TACLOBAN CITY — Anti-drug operations in Eastern Visayas netted more than P14 million worth of suspected shabu and led to the arrest of three high-value drug personalities in a series of buy-bust operations conducted over two days.

The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), led by Regional Director B/Gen. Jason Capoy, carried out separate operations on May 4 and 5, 2026, targeting individuals listed in the Regional Priority Target List (RPTL).

On May 4, joint operatives from the Leyte Police Provincial Office, Palo Station Drug Enforcement Unit, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 8, and other supporting units arrested alias “Jepoy,” a 46-year-old welder from Palo, Leyte, who was ranked No. 1 in the RPTL.

Authorities confiscated approximately 1,025.96 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P6.9 million along with buy-bust money and other non-drug evidence.

The following day, another buy-bust operation led by joint elements of RPDEU-8, PDEA-8, Tacloban City Police Office units, and other enforcement teams resulted in the arrest of alias “Jun,” 42, a fast cargo driver ranked No. 2 in the RPTL, and alias “Chad,” 31, a delivery rider identified as a High-Value Individual (HVI). Both are residents of Tacloban City.

Seized during the second operation were around 1,055 grams of suspected shabu valued at P7. 17 million as well as buy-bust money and other evidence.

All confiscated items were properly marked and inventoried at the scene in the presence of required witnesses, in accordance with legal procedures.

Capoy said the operations highlight PRO-8’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs in the region. He reiterated the police force’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven efforts to curb criminality and ensure safer communities.

The suspects are currently in police custody and will face appropriate charges.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The local government of Dolores in Eastern Samar has received a P3.44-million livelihood grant from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide sustainable income opportunities for parents of child laborers and help reduce poverty in the municipality.

The grant is intended to support families identified as vulnerable to child labor, underscoring the government’s commitment to protecting children and promoting their welfare.

The funding will provide parents with decent and sustainable livelihood opportunities, addressing financial hardship considered one of the main causes of child labor. Through economic support for families, the program aims to keep children away from hazardous work and encourage them to return to school.

“This grant is a significant opportunity to change their lives. Through this funding, we will give parents the chance to have decent and stable livelihoods so their children will no longer be forced to work and can instead return to school,” Mayor Zaldy Carpeso said.
Carpeso emphasized that the assistance goes beyond financial aid, describing it as a long-term effort to break the cycle of poverty that pushes children into labor instead of education.

“Through unity and cooperation, we can break the cycle of poverty, protect our children, and ensure that every child in Dolores has the opportunity to study, dream, and achieve a better future,” he added.

The mayor also expressed gratitude to government agencies that helped facilitate the grant, including the regional offices of DOLE, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Carpeso assured residents that the funds would be used strictly for programs directly benefiting the identified families, ensuring that children in Dolores can pursue education without the burden of labor.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

In Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY – Residents and farmers in Barangay Canlampay, Carigara, Leyte now have safer and faster access to schools, markets, and essential services following the completion of a P27.2-million concrete road project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO).

The newly completed infrastructure project involves the construction of a 2.115-kilometer Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) road with a width of five meters and a thickness of 0.20 meters.

The road is also equipped with reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings to improve visibility and ensure safer travel, especially at night.

The project is expected to significantly improve mobility within the community by reducing travel time, easing the transport of agricultural products, and supporting local economic activities. Farmers, students, and residents are among those who will directly benefit from the improved road condition.

Barangay councilor Leticia Agumbay shared that residents previously struggled with muddy and difficult road conditions, especially during bad weather.

She said students had difficulty going to school, while farmers encountered challenges transporting their products to the town proper due to the lack of a reliable road network.
Agumbay expressed her gratitude to DPWH for providing the community with a better and more accessible road, noting that farmers can now transport their goods more conveniently and students no longer have to pass through muddy roads on their way to school. She added that the entire barangay council and residents of Barangay Canlampay are thankful for the completed project.

Funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the project was implemented with a total allocation of Php 27,200,000.00 by Just In Enterprises.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)