TACLOBAN CITY– A newly identified drug peddler listed as a street-level individual (SLI) on the local police drug watchlist was arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) on the evening of October 14 in Barangay 62-B, Sagkahan, this city.
Police identified the suspect only by his alias “Cloycloy,” 42, self-employed, and a resident of the said barangay.
During the operation, an undercover police officer purchased a sachet of suspected shabu worth ₱500 from the suspect. Upon his arrest, authorities recovered a black coin purse containing seven additional sachets of suspected shabu. They also seized the marked P500 bill used in the transaction.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he fully understood.
He is currently detained at the lock-up cell of the Tacloban City Police Office pending the filing of formal charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, before the Bulwagan ng Katarungan in Tacloban City.
INSURGENCY-FREE. Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar, was officially declared insurgency-free in a ceremony held on October 16. Mayor Dianne Rosales signs the official declaration document marking the municipality’s achievement of stable internal peace and security.
(MIO CATARMAN, NORTHERN SAMAR FACEBOOK)
INSURGENCY-FREE. Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar, was officially declared insurgency-free in a ceremony held on October 16. Mayor Dianne Rosales signs the official declaration document marking the municipality’s achievement of stable internal peace and security. (MIO CATARMAN, NORTHERN SAMAR FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY — The provincial capital of Northern Samar, Catarman, has been officially declared under a stable internal peace and security (SIPS) condition — more popularly known as “insurgency-free” — marking a major milestone in its decades-long journey toward peace and stability.
The declaration, held on Oct.16, recognizes the town’s progress in addressing local insurgency threats and fostering a secure environment conducive to development. It also signifies that the responsibility for maintaining internal peace and order now lies primarily with the local government unit (LGU) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), with continued support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The ceremony, held in Catarman, highlighted the collective effort of various stakeholders led by the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC) chaired by Mayor Dianne Rosales.
“Ini nga SIPS Declaration diri ini an katapusan, kundi panibag-o ini nga pagtikang — sayo nga panata nga aatamanon nga tatagan naton bug-at an kamurayawan nga aton nakab-ot,” Mayor Rosales said.
“Let us continue to build a Catarman where hope thrives, opportunities abound, and peace is sustained for generations to come.”
The event was attended by key officials including DILG Northern Samar Provincial Director Geraldine Maquelabit, 803rd Infantry Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Carmelito Pangatungan, Police Provincial Director Col. Sonnie Omengan, and Governor Harris Christopher Ongchuan, represented by SP Member Neil Hernandez.
Lt. Col. Jayson Que, commanding officer of the 43rd Infantry Battalion, described the declaration as a product of sustained collaboration among all sectors of society.
“Achieving insurgency-free status is a significant achievement, but it is not the end of the journey. We must remain vigilant and continue to work together to sustain the peace we have achieved,” Lt. Col. Que said.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the LGU of Catarman, the AFP, and the PNP, reaffirming their united commitment to maintaining peace and development. The signing was followed by a symbolic release of white doves, representing hope for a peaceful and progressive Catarman.
Brig. Gen. Pangatungan commended former rebels who decided to lay down their arms and reintegrate into society, calling them “symbols of renewed hope.”
“Peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of hope, livelihood, and dignity,” he said. “This declaration marks a new mission — to sustain development, deliver services even to the farthest sitios, and empower every Nortehanon to live with dignity.”
Also present were Vice Mayor Francisco Rosales Jr., members of the Sangguniang Bayan, 55 barangay captains, municipal department heads, and representatives from national government agencies, who all joined in signing the Wall of Commitment — a collective pledge to safeguard the peace the town has achieved.
The SIPS declaration positions Catarman as a model for other towns in Northern Samar still striving for lasting peace, underscoring the importance of local leadership, community participation, and inter-agency cooperation in ending local insurgency and sustaining progress.
TACLOBAN CITY — Sixty-three beneficiaries from Hilongos, Leyte received a total of P2 million in livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office to help boost local economic recovery and support small-scale enterprises.
Two local groups — the San Isidro Farmers Association of Brgy. San Isidro and the Hilongos Seafarers Association of Brgy. San Juan — each received livelihood packages for hog fattening projects, consisting of 100 piglets and 100 sacks of feed per group, valued at P1 million each.
The turnover ceremony was attended by Hilongos Mayor Manuel Villahermosa, Darwinda Labastida, senior labor and employment officer and livelihood program focal person, and other local officials including PESO Manager Giovani Olo, barangay chairmen Reynaldo Tuco, and Carmen Virdejo of San Isidro and San Juan, respectively.
Mayor Villahermosa and the barangay officials thanked DOLE for its continued partnership with the local government in creating livelihood opportunities and uplifting residents’ quality of life.
The initiative forms part of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), a flagship project designed to provide sustainable income sources for marginalized and vulnerable sectors, including farmers, fisherfolk, and displaced workers.
Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the support, noting that the assistance will not only increase their household income but also strengthen their associations’ capacity to manage long-term livelihood ventures.
Several recipients, including former seafarers and small-scale farmers, said the project gives them hope for renewed financial stability and better opportunities for their families.
AMBULANCES DONATION. The town of Matuguinao in Samar and Arteche in Eastern Samar are the latest local government units in Eastern Visayas to receive their ambulance from the Department of Health which is expected to improve and deliver fast healthcare services.(DOH-8)
AMBULANCES DONATION. The town of Matuguinao in Samar and Arteche in Eastern Samar are the latest local government units in Eastern Visayas to receive their ambulance from the Department of Health which is expected to improve and deliver fast healthcare services.(DOH-8)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Health–Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-EVCHD) has turned over one ambulance each to the municipalities of Matuguinao in Samar and Arteche in Eastern Samar to strengthen emergency healthcare services in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
The turnover ceremony was attended by Matuguinao Mayor Aran Boller and Arteche Vice Mayor Roland Boie Evardone, who both expressed their gratitude to the DOH for the much-needed medical support.
The donation is part of the national government’s initiative to improve access to emergency and referral services in hard-to-reach communities across the country.
Mayor Boller said the ambulance will serve as a vital lifeline for residents of Matuguinao, particularly those in far-flung barangays who face challenges in reaching healthcare facilities during emergencies.
“No Matuguinaonon is left behind in the quest for development, especially in the delivery of health services. This vehicle will serve as a lifeline for our people in times of emergency, ensuring access to timely and quality healthcare,” he said.
Vice Mayor Evardone echoed the same gratitude, saying the ambulance will help Arteche respond faster and more efficiently to patients needing transport to hospitals or higher-level medical facilities.
“This will strengthen our town’s emergency response and ensure that Artechanons, especially those in remote barangays, receive immediate medical attention when needed,” he said.
According to DOH-EVCHD, the provision of ambulances is part of its continuing commitment to enhance health service delivery and ensure that even the most underserved areas in Eastern Visayas are equipped to respond effectively to emergencies and safeguard public health.
TACLOBAN CITY – Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez led the distribution of financial assistance to Ormocanon athletes who will represent the city in the upcoming Batang Pinoy 2025 national youth sports competition.
The event will be held from October 25 to 30, 2025, in General Santos City. Each athlete and their coach received P15,000 in cash assistance to help cover expenses during the week-long tournament.
Ormoc City’s delegation will compete in several sporting disciplines, including badminton, boxing, arnis, table tennis, lawn tennis, jiu-jitsu, athletics, swimming, 3×3 basketball, taekwondo, wrestling, dancesport, archery, pencak silat, and cycling.
Joining Mayor Torres-Gomez during the distribution were members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod: SP Member Edmund Kierulf (chairperson of the committee on education and manpower development), SP Member Kia Mercadal (vice chairperson), SP Members Ari Larrazabal, Burt Pades, Caren Torres Rama, Lalaine Marcos, and SK Federation President Jhana Lyka Calixtro.
First launched in 1998 through Presidential Executive Order No. 44, the Batang Pinoy program is a flagship project of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) designed to discover and nurture young athletic talent across the country while instilling values of discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
The anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings is not merely a date on the calendar; it is a reminder of the freedom bought with blood and sacrifice. To take this commemoration lightly is to dishonor the memory of those who fought and died so that this nation might live free.
When General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise to return to the Philippines in 1944, he did not return alone. He brought with him the hopes of an oppressed people and the might of the Allied Forces, determined to reclaim a land gripped by Japanese tyranny. The Battle of Leyte that followed was one of the bloodiest campaigns of World War II, claiming thousands of Filipino and American lives. Yet it marked the turning point that led to the liberation of the Philippines and the collapse of the Japanese imperial hold in the Pacific. Remembering this day is, therefore, not a matter of formality but of national duty.
The sacrifice of those who perished in Leyte and other battlegrounds across the country must never be reduced to a mere ceremonial reenactment or political display. These ordinary men and women—farmers, students, workers—chose country over comfort, life over liberty. Their courage and endurance laid the foundation for the democratic freedom enjoyed today. To forget their valor is to betray their memory and the ideals they fought for.
Sadly, the significance of this event seems to fade each year. Many young Filipinos now recall it only as a passing topic in history class, detached from emotion or gratitude. This growing indifference weakens national identity and erodes patriotism. People who forget their past become vulnerable to the same mistakes and injustices they once overcame. Historical remembrance is not nostalgia—it is moral vigilance.
Commemorating the Leyte Landing should therefore go beyond speeches and wreaths. It must be a day of reflection and education—a reminder to uphold the same courage and unity that once reclaimed the nation’s dignity. Schools must keep the memory alive, local governments must preserve the historical sites, and citizens must take pride in the lessons of this hard-won freedom.
