TACLOBAN CITY-Police arrested a barangay councilor during a buy-bust operation here in the city Saturday (June 6).
The suspect was identified as Arthur Dave Degalla, 38, married and kagawad of Barangay 51-A, this city.
Purchased from the suspect was one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet of substance believed to be shabu.
Confiscated from his possession were two sachets of shabu, one P500 bill used as buy-bust money, 31 pieces of P500 bills as bogus money, one mobile phone, and cash amounting to P3,120.
The suspect will face charges for violation of sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
(RONALD O. REYES)
Barangay councilor arrested in a buy-bust operation
Unattended cooking burns 4 houses in Capoocan town
ORMOC CITY-A midday fire on Sunday at the town’s poblacion in Capoocan, Leyte was caused by an unattended cooking, said SFO2 Leo Hernandez, fire investigator of the town’s fire bureau.
The blaze gutted down four houses whose dwellers were mostly elderlies.
Hernandez said that the fire started at the house of Eutequia Makabenta, 88, who fell asleep while cooking for lunch. She lives alone.
The fire investigator said in a telephone interview that Makabenta was saved by her niece who was also her neighbor, when she noticed a fire starting in the kitchen particularly a cooking using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Citing the account of Makabenta’s niece, the investigator continued “the elderly who was already awake that time seemed shocked while watching the growing fire so the niece immediately grabbed her aunt out of the house.”
Also left homeless were Makabenta’s sister, Clara Paz, 80, and other neighbors Timotea Nicole, 60 and Nelia Aborque, 52. All of them failed to save any belongings since the fire had already engulfed their houses that were made of light materials.
Five fire trucks including responders from the neighboring towns of Carigara, Barugo and Jaro worked together to put out the blaze.
The incident started at 12:40 pm and was put out at 2 pm with total damage cost at P1.7 million.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
Lightning kills man in Samar
TACLOBAN CITY-A 23-year old man was killed after he was hit by a lightning in Zumarraga town in Samar province on Sunday (June 7) while he was trying to untie a rope of their motorized banca.
Killed was Romulo Papelerin of Barangay Mualbual who was with his friends on a motorized banca on their way for a swimming when the freak incident happened at around 11:30 am on that day, said Staff Sergeant Mat Jomel Tañega of the Zumarraga municipal police station.
Tañega, in a phone interview, said that Papelerin was with 13 others, including their village Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Esmeraldo Alborta for a swimming to an island located across their village, when he was hit by the lightning.
“As he was pulling the rope of the motorized banca as they were to leave for a swimming, heavy rain suddenly poured followed by a lightning which hit the victim who was standing at the rear portion of the banca,” the police officer said.
The victim died immediately though he was brought at the Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City.
None of his companions were hurt by the incident, the police said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Gym instructor killed after assaulting a police officer in Baybay City
ORMOC CITY- A gym instructor was killed by a police officer whom he challenged to a fist fight.
Baybay City police station chief Lt. Col. Alberto Renomeron said that Samuel Managbanag, 31, a gym instructor, sustained single gunshot wound in his chest and was already dead upon arrival at the city’s Western Leyte Provincial Hospital as declared by attending physician Dr. Russel Gerry Dejarme.
Renomeron said in an interview that in that Police Corporal Ronel Tapales, 32, was doing an intelligence work in that area of the city’s Barangay Sto. Niño, particularly in Zone 1, when he chanced upon a group of persons having a drinking spree beside on the street.
The police officer reminded the men that drinking of liquor in the public is prohibited under an existing ordinance of the city.
When told to stop their drinking binge, Managbanag, a man of huge body build and known to be expert in martial arts, challenged the cop for a fist fight.
Tapales ignored the suspect’s challenge but he was assaulted which prompted him to run.
While being chased, Tapales was cornered near a bamboo fence, and had no choice but to pull out his service firearm and fired the suspect once at a close range, Renomeron said.
Recovered at the scene was one piece fired bullet of caliber .9 mm pistol.
Tapales voluntarily deposited his service firearm, a .9 mm caliber gun and one magazine loaded with 11 live bullets.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA with RONALD O.REYES)
PRO-8 turns over 597 units of ISO equipment
PALO, Leyte – The Police Regional Office (PRO-8) has turned over 597 units of Internal Security Operations (ISO) equipment to its different units.
PRO-8 Regional Director Police Brigadier General Bernabe Balba said that the 597 units consist of 372 units 5.56mm Basic Assault Rifle (BAR) “Galil Ace22N” with accessories; 141 units 5.56mm BAR “K2C1” with accessories; 50 units 9mm “Taurus” Striker Fired with accessories; 20 units “NEGEV 7” Light Machine Gun (LMG) with Retractable Butt Assembly and accessories; 12 units K3 5.56 Light Machine Gun (LMG) with accessories and 2 units 9mm “Canik” Striker Fired with accessories were turned over to different Police Provincial Offices (PPOs), City Police Offices (CPOs), Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) and all Provincial and City Mobile Forces.
Balba said that along with the 597 are 20,020 rounds cartridge 5.56 mm ball; 20,000 rounds cartridge 7.62mm ball; 3,627 Magazine 30 rounder for AR15/M16 5.56mm; 2,600 rounds cartridge 9mm ball; 863 ballistic eye wear; 208 Magazine for 9mm Pistol and 128 magazine box/pouch were also turned-over to the said recipient units.
“We are very grateful to our President for giving priorities to our men in uniform. Maswerte tayo dahil meron tayong ganitong kagamitan. Indeed, it will boost the morale of our personnel to fight our battle against the CPP/NPA,” Balba said.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
300 City Hall employees designated as COVID-19 monitoring team
T
ACLOBAN CITY-Acting City Health Officer Dr. Gloria Fabrigas during the deputization seminar on Monday, June 8, talks to the 300 local government employees to help strengthen the implementation of the city ordinances on anti-smoking and facemask (City Ordinance 2020-14-07).
As ordered by Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the said employees will be part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Monitoring Team and will assist in ensuring that the public observes the wearing of face masks and other health protocols such as physical distancing, in the community.
According to the facemask ordinance, all persons are required to wear a facemask when going outside their homes, while in transit, inside an establishment, and in public spaces.
Any person found violating the ordinance shall be penalized ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 with community service.
To date, Tacloban City has recorded two COVID-19 cases, the first case, who is a 29- year old returning overseas Filipino (seafarer) is now isolated but will soon be discharged after her second sample tested negative, while the second case, who is asymptomatic and currently admitted, is a 31-year old locally stranded individual (LSI).
(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)