Following the filing of cases against him at anti-graft court

TACLOBAN CITY — Leyte 1st district Representative Martin Romualdez has asserted that no credible evidence links him to the alleged irregularities uncovered by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in its fact-finding probe into questionable public works projects.

Romualdez issued the statement after the ICI and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recommended the filing of plunder, graft, and direct bribery charges against him and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co in connection with supposed anomalies in infrastructure allocations.

During a press conference on Friday, Nov.21, in Manila, his legal counsel Atty. Ade Fajardo read the lawmaker’s official statement, emphasizing that Romualdez fully cooperated in the probe.

“I willingly submitted myself to the ICI fact-finding process, appeared voluntarily, and remained in the country,” Romualdez said through Fajardo.

“Out of these proceedings, no credible evidence has ever linked me to any irregularity, and my conscience remains clear.”

The Leyte congressman said he is now entrusting the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman, expressing confidence that the anti-graft body will conduct an impartial and thorough review of the case.

The investigation stemmed from allegations of irregularities in the implementation of infrastructure projects funded under the national budget, which the ICI flagged earlier this year.

Romualdez and Co were among the lawmakers identified in its report as allegedly receiving benefits from contractors in exchange for allocations.

Romualdez maintained his innocence and reiterated that he has nothing to hide.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – A group of 21 former rebels in Eastern Samar has officially begun operating a rice retailing enterprise after receiving a P500,000 livelihood package from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to support their transition to civilian life.
The livelihood support, facilitated through the 63rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, was organized under the “Bigasan ng Bayan for Quinapondan, Balangiga, Giporlos Farmers Peace Builders Association.” The assistance aims to provide the beneficiaries with a stable and sustainable source of income.

The package includes 145 sacks of commercial rice, plastic sando bags, weighing scales, rice scoopers, and plastic drum containers—materials that will help the group run its community rice retailing project.

In a statement, the 63rd IB said the initiative demonstrates the government’s continued commitment to helping former rebels rebuild their lives, enabling them to become economically independent and productive members of society while contributing to peace and development in their communities.

The battalion also affirmed its ongoing support for programs that promote community resilience and uplift former rebels across Eastern Samar.

Representatives from DOLE, the local government, and the 63rd IB were present during the turnover ceremony to express support for the beneficiaries’ full reintegration into mainstream society.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

The highly anticipated feature, available to select users now, promises faster, simpler, and more connected payments for all GCash customers soon.

Following the official launch of Google Pay in the Philippines, GCash, the country’s biggest cashless ecosystem, can now be fully integrated with Google’s secure and widely accepted payment system.

The integration is now available to select GCash users and will be rolling out to more customers soon. It will enable millions of Filipinos to link their GCash wallets to Google Pay for fast, secure, and seamless transactions.

To link GCash accounts to Google Pay, users need to download the Google Wallet App from the Google Play Store, open the GCash app, and tap on their Profile. From there, they should go to My Linked Accounts and select Google Pay. After reviewing the information, users must agree to bind and proceed with biometric verification. Once complete, a prompt will appear that will redirect them to the Google Pay app, where they need to sign in.

By combining the unmatched local scale and trust of GCash with Google Pay’s global infrastructure, the integration redefines how users move through digital and physical commerce. With the integration, users can easily activate GCash as a fund source for Google Pay for various transactions.

Moreover, activating GCash on Google Pay provides a more seamless and secure experience, since it eliminates the need for manual card entry, without storing or sharing card numbers with merchants.

“This integration empowers our users to move through digital and physical spaces with greater ease, security, and reach, anchored in our purpose of making the everyday lives of Filipinos better,” said Ren-Ren Reyes, President and CEO of G-Xchange, Inc., the mobile wallet operator of GCash.

“We’re proud to work with GCash to bring faster, convenient, and more secure payments to the Philippines. This launch underscores our enduring commitment to accelerating financial inclusion and fueling the next chapter of the Philippines’ dynamic digital economy,” said Prep Palacios, Country Manager, Google Philippines.

