CAN-AVID, Eastern Samar– The lantern festival being observed in this town returned, two years after a hiatus due to the pandemic caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The festival, held last December 9 was participated by all the 28 barangays of the town.
A giant Christmas tree was also lighted up at the town plaza with the lanterns were also on display and along the national highway.

All the Christmas lanterns were made of recyclable and indigenous materials, Mayor Vilma Germino said.

Major requirement of the giant lantern festival is for the entry to use recyclable and indigenous materials in support to the local government unit’s solid waste management program according to Mayor Vilma Germino.

The winning giant Christmas lantern will receive P150,000 cash prize and additional P150,000 worth of barangay project for 1st prize; P100,000 cash prize with P100,000 worth of brgy project for second prize; and P70,000 cash prize with P70,000 worth of project.

Runners-up will receive P20,000 cash prize with P50,000 worth of barangay project.
Winners are to be declared on Dec.29 with the display of the lanterns to end on January 1.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY-The family of a man who reportedly died at the hands of a police officer in Maasin City is calling that justice be served to them.

Marck Padilla, cousin of Gilbert Ranes, 34, said that the family hopes that all the identified policemen who were said to be responsible on the incident would be held responsible.

“We are demanding justice be served to us. We seek that all the five policemen identified to have a part in the brutal killing of Jebew be discharged from service,” he said, referring his cousin by his nickname.

Ranes, eldest of the brood of five siblings whose both parents are out of work, was buried on Thursday (Dec.15) at the public cemetery in Macrohon, Southern Leyte.

According to Padilla, his cousin who worked as a tattoo artist and a fisherman, happened to be in Maasin City where the incident happened.

“He was a good person and has no bad record, even in our barangay. They could have brought him to the police station if indeed he was guilty instead of killing him,” he added.
On Dec.9, Ranes was accosted by Staff Sgt. Ronald Gamayon on the ground that he was suspected to have snatched a unit of iPhone S cellular phone with a value of P50,000 in Barangay Mantahan at about 7 pm.

Gamayon, a member of the provincial intelligence unit, reportedly beat the suspect.
The alleged mauling incident was said to have been recorded by some bystanders.
Four of the policemen who were on duty at that time, S/Sgts. Ricky Mantos and Jovan Alvarez, Corp. Russell Salar, and Pat. Rolando America, reportedly did nothing on the matter except bringing Ranes to the police station.

On Dec.12, Gamayon was placed under restrictive custody at the Southern Leyte provincial headquarters while the four other police officers were reassigned at the same headquarters.

On Dec.13, a case of homicide was filed against Gamayon at the City Prosecutor’s Office in Maasin.

Col. Hector Enage, the provincial police director, said that the provincial internal affairs service is conducting an investigation against the four reassigned cops.
Enage said that the result of the investigation will determine what possible liabilities were committed by the four in handling suspects of a crime.

“Our investigation is still ongoing if, among the four policemen, they can be charged administratively,” he said.

But this early, the charges that may be filed against the four cops could be neglect of duty or outright dismissal from service, Enage said.

The incident involving one of his cops irked Police Regional Director B/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil who immediately ordered for a thorough investigation by forming a special investigation task force.

The said task force is headed by Col. Salvador Alacyang, deputy regional director for operations with Col. Enage as a commander.

“Rest assured that this PRO (Police Regional Office) will closely monitor this case or similar incidents involving officers under my watch. Here in Eastern Visayas, we do not tolerate misfits among our rank and file. We always see to it that truth prevails,” Marbil said in a statement.

Based on a post-mortem examination conducted by the city health unit, Ranes suffered hematoma on both eyes and multiple abrasions on his neck and face.

(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY-The City Veterinary Office (CVO) reiterated once more the importance of responsible pet ownership and announced the schedule of their anti-rabies vaccination drive for the remaining days of December.

According to CVO Head Dr. Eunice Alcantara, if owners will take responsibility for their pets, probable rabies cases will be mitigated.

