this city when the fire occurred.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Winnie Bartolome, case investigator, in an interview said that the fire, according to witnesses, started in the room of Montes.

She added that the house, made of concrete and wood materials, is owned by Pastor Daniel Montes, father of Michael.

SFO1 Bartolome continued that the fatality was found during clearing operations lifeless inside the room they occupied after the fire and suspected to have died of suffocation as no burns were found in his body.

Montes incurred second-degree burns on his feet and first-degree burns on his right.
The fire was controlled at about 2: 26 am and was totally put out at 2: 55 am.
Damage of the fire was estimated to be worth P720, 000.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY-After almost a year of hiding, a prison escapee was rearrested on Wednesday (Jan.4) in this city.

Byron Murillo,40, who is facing a string of estafa charges, was captured by members of the criminal investigation unit of the city police office at about 2 pm in Barangay 95-A Caibaan district where he went into hiding.

An informant led to the arrest of the suspect who was detained at the Leyte Provincial Jail in Palo town where he has been incarcerated since August 25, 2021.

However, on Jan.11 of last year, the suspect managed to escape from his jail guards while they were on their way out from the Justice building using a vehicle purportedly owned by his girlfriend.

The accused was first brought to Tacloban City Police Office for documentation and proper disposition before he was turned over to the court of origin. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

CALBAYOG CITY– A fire of still unknown origin resulted in the death of a minor and the injury of one occupant in Calbayog City on Wednesday (Jan.4).

The fire incident hit a residence at about 1:48 am in Purok 5, Barangay Capoocan in the said city.

Calbayog Fire Marshal S/Insp. Jimmy Pasague identified the fatality as Lou Renz Bacsal, 14, student of Calbayog City National High School, while the injured victim was identified as Michael Montes, legal age, self-employed.

Bacsal’s mother, who is a nurse, was on duty in one of the hospitals of this city when the fire occurred.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Winnie Bartolome, case investigator, in an interview said that the fire, according to witnesses, started in the room of Montes.

She added that the house, made of concrete and wood materials, is owned by Pastor Daniel Montes, father of Michael.

SFO1 Bartolome continued that the fatality was found during clearing operations lifeless inside the room they occupied after the fire and suspected to have died of suffocation as no burns were found in his body.

Montes incurred second-degree burns on his feet and first-degree burns on his right.
The fire was controlled at about 2: 26 am and was totally put out at 2: 55 am.
Damage of the fire was estimated to be worth P720, 000.
(ROBERT DEJON)