As digital ecosystems evolve, GCash leads with accessibility, security, and relevance. The integration with Google Pay is more than a feature; it shows how GCash is shaping the future of payments, making them fast, secure, and widely accepted. With GCash Tap to Pay or linking your GCash account to Google Pay, Filipinos can make seamless, secure payments anytime, anywhere.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY-Local government officials, disaster response agencies, community leaders, and civil society organizations gathered Wednesday, Nov.19, as the University of the Philippines Tacloban College hosted the “Pagburubligay Kontra Kataragman: Eastern Visayas Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Summit.”

The event was aimed at evaluating the region’s vulnerability to natural hazards and identifying sustainable strategies to strengthen disaster preparedness and mitigation plans.
Based on UP Resilience Institute’s now shelved Project NOAH, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay, the UPRI executive director, presented the disaster risk landscape of Eastern Visayas.

Launched in 2012, Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessments of Hazards) was the government’s main disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation program. It combined real-time weather monitoring, flood hazard mapping, landslide risk assessment, and early warning systems. However, it was defunded during the previous administration.

With increasing risks brought about by climate change, rapid urbanization, and environmental degradation, Lagmay emphasized that the country remains one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, making proactive action a top priority
At the country’s central zone is Eastern Visayas which is regularly battered by typhoons and is prone to earthquakes and flooding.

“We must confront the reality that our communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable. This summit is an opportunity for us to collaborate, innovate, and commit to long-term solutions that will protect lives and livelihoods,” Lagmay said.

In light of recent flooding, earthquakes, and other natural calamities, Lagmay noted that the high-risk zones identified by Project NOAH have been remarkably precise in assessing potential hazards across key areas of the country.

“It has been eerily accurate,” Lagmay said of the recent flooding in Talisay, Cebu after the Mananga River overflowed.

He also shared how Project NOAH was precise in its assessment of communities in Abuyog, Leyte and Baybay City which were affected by catastrophic landslides triggered by Typhoon Agaton in 2022.

Also highlighted during the summit’s presentation the importance of integrating science-based approaches into the LGUs’ Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (LDRRMP), Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA), and Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) and encouraged them to utilize the 5% LDRRM Fund not only for emergency response but also for research and innovation that strengthen local preparedness.

After the critical issues of disaster vulnerability were examined and actions and sustainable strategies for disaster preparedness and mitigation articulated, the summit called for nature-based solutions, resilient infrastructure, and capacity-building programs to reduce disaster impacts. (ACR/PIA Leyte)

Ormoc City — A caliber .45 pistol recovered by government troops in Jaro, Leyte has been confirmed as the service firearm of a soldier tortured and slain by communist rebels in 2023, strengthening the military’s claim that the three New People’s Army members killed in a recent clash were involved in past atrocities.

The pistol was retrieved on November 18 from the encounter site in Barangay Villa Paz, bringing to three the total number of firearms seized following the November 17 firefight between the 8th Infantry Division and remnants of the Island Committee (IC) Levox.
Initial verification showed that one of the earlier recovered firearms belonged to the late Pfc. Aries Ampoan, who was murdered by the communist armed group on April 2, 2023 during an encounter in Abuyog, Leyte. The discovery is seen as key evidence directly linking the neutralized rebels to the incident, according to the 8ID.

The clash in Jaro resulted in the death of three rebels who were identified as Fidel Lagado alias “Ivan,” Rogelio Berino alias “Jun,” and Maricel Anora alias “Gani,” and the confiscation of firearms and other war materiel.

In compliance with International Humanitarian Law, the division immediately facilitated the turnover of the remains to their families and coordinated with the local government of Jaro to ensure dignified burials.

Maj. Gen. Adonis Ariel Orio, 8ID commander, emphasized that the operation was not only a step toward community security but also toward justice.

“Our commitment goes beyond securing communities; it extends to upholding IHL and pursuing justice for our fallen soldiers. This encounter brings undeniable clarity to the heinous nature of the enemy we face and provides crucial accountability for their crimes,” Orio said.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)