TACLOBAN CITY – At least 25 people were killed for resisting arrests conducted by police authorities during anti-drug operations across the region from July 1 to Aug. 29, 2016. Of the 25 so-called drug personalities killed covering 215 anti-drug operations, seven of them were in Leyte; four each in Samar, Southern Leyte and Ormoc City and three each in Northern Samar and Tacloban City. In a report to the Regional Development Council’s Development Administration Committee, PNP acting regional director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar said 261 drug personalities have been arrested in these drug operations. At least 12,526.77 grams of shabu and 42.78 grams of marijuana have been recovered by authorities with total worth of P100.19 million. The police also confiscated 57 long and short firearms. Drug buy-bust, raids, and search led to the filing of 199 cases in courts, Beltejar said. Since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency, 8,483 houses have been visited by the local police under its “Oplan Tokhang”, which resulted for 16,766 users and 2,122 pushers to surrender or a total of 18,888 surrenderees. Leyte has the most number of self-confessed drug personalities at 5,618; Southern Leyte, 4,490; Eastern Samar, 2,793; Ormoc City, 2,089; Northern Samar, 1,237; Samar, 1,129; Tacloban City, 985; and Biliran, 547.  “The sustained anti-illegal drugs under Project: Double Barrel by anti-illegal drugs units had paved way for a more responsive community in combating the drug menace and defacing crime-breeding areas,” Beltejar said. He assured that the PNP in the region will continue their efforts to eradicate illegal drugs. As a result of the increasing number of self-confessed drug personalities, the Department of Health embarks on training local health workers to assist in the rehabilitation process through community-based approach. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)

ORMOC CITY-Embattled Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. reiterated his appeal for his son Kerwin to surrender to the government authorities. Espinosa made this tearful appeal during a press conference held at the town police station, where he sought custody since August 27. The beleaguered mayor also asked his son’s associates to surrender as well saying they would be in safe hands with the local police, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido.  “I call for my son Roland ‘Kerwin’ Espinosa, to surrender. Dong Kerwin look at your father, you know very well that I am innocent of all these. I am the one suffering now for what happened”, the elder Espinosa emotionally said in a press conference on August 30. Espinosa had earlier asked his son, whose whereabouts remain unknown, to surrender. The town mayor had surrendered before PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa on August 2 after he was named by President Rodrigo Duterte to be in the illegal drug trade.

Aside from his son, Espinosa also named four personalities whom he said were his son’s friends namely Max Miro, Galo Bobares, Tonipet Saldivar and Ferdinand Rondina.
Rondina is number two in this city’s drug watch list who had surrendered to the police last July. “As mayor of Albuera, I call all of you to surrender to Chief Insp. Espenido and no harm will be done to you,” Espinosa said. The mayor sought police custody on August 27 after receiving threats to his life.  He applied for the Witness Protection Program (WPP) after revealing in an affidavit the names allegedly connected to his son, the suspected top drug lord in Eastern Visayas.

He initially divulged members of PNP, government officials, members of Congress and a senator as their protectors to their alleged illegal drug activity. “The truth is, I do not have any involvement of his activities,” Mayor Espinosa said. The father and son were tagged by Pres. Duterte as behind the illegal drug operations in the region. “He is now working as a mayor. Ours is only for protective custody to secure his life according to his request. He is trying now to help the government in identifying the men in uniform and government officials who enjoyed drug money”, Espenido said.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

CALBAYOG CITY-Another group of soldiers from the region were deployed to Jolo, Sulu to help fight against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group. On Wednesday (August 31), soldiers of the 63rd Infantry Battalion left for their new assignment augmenting further the number of soldiers who are already deployed in Sulu. The deployment of the 63rd IB, which is under the command of Lt. Col.Carmelito Pangatungan and based in Las Navas, Northern Samar, was the second group of soldiers from the region to be reassign to fight against the Abu Sayyaf Group. Last May 29, soldiers belonging to the 19th IB, based in Kananga, Leyte, were also deployed to Sulu to help fight against the Abu Sayyaf Group. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte had issued an order to end the terrorism activities of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Mindanao which include abduction of foreigners and seek ransom in the millions of dollars.

Since the heighten campaign against the terrorist group, 15 soldiers have already died with the almost the same number of Abu Sayyaf members also killed. The 63rd IB left for their new assignment on Wednesday with a send-off ceremony held at the Calbayog Airport attended by top officials of the 8th Infantry Division and the 803rd Infantry Brigade. The 300 soldiers left for Sulu via a C-130 military plane.  “Even before we were informed of this assignment I already told my troop of the possibility that we will be assigned there (Sulu),” Pangatungan said. Col. Mario Lacurom, commanding officer of the 803rd IB, assured the public that the peace and order of Northern Samar and part of Samar would not be affected due to the reassignment of the 63rd IB.

