TACLOBAN CITY — The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) has pledged full support for the filing of administrative charges against a police officer from the Palompon Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Leyte after the officer tested positive for illegal drugs.
The case stems from a targeted anti-drug test conducted on December 5, 2025, in which the police corporal yielded a positive result for shabu. Following the result, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership directed that appropriate administrative proceedings be initiated against the officer.
PNP Acting Chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stressed that the move is part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to maintain discipline, integrity, and professionalism within the police force.
PRO-8 said the case underscores its commitment to the PNP’s internal cleansing program, emphasizing that there is no place for personnel involved in illegal drugs. Erring officers, the regional office said, will face the full force of the law and relevant PNP regulations.
The administrative process will follow due process, ensuring that the officer’s rights are observed while reinforcing the police force’s zero-tolerance stance against illegal drugs.
PRO-8 reiterated that strengthening the campaign against narcotics begins within its own ranks, as the agency continues to safeguard public trust and internal accountability.
TACLOBAN CITY — In a gesture highlighting rehabilitation and second chances, the provincial government of Northern Samar lit a 30-foot Christmas tree at the Northern Samar Provincial Jail (NSPJ) in Dancalan, Bobon, bringing the spirit of the season behind bars.
The tree lighting served as the centerpiece of the Karibhungan sa NSPJ celebration, themed “Pasko san Pagbag-o — Paglaum, Paghigugma, ngan Pagbinuligay” (Christmas of Renewal — Hope, Love, and Unity).
The ceremony was led by Rep. Edwin Ongchuan, together with his wife, Bles Ongchuan, and was witnessed by provincial officials, jail personnel, and Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs).
What set the display apart was its message of transformation. Conceptualized, crafted, and assembled by the PDLs themselves, the towering Christmas tree was made entirely from recyclable materials. It was adorned with handwritten Christmas wishes from inmates, symbolizing aspirations for change, forgiveness, and a brighter future.
The initiative highlighted the NSPJ’s commitment to rehabilitation through creativity, responsibility, and environmental awareness, offering inmates an avenue for self-expression and personal growth.
Adding to the visual impact of the celebration was a giant illuminated star and the word “PAGLAUM” (Hope) installed above the jail facility. Clearly visible from the National Road, the display served as a powerful reminder that hope and transformation can take root even within correctional institutions.
In his message, Congressman Ongchuan praised the PDLs for their craftsmanship and dedication, describing the Christmas tree as a reflection of their talents and willingness to embrace positive change. He also commended Provincial Warden EnP Jay Keenson Acebuche for spearheading programs that promote discipline, values formation, and rehabilitation among inmates.
The ceremony was attended by Vice Governor Clarence Dato, Board Members Victorio Singzon II and Lope Dorado, provincial department heads, and representatives of national government agencies, underscoring strong institutional support for correctional reform initiatives in Northern Samar.
TACLOBAN CITY — A long-range patrol by government security forces led to the recovery of assorted firearms and explosive materials believed to be linked to communist terrorist groups in the hinterlands of Sta. Rita, Samar.
The operation was carried out by the 805th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8 (RMFB8) at around 12:20 p.m. on December 13, 2025, in Barangay Binanalan, as part of intensified security operations in the area.
Police said the patrol was launched after a former rebel provided information that war materials were buried underground in the barangay. Troops immediately verified the report and proceeded to the identified site, where they successfully unearthed the items.
Recovered from the area were a homemade shotgun; two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) measuring about 10 inches in height and 2.6 inches in diameter; 20 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition; four rounds of shotgun slug; four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition; about 19 meters of wire; a first-aid kit; one and a half blasting caps; around 250 grams of ammonium nitrate; and a YTX4L motorcycle battery.
Authorities said the recovered materials are now in the custody of the 805th Maneuver Company for proper documentation, safekeeping, and disposal in accordance with standard procedures.
The recovery highlights the continuing efforts of security forces in Eastern Visayas to dismantle the remaining logistical support of communist terrorist groups and prevent the use of illegal firearms and explosives that pose threats to public safety.
ORMOC CITY— A sedan veered off the national highway and landed in a muddy rice field in Barangay Burabod, Biliran, Biliran on Sunday afternoon, December 14, after the driver allegedly fell asleep while driving, police said.
The accident occurred at around 1:40 p.m. along the national highway of the barangay. The vehicle involved was a bronze Hyundai Reina bearing plate number DAM-697, driven by a 38-year-old self-employed woman, identified by police only as “Ais,” a resident of the same barangay. She was accompanied by an unidentified passenger at the time of the incident.
According to the report submitted by the Biliran Municipal Police Station to the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), responding officers found the vehicle overturned in a muddy rice field upon arrival at the scene. The driver was no longer inside the car at that time.
Initial investigation showed that the vehicle was traveling from Naval toward the Biliran town proper when, upon reaching the accident site, the driver allegedly dozed off, causing her to lose control of the sedan. The vehicle then swerved off the road and overturned into the rice field.
Police said both the driver and her passenger were unharmed. The vehicle was left at the scene for proper disposition as authorities conducted further documentation of the incident.
STRICT MONITORING. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announces during his visit on Friday, Dec. 13, that the rehabilitation of the 52-year-old San Juanico Bridge will be completed next year, allowing the structure to fully resume its original 33-ton load capacity. For now, the bridge can accommodate vehicles weighing up to 15 tons. The President was accompanied by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, and DPWH Regional Director Edgar Tabacon. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Retro works cost P1.1 billion
STRICT MONITORING. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announces during his visit on Friday, Dec. 13, that the rehabilitation of the 52-year-old San Juanico Bridge will be completed next year, allowing the structure to fully resume its original 33-ton load capacity. For now, the bridge can accommodate vehicles weighing up to 15 tons. The President was accompanied by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, and DPWH Regional Director Edgar Tabacon. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday, Dec. 12, inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the 52-year-old San Juanico Bridge and ordered strict, regular inspections of the structure, emphasizing that the government could have avoided the P1.1-billion retrofitting cost had proper maintenance been carried out through the years.
