ORMOC CITY– A 51-year-old habal-habal driver was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the Capoocan Municipal Police Station on Monday night, September 29, in Sitio Marag-ing, Barangay Lemon, Capoocan, Leyte.
Police identified the suspect as alias “Jojie,” married, a resident of Barangay Lemon, Capoocan.
According to PLt. Ricardo Lapuz, officer-in-charge of the Capoocan Police Station, the suspect sold one sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 to a police operative posing as a buyer. During a subsequent body search, carried out in the presence of barangay and media witnesses, officers found two more sachets of suspected shabu and the P500 marked bill used in the transaction.
Authorities said the seized suspected shabu weighed approximately 0.15 grams, with an estimated street value of P1,020.
The suspect was informed of his constitutional rights and is now detained at the Capoocan Municipal Police Station’s lock-up facility.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against him before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Leyte.
CENTER FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. Elderlies from Dolores, Eastern Samar have now a place where they could socialize and exercise was formally opened.
(DOLORES LGU)
CENTER FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. Elderlies from Dolores, Eastern Samar have now a place where they could socialize and exercise was formally opened. (DOLORES LGU)
TACLOBAN CITY – Senior citizens in Dolores, Eastern Samar now have a dedicated place to gather, exercise, and socialize as the municipal government and the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) formally opened the first community care facility for the elderly in the province.
The newly inaugurated Senior Citizen Community Care Center aims to support older residents, especially those who live alone or are left by their families during the day. It is equipped with exercise equipment, board games, and recreational tools designed to promote both physical and mental well-being.
OSCA president Virgilio Ayad expressed gratitude to the local government for prioritizing the needs of senior citizens, saying the facility will help them stay active and socially engaged.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Mayor kay gintagan niya kami hin atensyon. Kun puro la kam paglingkod, magkakaada hin dementia o problema. Dapat maglihok kamo, makig-upod ha iba, mag-exercise,” Ayad said.
“Daku an akon pasasalamat nga natuman an amon damgo nga magkaada hin sugad nga sentro para ha mga senior.”
The initiative was conceptualized by Mayor Zaldy Carpero, who was inspired by senior care models he observed in other countries.
As of August 2, 2025, Dolores has 4,502 senior citizens across its 46 barangays, based on OSCA records.
Mayor Carpero has directed the Sangguniang Bayan to include funding for the center’s operations in the municipal budget to ensure its sustainability.
Ayad also encouraged other local governments in Eastern Samar to establish similar centers for their elderly residents.
Beyond providing a place for recreation and companionship, OSCA is also appealing to the local government to fund livelihood and skills training programs for senior citizens to help them remain productive and self-sufficient.
ORMOC CITY– A 39-year-old mechanic from Leyte was declared dead on arrival at the Biliran Provincial Hospital after being run over by a pickup truck driven by a female architect along the national road in Barangay San Isidro, Biliran,Biliran on Saturday evening, October 4.
Police identified the victim as “Jobert,” a resident of Barangay Cristina, Calubian, Leyte, who was driving a black Honda Beat motorcycle. The driver of the red Ford Raptor pickup was identified as “Casa,” 42, single, an architect from Barangay 82, Tacloban City.
According to the Biliran Municipal Police Station, the accident occurred at around 7:30 p.m. when both vehicles were traveling in the same direction. Based on accounts from two witnesses — “Lima,” 22, and “Raf,” 19, both residents of Barangay Lemon, Capoocan, Leyte — the motorcycle attempted to overtake the pickup on the right side. However, due to the muddy and uneven condition of the road, the rider lost control and was thrown under the pickup.
Police said the mechanic was run over by the rear wheel of the pickup, sustaining severe injuries that led to his death. The witnesses, who were following the two vehicles, reported that the pickup driver continued driving after the incident.
The witnesses pursued the vehicle until it reached the Biliran border, while the victim was rushed to the Biliran Provincial Hospital in Naval but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Authorities have brought both vehicles and the pickup driver to the Biliran Municipal Police Station for proper investigation and disposition.
Police are conducting further investigation to determine possible charges in connection with the incident.
TACLOBAN CITY – The Northern Samar Provincial Population Office (PPO) has called for empathy and deeper understanding in the wake of a tragic case of infanticide in Barangay UEP Zone II, Catarman, where a newborn baby girl was found lifeless in a drainage canal on October 6, 2025.
In a statement, the PPO strongly condemned the act but emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying social and psychological factors that may have led to the incident.
“We believe that understanding the situation of the young mother—a college student—requires empathy and a holistic view of the emotional, social, and psychological struggles she may have been experiencing,” the PPO said.
