TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan officially took his oath as congressman-elect for the province’s second district on Wednesday, June 11, in San Roque town, of said province.

The oath-taking ceremony was administered by Mayor Maria Ana Abalon and attended by Ongchuan’s family, including his wife Bles Ongchuan and son, Laoang councilor-elect Emil Ongchuan III.

Also in attendance were key political allies such as Vice Governor Clarence Dato, Board Member Don Abalon, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, barangay captains, and department heads of the San Roque local government.

Ongchuan secured a decisive victory in the 2025 midterm elections, receiving 9,990 votes in San Roque alone—equivalent to 93 percent of the vote—mirroring his strong showing during his first congressional win in 2016.

He previously served as the second district representative from 2016 to 2019, before winning the gubernatorial post and serving two consecutive terms as Northern Samar governor.

As governor, Ongchuan championed initiatives that placed the province on the investment map, particularly in the renewable energy sector, in collaboration with the Board of Investments (BOI).

He also led the establishment of the Northern Samar One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (NS-OSACSI), which streamlines the process for securing local permits and approvals.

Under his leadership, Northern Samar attracted at least 12 major investments in agriculture, fisheries, and renewable energy, boosting local economic development and job generation.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– Government troops recovered five firearms following a clash with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in an upland village in San Jose de Buan, Samar on June 9, 2025.

“With this recent seizure of firearms since May, we have not only degraded the communist NPA terrorists’ capability to sow fear among our communities, but we’ve also shown that armed struggle has no sanctuary in Samar,” Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, commander of the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) based in Catbalogan City said in a statement.

Orio added that the Army would continue to sustain its momentum, in tandem with socio-economic interventions, to bring lasting peace to the region.

According to Major Jefferson Mariano, 8ID spokesperson, troops from the 87th Infantry Battalion launched focused military operations in Barangay Can-aponte, San Jose de Buan, where they recovered four M16 rifles and a .45-caliber pistol. Also seized were a mobile phone, medical supplies, and personal belongings.

“The clash erupted after concerned residents reported the presence of armed men allegedly passing through a farm in the area,” he said.

Since the start of June, the Army has intensified its campaign against the NPA in Samar, resulting in the recovery of over 12 high-powered firearms, the deaths of eight alleged rebels, and the surrender of a certain alias “In-In,” identified as a key figure in the Sub-Regional Guerrilla Unit, Sub-Regional Committee Arctic, under the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

(RONALD O. REYES)

ORMOC CITY– A 29-year-old woman who had been reported missing for nearly two weeks was found dead around 2:20 pm on Wednesday, June 11, in the mangrove area near the shoreline of Barangay Napotican, Salvacion, Laoang, Northern Samar.

The victim, identified by police as alias “Thelma,” a resident of Brgy. Candawid, Laoang, and living with a partner, was discovered by local fishermen who immediately alerted the village officials.

According to the Laoang Municipal Police Station, they were informed about the discovery around 3:15 pm by the Punong Barangay of Salvacion.

Personnel from the police and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) responded and confirmed the presence of a lifeless female body in the area.

The victim’s live-in partner later identified the remains and told investigators that Thelma had been suffering from a mental illness. She had reportedly left their home unnoticed about two weeks ago and did not return. In the days that followed, residents claimed to have seen her wandering the streets of Barangay Salvacion Napotican.

Despite attempts by concerned individuals to approach her and bring her home, she reportedly avoided contact and sought isolation.

The victim’s family had been continuously searching for her until her body was found.
Police are conducting a follow-up investigation to determine whether foul play was involved. The Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Laoang has been tapped to conduct a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.

(ROBERT DEJON)