ORMOC CITY — A three-year-old child was killed while several members of different families were injured after a vehicle rammed into pedestrians in Barangay Imelda, Tolosa on the evening of April 24, 2026.

The fatality, identified as MLD, 3, of Barangay Cabuynan, Tanauan, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Among those injured were “Mel,” 28, and MJC, 7, who are also from the same barangay and belong to the child’s family. Their father later reported to authorities that he also sustained minor injuries.

Other victims included “Hel,” 40, of Barangay Malbog, Tolosa; “Ger,” 32; AGT, 1; JTD, 10; SMD, 9; and KTD, 5 — all residents of Barangay Capangihan, Tolosa. Another individual later reported to police that they had also been injured in the incident. Most of the victims were from family groups.

Police identified the vehicle involved as a silver/green Mitsubishi Adventure driven by “Tony,” 55, a resident of Barangay Balao, Burauen.

Initial investigation by the Tolosa Municipal Police Station said the incident occurred at around 7:55 p.m. along Imelda Lane, near the town plaza, where officers were conducting foot patrol and visibility operations. Responding officers found several victims lying on the ground, while the vehicle had crashed into the stairs of the Tolosa Town Plaza.

Authorities said the vehicle was heading toward the national highway when the driver reportedly lost control, swerved toward an ukay-ukay stall, and struck the pedestrians.
The injured were rushed to the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center and the Leyte Provincial Hospital with the assistance of the Tolosa Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office rescue team.

The driver and the vehicle are now in police custody as authorities continue their investigation into the incident.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

TACLOBAN CITY — All 43 examinees from Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan City passed the April 2026 Midwives Licensure Examination, making it the top-performing school nationwide.

Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales lauded the graduates for achieving a 100 percent passing rate, calling it a testament to their dedication and commitment to the profession.

He also commended graduate Graceil Rado Dacuno for placing 10th in the exam with a 92.2 percent rating.

Data from the Professional Regulation Commission showed that 901 out of 2,124 examinees passed the exam nationwide, or a 42.4 percent passing rate.

Among schools with at least 30 examinees, ESSU ranked first, followed by the University of the Philippines School of Health Sciences and Tagoloan Community College in Misamis Oriental.

Gonzales emphasized the crucial role of midwives in delivering maternal and child healthcare, particularly in underserved communities.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY— A minor killed in an armed encounter in Samar was laid to rest on Saturday, April 25, as his grieving mother called for justice and condemned the group she said recruited and abandoned her child.

The victim, identified as alias John Paul, died during a clash on April 17, 2026. His burial was facilitated through the assistance of the local government of San Jose de Buan.
His mother, Jessa, expressed gratitude to the local government for helping provide her son a proper burial, but also voiced anger toward the armed group she blamed for his death.
“An akon gad la ginsasakitan han buot kay ngano ira la ginbabyaanan, waray la nira atamana. Ira gin-inupod mahingada [engkwentro] pero waray nira atamana, ginpahamak la nira,” she said, questioning why her son was left behind during the encounter.

She urged members of the group to surrender to avoid suffering the same fate, and made an emotional appeal to a relative still involved in the movement to return home.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over the recruitment of minors into armed group, a violation of national and international laws protecting children in conflict.

The Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division condemned the continued involvement of minors in armed struggle and reiterated its commitment to programs focused on community awareness and youth protection.

Authorities also urged families and communities to remain vigilant and report any attempts to recruit children into armed groups.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, ROEL T. AMAZONA, ROBERT DEJON)

In Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — Government troops have killed an alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) and recovered a high-powered firearm following a series of encounters in Samar, the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID) reported.

The fatality, identified only as alias ‘John Paul,’ was a member of the Regional Security Force under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

He was killed during a firefight on April 17, 2026, in the hinterlands of Barangay Salvacion, Jiabong, Samar, involving troops from the 46th Infantry Battalion (IB).

Soldiers recovered an M4 Bushmaster rifle at the scene after the encounter.

According to the military, the victim was left behind by fleeing fellow NPA members. His remains were brought to a funeral home in Catbalogan City and are awaiting identification and proper turnover to his family.

The encounter was part of a series of intensified military operations across Samar Island.
Prior to the encounter in Jiabong town, troops from the 19th IB also clashed with another rebel unit in Northern Samar.

On the same day as the Jiabong encounter, government forces discovered a cache of firearms in Sta. Rita, Samar.

The 8ID said the incidents reflect ongoing efforts to weaken insurgent groups operating in Eastern Visayas and reiterated its call for the remaining rebels to surrender and avail themselves of government reintegration programs.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)