TACLOBAN CITY– POLICE arrested six wanted persons in separate manhunt operations across various towns in Leyte and Tacloban City on Friday, May 22, 2026.
“These operations demonstrate Leyte Police Provincial Office’s unwavering commitment to intensifying our manhunt campaign and ensuring that wanted persons are held accountable before the law,” said Colonel Celerino Sacro Jr., officer-in-charge of the Leyte Police Provincial Office.
“We will continue to sustain aggressive operations to uphold peace and order across Leyte,” he added.
The arrested persons were from Dagami, Mahaplag, Villaba and Barangay Nula-tula in Tacloban.
The six individuals were wanted for various violations including unlawful cockfighting operations, and violations of city/municipal ordinances.
They are now in the custody of their respective operating units for proper disposition prior to turnover to the courts of origin.
DIVE TOURISM IN SOGOD BAY. Department of Tourism–Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes speaks during the closing of the dive conversation under the Sogod Bay Underwater Experience in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, highlighting the need to balance marine conservation and local livelihoods.
(DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM-EASTERN VISAYAS)
DIVE TOURISM IN SOGOD BAY. Department of Tourism–Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes speaks during the closing of the dive conversation under the Sogod Bay Underwater Experience in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, highlighting the need to balance marine conservation and local livelihoods. (DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM-EASTERN VISAYAS)
PADRE BURGOS, Southern Leyte – The Department of Tourism in Eastern Visayas (DOT-8) has emphasized the need to balance marine conservation with the protection of local livelihoods during the closing of the dive conversation under the three-day Sogod Bay Underwater Experience.
DOT-8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes thanked local government units, barangay officials, fisherfolk, dive resort owners, tourism stakeholders, environmental groups, the academe, media, and national government agencies for taking part in the dialogue aimed at strengthening cooperation in protecting Sogod Bay’s marine resources.
She said dive tourism depends heavily on healthy marine ecosystems.
“Dive tourism and marine conservation are closely connected. Divers come from far places because they want to experience healthy reefs and thriving marine life. This is why protecting our seas also supports tourism and local income,” Tiopes said.
The DOT-8 chief said the forum served as an open platform where stakeholders were encouraged to share experiences, concerns, and ideas on the future of Sogod Bay and its growing dive tourism industry.
She acknowledged that coastal communities have long depended on the sea for food, income, culture, and survival, with fishing sustaining families for generations.
However, she noted the continuing challenge of balancing economic needs with environmental protection to ensure marine resources remain sustainable for future generations.
Tiopes stressed that dialogue among communities, tourism operators, and government agencies is key to building shared responsibility in protecting marine ecosystems.
She also expressed hope that lessons from other dive destinations could guide Sogod Bay in promoting both conservation and livelihood through stronger cooperation between stakeholders.
Sogod Bay, she said, remains ecologically important due to its rich marine biodiversity, healthy coral reefs, and diverse dive sites that continue to attract visitors.
At the same time, she underscored that fishing remains a vital source of livelihood in Southern Leyte, stressing that the goal is not to choose between conservation and livelihood but to achieve a sustainable balance.
“This is why what we are really aiming for is balance — making sure that our seas continue to provide for our needs today, while still being healthy enough to provide for us in the years to come,” she said.
Tiopes urged stakeholders to take part in simple but meaningful actions such as responsible fishing, reef protection, improved tourism practices, and stronger environmental governance.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City Councilor Atty. Sedfrey Cabaluna, a guest speaker at the event, called for stronger cooperation among local governments, communities, and the dive industry.
He stressed the need for greater community understanding of reef protection and its link to livelihoods and future generations.
“Kailangan ang local government and ang community and the dive community to work hand-in-hand in this matter,” Cabaluna said.
He added that marine conservation messages must be made more understandable to local communities so they can fully appreciate the long-term benefits of protecting coral reefs.
TACLOBAN CITY– Aboout 38 youth leaders from the Samar towns of Pinabacdao and Calbiga completed a three-day leadership summit organized by the Philippine Army’s 63rd Infantry Battalion aimed at strengthening peacebuilding and civic engagement among young people.
The Joint Youth Leadership Summit (YLS), held in Pinabacdao from May 18 to 20, 2026, gathered participants for lectures, workshops, team-building activities, and discussions focused on leadership development and nation-building.
Captain Christopher Tataro, spokesperson of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said the summit sought to enhance the participants’ leadership skills, patriotism, social responsibility, and role as advocates of peace and development in their communities.