Marcos announced that the bridge—closed to heavy vehicles since May due to extensive structural damage—can now accommodate 15-ton trucks, months ahead of earlier projections that targeted only 12 tons by Christmas or New Year.
“Fortunately, the work has been done a little faster and now we can open it up to 15-ton trucks,” he said, noting that the easing of restrictions would benefit transporters who had been forced to take longer roll-on/roll-off routes to move goods between Samar and Leyte.
The President stressed that the government’s experience with San Juanico Bridge should serve as a reminder of the importance of routine inspection and timely repairs.
“The retrofit costs us P1.1 billion—money we could have saved if proper maintenance was carried out,” he said. “If it was inspected every three years, we would not have had to do any of this.”
Marcos added that major retrofits should not recur if the DPWH implements continuous and regular maintenance, which should be covered by its annual MOOE allocation.
The President said the retrofitting works are “partially finished” and projected to be fully completed by the third quarter of 2026, restoring the bridge’s original 33-ton, two-way load capacity.
Crews have already strengthened the most damaged segments and are currently repairing rusted steel components, missing bolts, and weakened pins.
Local officials are exploring the possibility of allowing 30-ton trucks to pass one-way at night when traffic is lighter, Marcos added.
Marcos underscored that the damage to the San Juanico Bridge significantly disrupted Eastern Visayas’ supply chain, affecting everything from food distribution to the movement of raw materials and consumer goods.
“It’s not just convenience but cost,” he said. “The damage affected commerce on both sides—Samar and Leyte. The sacrifices made by our truckers, stores, and manufacturers have been significant.”
Despite these setbacks, the President said the project remains on schedule.
“I’m very happy to say we are very close to our deadline. The repair is partially finished and will be completed next year,” he said.
Marcos was accompanied during the inspection by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, built during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., serves over 14,000 vehicles daily and is the primary link between Samar and Leyte and the rest of Eastern Visayas. It was closed to vehicles weighing more than 3 tons beginning May 15 this year after engineers found widespread deterioration.
CHAMPORADO FOR DISASTER RESPONSE. The provincial government of Northern Samar, represented by PEDIPO head Jan Allen Berbon (center), has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Eastern Visayas Food Innovation Center (EVFIC), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) for the local production of ready-to-eat champorado meals to be included in relief assistance during disaster situations. The signing ceremony was held in Tacloban City on December 9, 2025.
(INVEST NORTHERN SAMAR FACEBOOK)
CHAMPORADO FOR DISASTER RESPONSE. The provincial government of Northern Samar, represented by PEDIPO head Jan Allen Berbon (center), has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Eastern Visayas Food Innovation Center (EVFIC), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) for the local production of ready-to-eat champorado meals to be included in relief assistance during disaster situations. The signing ceremony was held in Tacloban City on December 9, 2025. (INVEST NORTHERN SAMAR FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY– Northern Samar is poised to roll out its first locally produced disaster-response food product with the upcoming launch of a ready-to-eat (RTE) champorado technology—an innovation designed to deliver quick, nutritious, and shelf-stable meals to communities affected by calamities.
The initiative was formalized on Tuesday, December 9, after the provincial government—through the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (PEDIPO)—signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Eastern Visayas Food Innovation Center (EVFIC), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU).
The MOU signing took place during the 2025 EVFIC Business Forum in Tacloban City, which gathered stakeholders from government, academe, and the research sector to strengthen the region’s food innovation ecosystem and promote science-led solutions for community development.
PEDIPO head Jan Allen Berbon said the pilot production will start in San Roque, a town equipped with a shared service facility and an active cacao farmers’ group—making it an ideal location for the initial rollout.
“The pilot area is in San Roque as they already have the facility and a community of cacao farmers who can support raw material requirements,” Berbon said.
Production is expected to begin in January next year. Champorado—a chocolate rice porridge traditionally made using sticky rice, tablea, and milk—has been transformed into a retortable, ready-to-eat version through a joint effort of EVFIC, DOST, and EVSU. The product, packed in heat-stable pouches, is designed to be safe for long-term storage, easily transportable, and immediately consumable during emergencies when access to cooking facilities is limited.
Berbon emphasized that the project positions Northern Samar as the first province in Eastern Visayas to locally produce a disaster-response food item. Beyond enhancing emergency relief operations, he said the initiative is expected to stimulate local livelihood by providing cacao processors with training, technical support, and access to improved food-processing technologies.
The program builds on an earlier partnership between the provincial government and DOST Region VIII under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program, which laid the groundwork for technology transfer and the establishment of innovation-driven community enterprises.
Through the combined efforts of PEDIPO, EVFIC, DOST, and EVSU, Northern Samar aims to strengthen its food supply chain to serve both disaster-response needs and potential commercial markets—while supporting local cacao farmers in scaling up production.
Officials noted that the RTE champorado initiative contributes to a broader push to boost the province’s disaster resilience, enhance its food innovation sector, and drive long-term economic growth through science-based and community-centered solutions.
They stressed that embracing innovations such as the RTE champorado brings Northern Samar closer to building a competitive, sustainable, and future-ready food system for its communities.