The office also appealed to the public to refrain from passing judgment and instead promote compassion and awareness, noting that many young people silently face pressure, fear, and isolation.
“Let this serve as a reminder that our community must strengthen awareness, open communication, and accessible social support systems,” the statement added.
The PPO further stressed the need to reinforce programs on mental health, reproductive health education, and counseling, particularly for young women dealing with unplanned pregnancies and emotional distress.
It reaffirmed its commitment to promoting core advocacies such as Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP), Adolescent Health and Development (AHD), and Gender and Development (GAD), to help individuals and families make informed and compassionate decisions.
Meanwhile, the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office (NSPPO) reported that the infant’s body was discovered after being allegedly disposed of by the mother.
The Women and Children Protection Desk of the Catarman Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case.
Youthplus Medical Group Inc. proudly marks its 14th anniversary, a milestone that underscores more than a decade of dedication to excellence, innovation, and compassionate service in the field of aesthetic and medical care.
Founder and Medical Director Dr. Yohann Kae Panis-Luzano, together with her husband, Mr. Rex Luzano, President and CEO of Youthplus Medical Group Inc., expressed heartfelt gratitude to the organization’s managers, staff, and loyal clients whose unwavering support has been instrumental in Youthplus’ success.
“Our journey over the past 14 years has been made possible by the dedication of our team and the trust of our valued clients,” said Dr. Luzano. “As owners, Rex and I remain committed to delivering services that are effective, original, and cost-efficient—always with integrity and honesty at the core of what we do.”
“As President & CEO, I believe our responsibility is not only to grow the company but also to ensure that Youthplus continues to reinvent itself in line with global trends,” added Mr. Rex Luzano. “We will always push forward with innovations, staying ahead of the curve while upholding our commitment to quality and service excellence.”
Under Mr. Luzano’s leadership, Youthplus continues to embrace reinvention and innovation to remain at the forefront of the industry. The company’s proactive strategies ensure that clients receive premium-quality care that is both relevant and accessible.
Beyond its medical and aesthetic services, Youthplus remains steadfast in continuing its legacy of medical missions, reaching underserved communities and providing care where it is needed most. This commitment reflects the organization’s belief that true success lies in creating impact not only within clinics, but also in the larger community.
As Youthplus enters this new chapter, the organization remains resilient and future-focused. With 14 years of proven dedication and service, Youthplus looks forward to greater change, stronger innovation, and deeper connections with the people it serves.
Youthplus Medical Group Inc.—14 years of excellence, and many more to come.
TACLOBAN CITY – The proposal to establish a separate administrative region for Samar Island is once again gaining traction, as six legislators from the island have thrown their support behind House Bill No. 4218 filed by 4Ps party-list Representative and House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan.
If passed, the measure will create the Samar Island Region (SIR) as the country’s 19th region, separating Samar Island’s three provinces—Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar—from Leyte and Biliran, which are currently part of Eastern Visayas (Region VIII).
The bill is co-authored by lawmakers representing Samar Island: Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales, Samar First District Rep. Stephen James Tan, and his brother, Second District Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan, Northern Samar First District Rep. Niko Raul Daza, and Northern Samar Second District Rep. Edwin Marino Ongchuan.
Libanan emphasized that the push for a new region is rooted in long-standing issues of neglect and underdevelopment.
“This is not just an administrative measure—this is a matter of justice. For centuries, Samar has been left behind despite its enormous potential,” he said in a statement.
He added that a Samar Island Region would bring government services closer to communities, eliminating the need for residents to travel to Tacloban City or Palo, Leyte, where most regional offices of national agencies are currently located.
Samar Island, the country’s third largest, is rich in natural resources and has a notable historical significance, but it continues to grapple with high poverty incidence, limited infrastructure, decades-old insurgency problems, and frequent exposure to natural disasters such as typhoons.
By establishing SIR, lawmakers believe economic growth, better employment opportunities, and improved public services can be more effectively achieved, with development efforts overseen by leaders who are directly attuned to the needs of Samarnons.
This is not Libanan’s first attempt at creating the Samar Island Region.
In the 19th Congress, he filed House Bill No. 10727, which also included the creation of a Technical Working Group to determine the ideal location of the proposed regional center.
The initiative has not only gained support from Samar’s political leaders but also from church leaders and civic groups.
In June 2023, the 47th Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD)—a convergence of the three Catholic dioceses of Borongan, Calbayog, and Catarman, along with the Philippine Army, police, local governments, and non-government organizations—endorsed the creation of a separate region, viewing it as a catalyst for genuine development across the island provinces.