“We have enough soldiers to man our peace and order here. Anyway, there is nothing much to worry in so far as our peace and order situation in Northern Samar and parts of Samar,” Lacurom said. The 803rd IB, of which the 63rd IB belongs, has a jurisdiction covering the entire Northern Samar and parts of Calbayog City.  The other battalion under its command is the 20th IB which is based in Catubig, Northern Samar.  Lacurom said that the deployment of the soldiers to Mindanao is their “contribution in attaining peace not only in Mindanao but for the entire country as well.” He also said that the headquarters of the 63rd IB will temporarily be occupied by the members of the 43rd IB which is based in San Jorge, Samar. Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Cesar Idio, assistant 8ID commander, reminded the soldiers to be careful and enhance commandership, leadership and continue with the needed training.  (JENNIFER SUMAGANG ALLEGADO/ROEL T. AMAZONA)

With Mayor Espinosa eyed as target  

ALBUERA, Leyte- Anticipating of a possible attack, members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion and the Leyte Provincial Public Safety Company were deployed to this town on Thursday (Sept1). The deployment of these forces was triggered on the revelations of embattled town Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. of high ranking police officers who were on his payroll. Espinosa, tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as drug protector with his son Kerwin as the region’s top drug lord, signed an affidavit detailing his involvement on the illegal drug activity naming top police officials, a former Justice Secretary and several local officials as their alleged protectors.
Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, local police chief, said that while they have not received any information of possible attack at their police station, they are not taking any chances.
“We received no intelligence report that there will be an attack in our police station but we don’t want to discount the possibilities.So it’s important that we are prepared to respond,” Espenido said.
Aside from augmenting forces, check points are also being conducted in various points of Albuera. Curfew involving minors are also in full force as well as non-using of helmet among drivers.
Mayor Espinosa is staying inside the police station as he sought for police protective custody.
Police Inspector Salvador Apacible, team leader of the augmentation police, described the reinforcement as “planned deployment of additional personnel.”
“Our mission is to assist our fellow police officers to maintain peace in Albuera. Additional police forces are here to assist with the efforts to re-man, re-equip, but its primary mission will remain force protection. The more police we have, the less crime there will be,” Apacible added.
Meanwhile, people in Albuera have mixed feelings over the presence of police patrolling the town streets.
Rene Gilbert Estacio, village chairman of Mahayag, welcome the deployment describing it as “good thing.”
“It makes us feel more secure especially during the nights,” he said. Others, however, said the sight of police makes them uneasy.
“It makes me feel more nervous than secure to be honest,” said a teacher who declined to be named.
(JAZMIN E. BONIFACIO)

TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Cristina Romualdez issued an appeal to those who oppose the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
The city mayor said that as a Christian nation, forgiving is one of its virtues.
Romualdez, who is married to former mayor Alfred Romualdez who is a nephew of former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, said that it’s about time for us to forgive whatever misdeeds Marcos had done during his 20 year rule and allow him to be buried “properly” befitting his former position as a former president.
“Dapat magmahalan na tayo; magkapatawaran and should move on. We cannot move forward kung walang reconciliation and forgiveness kung totoo tayong Kristiyano,” Romualdez said.
“I really feel that Marcos, (he was) president for 20 years, deserves a proper burial. He was also a former soldier,” she added.
Human rights groups in the country and victims of martial law are opposing the burial of Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani saying he does not deserve to be buried there considering what he did to the country and its people during his iron-fisted rule of two decades.
Marcos was ousted through the first People Power EDSA Revolution in 1986.
But Mayor Romualdez, whose own father, Jose Mari, was a supporter of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino who defeated Marcos during the 1986 snap presidential elections, maintained that the late strongman deserves a proper burial.
“Kailangan huwag na tayong magkakampi.We should actually forget whatever happened in the past and move forward and give him the proper burial that he deserves,” she said.
Asked about the opposition of the human rights victims, Mayor Romualdez declined to comment reiterating her personal belief that Marcos should be buried where his family wishes.
In the region, the Commission on Human Rights documented 4,040 human rights abuses during the Marcos regime.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

CALBAYOG CITY- The chief of the Quality Assurance Section (QAS) of Samar First District Engineering Office (SFDEO), Engr. Raquel Sumayo hosted the quarterly Quality Assurance Engineers’ conference on August 11-12, 2016 at the I’s Plant Hotel’s conference hall, this city.
Under the supervision of Engr. Brinelda Mendoza, chief of the Quality Assurance Division (QAD), the two-day conference was attended by 50 materials engineers and representatives from District Engineering Offices (DEOs).
District Engineer Alvin Ignacio welcome the guests and participants in his message.
Engr. Mendoza tackled the issues and concerns relevant to quality control implementation based on the latest department orders released, and presented the status of performances of the DEOs.
Laboratory concerns were discussed by Engr. Irineo Purificacion, Jr. assistant chief of Quality Assurance Division, while updates on the submission of various quality control reports were discussed by the chief of the Quality Implementation Section (QIS) Engr. AdelfaBonifacio.
Planning and strategizing on how to improve each DEO’s performance particularly on the quality assurance and quality control of various projects concluded the conference. (PR)