“The summit aimed to develop the leadership capabilities, patriotism, social responsibility, and civic engagement of participating youth leaders while strengthening their role as advocates of peace and development in their respective communities,” Tataro said in a statement.
Participants also attended sessions on values formation, youth empowerment, health and anti-illegal drugs awareness, environmental protection, disaster preparedness, and social awareness.
“The youth play a crucial role in shaping the future of our communities and our nation. Through activities like the YLS, we aim to inspire young people to become advocates of peace, good governance, and community development instead of falling victim to violent ideologies,” the Army said.
“We encourage them to use their talents, energy, and voices in building a progressive and peaceful Samar,” it added.
Cris Balmes, regional vice president of the Youth for Peace Movement Eastern Visayas, emphasized the importance of involving young people in peace and development initiatives.
“Empowering the youth is essential in sustaining peace and preventing the resurgence of insurgency in vulnerable communities,” Balmes said.
“Youth are among the most influential sectors in society. By equipping them with leadership skills, proper values, and awareness of societal issues, we help protect them from deception and manipulation,” he added.
CONVICTED. Biliran 2nd District Board Member Lorenzo Alcala Reveldez Jr. was convicted by the Regional Trial Court in Naval, Biliran for malversation of public property involving government-owned equipment allegedly misappropriated during his term as mayor of Culaba town. (File photo)
Happened during his mayoral term
CONVICTED. Biliran 2nd District Board Member Lorenzo Alcala Reveldez Jr. was convicted by the Regional Trial Court in Naval, Biliran for malversation of public property involving government-owned equipment allegedly misappropriated during his term as mayor of Culaba town. (File photo)
TACLOBAN CITY — A sitting member of the Biliran provincial board has been convicted by a court in Naval, Biliran for malversation of public property linked to his tenure as mayor of Culaba town.
In a decision dated May 19, 2026, the Regional Trial Court Branch 37 found Biliran 2nd District Board Member Lorenzo Reveldez Jr. guilty of violating Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 10951.
Court records showed that Reveldez unlawfully appropriated government-owned equipment in 2020 while serving as mayor of Culaba.
The properties involved included a sound system and related accessories valued at P922,500.
The court ruled that the prosecution was able to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
“Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, the Court hereby renders judgment finding accused Lorenzo Reveldez, Jr., guilty beyond reasonable doubt as principal of the crime of malversation of public property…and hereby sentences him to suffer an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of two years, four months and one day as minimum to seven years and four months as maximum,” the court said.
Reveldez was also ordered to pay a fine amounting to P922,500, equivalent to the value of the missing government property.
The decision was signed by Presiding Judge Constantino Esper of the Regional Trial Court in Naval, Biliran.
Attempts to obtain a statement from Reveldez through his social media account were unsuccessful as of posting time.
However, in a social media post that appeared to refer to the case, Reveldez wrote: “I am still alive and kicking!!! No worries!!! God is good all the time.”
He also made a similar post, possibly alluding to his case by saying: “Dapat patas na judgement with concrete evidence…di sana politika ang basehan..hasy, Pilipinas kung mahal’(A fair judgment should be based on concrete evidence… not on politics. Sigh, Philippines, if you truly love (your country).
Reveldez served multiple terms as mayor of Culaba until 2022 before winning a seat in the Biliran Provincial Board representing the province’s second district in the 2025 elections.
DIVE TOURISM. Divers, tourism stakeholders, and local officials gather in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte for the “Sogod Bay Underwater Experience,” a four-day event promoting sustainable dive tourism and marine conservation in Eastern Visayas. The activity showcased the rich marine biodiversity of Sogod Bay and highlighted efforts to position Southern Leyte as one of the country’s emerging diving destinations. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
DIVE TOURISM. Divers, tourism stakeholders, and local officials gather in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte for the “Sogod Bay Underwater Experience,” a four-day event promoting sustainable dive tourism and marine conservation in Eastern Visayas. The activity showcased the rich marine biodiversity of Sogod Bay and highlighted efforts to position Southern Leyte as one of the country’s emerging diving destinations. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
PADRE BURGOS, Southern Leyte — With its vibrant coral gardens, rich marine biodiversity, and uncrowded dive sites, Southern Leyte is steadily carving a name for itself as one of the country’s emerging diving destinations — and tourism leaders want the world to see more of what lies beneath the waters of Sogod Bay.
Tourism stakeholders, divers, environmental advocates, and local officials gathered in Padre Burgos for the four-day “Sogod Bay Underwater Experience” from May 20 to 23, 2026, an initiative led by the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office aimed at promoting sustainable dive tourism in Eastern Visayas.
For DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, the future of the region’s diving industry depends not only on promotion, but on cooperation among stakeholders committed to protecting the marine environment while creating opportunities for local communities.
“We cannot promote or responsibly develop tourism if there is no cooperation and unity among stakeholders,” Tiopes said during the event’s opening program.
The gathering brought together diving stakeholders from Southern Leyte led by provincial officials and the local government of Padre Burgos headed by Mayor Maria Fe Crispina Poblete.
Representatives from Daram, Borongan City, and the provincial government of Eastern Samar — areas also exploring dive tourism opportunities — also joined the event, along with members of the Association of Leyte Tour Operators, the academe, and officials from the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving.
Regional directors of the DOT from Regions 5, 6, 10, and 11 attended the activity together with dive shop operators from their respective regions, further boosting efforts to position Southern Leyte in the country’s growing dive tourism market.
Throughout the four-day activity, participants engaged in dive conversations focused on the current state of the diving industry and the role of various sectors in sustaining marine tourism.
The event also featured actual dives in the famed Napantao Dive Site in Padre Burgos and the waters surrounding Limasawa Island, as well as coral planting activities aimed at promoting marine conservation.
Southern Leyte 2nd District Representative Christopherson Yap acknowledged the province’s growing tourism industry but said more infrastructure investments are needed, particularly in accommodations and tourism facilities, to support the increasing number of visitors.
“There is still a lot of work to be done in advancing sustainable tourism initiatives in Eastern Visayas, especially in Southern Leyte,” Yap said.
Vice Governor Rosa Emilia Mercado emphasized that the event goes beyond showcasing dive destinations, describing it as an example of how sustainable tourism, community-led conservation, and forward-looking governance can work together.
“We are unlocking opportunities for our local communities, supporting our operators, and creating sustainable livelihoods for our coastal communities,” Mercado said.
Southern Leyte has become increasingly attractive to divers because of its relatively low tourist density compared to more commercialized dive destinations in the country. Often described by divers as one of the Philippines’ “best-kept scuba diving secrets,” the province offers pristine coral walls, world-class muck diving, and ethical whale shark encounters.
Its dive sites, scattered across Sogod Bay and Panaon Island, are part of one of the country’s key marine biodiversity areas within the Coral Triangle — considered the global center of marine biodiversity.
The area hosts more than 20 dive sites spread across 713 square kilometers of marine waters and is home to around 400 coral species, making it one of Eastern Visayas’ most ecologically significant marine tourism destinations.
RICE PROCESSING. Officials from the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 8 and members of the Cuta Multipurpose Cooperative lead the turnover of the ₱50-million Rice Processing Center in Barangay Pikas, Barugo, Leyte, aimed at improving rice production and increasing farmers’ income in the area. (DA-Eastern Visayas)
RICE PROCESSING. Officials from the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 8 and members of the Cuta Multipurpose Cooperative lead the turnover of the ₱50-million Rice Processing Center in Barangay Pikas, Barugo, Leyte, aimed at improving rice production and increasing farmers’ income in the area. (DA-Eastern Visayas)
BARUGO, Leyte — Rice farmers from this town and nearby municipalities are expected to gain better income opportunities and improved market access following the turnover of a P50-million Rice Processing Center (RPC) by the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 8.
The facility, located in Barangay Pikas, was formally handed over on May 15 to the Cuta Multipurpose Cooperative under the government’s National Rice Program 2023.
Agriculture officials said the project is designed to improve local rice production by modernizing drying and milling operations, reducing post-harvest losses, and lowering transportation costs for farmers in the area.
The newly established RPC is equipped with a six-ton-per-batch mechanical dryer and a rice mill capable of processing 1.8 tons of rice per hour. It also includes a building facility intended to support efficient rice handling and storage operations.
Officials said the center is expected to help farmers secure more competitive buying prices for palay while reducing dependence on traders outside the municipality.
During the turnover ceremony, Inocentes Aruta said the facility has already influenced rice trading activities in Barugo and neighboring towns, noting an increase in local palay buying prices due to improved marketing opportunities for farmers.
Meanwhile, Rodel Macapañas, DA regional executive director, emphasized the importance of cooperatives in protecting farmers from unfair trading practices and price manipulation while helping stabilize food supply in Eastern Visayas.
The turnover of the rice processing center forms part of the government’s continuing efforts to modernize the agriculture sector and strengthen the rice value chain across Eastern Visayas.
