TACLOBAN CITY – The candidates who ran under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) emerged as victorious in Samar during the recently-held May 13 midterm elections.
Leading among the PDP-Laban winners in the province was outgoing Governor Sharee Ann Tan who was elected as a congresswoman representing the province’s second congressional district.
About 19 of the elected mayors in the province are affiliated with the PDP-Laban.
These areas were the city of Catbalogan and towns of Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Calbiga, San Jose de Buan, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Sta. Rita, Basey, Daram, Talalora, and Marabut, all in the second district of Samar.
However, PDP-Laban’s mayoralty candidates from the towns of Hinabangan and Zumarraga were defeated.
In the first district of Samar, mayoralty bets of the party won in the towns of Tarangnan, San Jorge, Pagsanghan, Matuguinao, and the island towns of Tagapul-an and Sto Nino.
Meantime, the candidates of the Liberal Party (LP) won in Calbayog City, Gandara, Almagro and Sta. Margarita.
The PDP-Laban had its biggest political victory in the province in San Jorge and Matuguinao.
In San Jorge, incumbent Mayor Nancy Grey and her husband, Jojo, who both belong to the Liberal Party, lost on their respective bids.
Mayor Grey lost to Leo de Guiua while Jojo was defeated by Jay Bisnar.
Meantime, former Matuguinao mayor Aran Boller reclaimed his post by trouncing outgoing Vice Mayor Carmel de la Cruz and her sister, incumbent Mayor Melissa de la Cruz, was also defeated by Boller’s running-mate, Cleofe Belonio.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- A policeman was shot dead by alleged members of the New People’s Army in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar on May 18.
Reports reaching the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police disclosed that the killed policeman was identified as Patrolman Michael Felipe Ribo, member of the police mobile force company of the PNP-Eastern Samar.
The killing of Ribo took place in Barangay Cambella of the said town at around 2:25 pm by three NPA members.
It was learned the killing of Ribo, who was from Balangiga, also in Eastern Samar, was related to a shooting incident in Brgy. Bagte, also in Quinapondan.
The slain police officer, who was assigned at the intelligence unit of the provincial PNP headquarters, was in Cambella on his way to Brgy. Bagte to gather information regarding to an earlier incident when his path was blocked by the perpetrators and shot him several times that resulted in his instant death.
The recovery of the remains of the slain police officer found some difficulties as there were information that NPA members were still in the area and ready to stage an ambush against the authorities.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

CARIGARA, Leyte – A more conducive learning facility will welcome the students of the Balilit Elementary School(BES), this town, being a recipient of “Adopt-a-school” project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) field office here.
On May 16, 2019, employees of the department volunteered at the said school for the repair and repainting of tables and chairs, cleaning of classrooms, and beautification of school grounds.
According to Engr. Gerald Pacanan, DPWH Leyte 2 head engineer, this is the first time that the district conducted this type of activity through the initiative of the organization.
“Employees whole-heartedly donated for the funding of this program. I am glad that despite heavy workloads in the office and short time of preparation, we still manage to realize this project,” he said.
Aside from helping in various school preparation activities, the office also distributed bags with school supplies and a pair of slippers to each pupil of the recipient school.
Clarissa Delos Santos, BES school principal, expressed her sincere gratitude to the whole DPWH family.
She added that this is a timely occasion for them as they will represent their area for the small category best Brigada Eskwela implementor.
Aside from this adopt-a- school program, DPWH will also deploy its maintenance force at various campuses for the weeklong Brigada Eskwela on May 20-24, 2019.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY- Former Northern Samar governor, Paul Daza, was elected as congressman of the province’ first congressional district.
Daza clobbered an old political rival, Harlin Abayon, to win the congressional race by almost 60,000 votes.
Daza, who was the governor of the province from 2010 to 2013, obtained 116,209 votes against former congressman Abayon (Nationalista Party) who only garnered 59,685 votes.
Daza together with Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento (1st district) were the only members of the Liberal Party in the region to get elected during the May 13 balloting.
Abayon was defeated by Daza’s father Raul during the 2016 elections as congressman.
The elder Daza is on his third and last term as congressman representing Northern Samar’s first congressional district which covers 14 towns which include Catarman, the provincial capital.
Meantime, Abayon’s son, Rep.Harlin Neil Abayon III also lost on his reelection bid as their party-list group Aangat Tayo failed to gather votes to earn a seat at the House of Representatives.
Also elected were Rep. Edwin Ongchuan as governor of the province, Vice Governor Gary Lavin who was reelected and outgoing Gov. Jose Ong who was elected as congressman representing the province’s second district.
The newly-elected officials of the province were proclaimed by the members of the Provincial Board of Canvassers as winners on May 16. (JOEY A. GABIETA/PETER D.PAREDES)