The last reported case of rabies in Tacloban City was in 2020 in Barangay Basper.
She also added that there will be no stray dog-related road accidents and their dog pound operations will decrease.

The official disclosed that CVO’s impounding services net an average of 10 stray dogs during their operations.

In a report from the Office on their dog pound operations, a total of 2,392 dogs had been voluntarily surrendered or caught as of November this year. Of the total number, only 53 were redeemed by their owners, while the rest were euthanized.

Meanwhile, the schedule of the anti-rabies vaccination drives is as follows: Dec. 14-15 at Brgy. 62-B; Dec. 16-19 at Brgy. 59-A; Dec. 21-23 at Brgy. 84 San Jose; and Dec. 26-30 at Brgy. 87 San Jose.

On the other hand, the CVO offers free 5 neuter services and 1 spay service at their office daily, during office hours. Those interested will only need to send a message to the official Facebook page of the veterinary office to register.

Lastly, the official encouraged pet owners to register their dogs to take advantage of the free services of the veterinary office. Dog registration is mandated under the animal code of Tacloban City.

“Waray layaw nga ayam kun may ada responsable nga pet owner,” said the City veterinarian.

Under Sections 15.1, 27, and 28 of City Ordinance 2006-9-264, or the “Animal Code of Tacloban,” owners of stray dogs will face sanctions.
(HJ ROCA/TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte Second District Engineering Office (L2DEO) went through the international roughness index (IRI) survey on December 1-2, 2022, with no major findings noted.

The IRI was conducted by the department’s Bureau of Quality and Safety (BQS), headed by Engr.Michael Dayao and Mark Anthony Comota and were assisted by the district engineering office’ field engineers.

Among the projects inspected includes asset preservation program for rehabilitation/reconstruction/upgrading of damaged paved roads – Primary Roads along: (1) Daang Maharlika in Dulag, Leyte; (2) Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road and B. Network Development Road Widening – Primary Roads projects along (3) Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road (4) Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road in Capoocan, Leyte.

All four projects were implemented under the 2022 General Appropriations Act wherein the two rehabilitation projects are physically 100% completed, while the road widening projects are still ongoing.

The IRI is used by highway professionals throughout the world as a standard to quantify road surface roughness.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

The 15-day Basic Rope Rescue Training conducted at Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Regional Office 8 under the supervision of the Regional Director C/Supt. Adel de Paz Bautista, DSC has finally concluded today at the Tacloban City Fire Station, Apparatus Floor.
The graduation ceremony was graced by the Deputy Director of the Special Rescue Force, BFP National Headquarters, S/Supt. Reynolf A. Salvador, Jr., who served as its guest of honor and speaker.

The said BRTC Training with Class Number 137-2022 started from November 29, 2022 until December 13, 2022 and was participated by 27 fire officers assigned in different stations of Eastern Visayas.

Among the topics that were discussed on the entire training duration include Basic Rappelling, Basic Ropemanship, Fundamentals of Rope Rescue, Ascending Techniques, Low Angle Rescue Techniques, High Angle Rescue Techniques, and Traversing Techniques.

The guest of honor and speaker said in his message that part of the BRTC training is to put into the minds of the trainees that in any emergency responses, there must be a command and a leader to follow, to make the operations successful.

“We must work and practice as a team. Discipline, respect and following of the instruction from our leaders who are in command is a must. We also must be prepared to any emergency calls,” said S/Supt. Salvador.

Further, the graduation was also attended by officers and SRF personnel of BFP Region 8 headed by Supt.Randy M. Mendaros, chief, Search and Rescue Force and the command group to include S/Supt. Rodrigo A. Almaden, Jr., ARD for administration, and Supt. Frezeir A. Agarin, regional chief of staff.

Meanwhile, with the addition of these 27 brave BRTC graduates, the people of Eastern Visayas would be sure enough to have a quality service, especially from our Special Rescue Force.

At present, the BFP Region 8 already has a total of 160 SRF officers and personnel, who are assigned at cities and major towns in all of its component provinces.
(FO3 Rey G Grado, caretaker, Public Information Unit/PR)