In Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY — A 45-year-old man allegedly stabbed a fellow tricycle driver to death after confronting him for showing up uninvited to his granddaughter’s birthday celebration in Laoang, Northern Samar on Wednesday, February 11.

The victim, identified by police as alias “Ozy,” 56, married and a resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, Laoang, sustained multiple stab wounds and was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.

Police said the suspect, alias “Pepz,” 45, also a tricycle driver and a resident of Barangay San Miguel Heights, voluntarily surrendered to the Laoang Municipal Police Station shortly after the incident. He also turned over a kitchen knife believed to have been used in the stabbing.

Initial investigation showed that the suspect was at his residence along Carmen Boulevard in Barangay San Miguel Heights preparing for his granddaughter’s birthday celebration when the victim arrived at the gathering.

Authorities said the suspect confronted the victim, reportedly questioning why he went to the celebration despite not being invited. Witnesses told police that a heated argument ensued after the victim allegedly refused to leave the premises.

The confrontation escalated, with the suspect allegedly grabbing a kitchen knife and stabbing the victim several times.

Concerned residents reported the incident to authorities at around 5:25 p.m. Responding police officers immediately proceeded to the area and rushed the wounded victim to the hospital, but he was later pronounced dead by the attending physician.

Police are now preparing the appropriate charges against the suspect, who remains under custody of the Laoang Municipal Police Station as the investigation continues.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Tacloban City council has reaffirmed the city’s status as a highly urbanized city (HUC), urging national government agencies to strictly recognize its administrative independence from the provincial government of Leyte.

Through Resolution No. 2025-16-62, unanimously approved during the council’s regular session on October 9, 2025 at the New City Hall, the Sangguniang Panlungsod directed national offices to exclude Tacloban from communications and official correspondences involving the provincial government of Leyte.

City officials said the measure was adopted to prevent administrative confusion and ensure that all government transactions reflect Tacloban’s legal standing as an HUC, which operates separately from the province under existing laws.

Tacloban was converted into an HUC through Proclamation No. 1637 issued in 2008 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The change in status was ratified by city voters in a plebiscite held on December 18, 2008.

Under the Local Government Code, cities that meet specific population and income requirements may be classified as highly urbanized. As an HUC, Tacloban is independent of provincial supervision, and its residents do not vote for provincial officials.

Copies of the resolution were transmitted to the Office of City Mayor, Alfred Romualdez, and to concerned national government agencies for their information and appropriate action.

The city government emphasized that the resolution reinforces Tacloban’s fiscal, political, and administrative autonomy while maintaining coordination with neighboring local governments on regional development initiatives.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Eastern Visayas has imposed a 30-day preventive suspension on all units operating under the franchise of Duptours Shuttle Services Inc. following a fatal road crash in Basey, Samar that left four people dead.

The suspension order, issued upon the directive of LTFRB Regional Director Gualberto N. Gualberto, took effect immediately and will remain in force while authorities conduct an investigation and verify the operator’s compliance with transport regulations.

Covered by the suspension are all vehicles under the Duptours franchise, including the Toyota HiAce UV Express van involved in the February 10 accident along the national highway in Sitio Sugpuron, Barangay Balud, Basey.

Police said the van, which was plying the Borongan City–Tacloban City route, swerved into the opposite lane and crashed into a parked flatbed truck Tuesday morning. The vehicle was driven by a 54-year-old resident of Alangalang, Leyte, and was carrying nine passengers.

The driver and three female passengers — aged 71, 57, and another adult — were declared dead at the scene. Five other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to Basey District Hospital for treatment.

As part of its regulatory mandate, the LTFRB directed the operator to require all its drivers to undergo mandatory drug testing at a Department of Health-accredited facility. Drivers must also attend an accredited Road Safety Seminar focusing on safe driving practices and fleet management responsibilities.

The LTFRB further ordered that all vehicles under the franchise be subjected to inspection to ensure their roadworthiness and mechanical fitness for public transport operations.
In addition, the LTFRB instructed the company to extend medical and hospitalization assistance to the injured passengers and provide support to the families of those who died, including help with funeral arrangements. The concerned insurance provider was also directed to immediately process and release passenger insurance claims.

In a statement, Duptours Shuttle Services Inc. said it would shoulder all hospital expenses of the injured passengers. The company also committed to provide P400,000 in financial assistance to each family of the fatalities to help cover funeral and burial costs.

Duptours management assured that it will coordinate closely with the victims’ families and concerned authorities as the investigation into the cause of the crash continues.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)