TACLOBAN CITY — Authorities flagged two drivers after they yielded positive results in a surprise drug screening conducted at the Abucay Bus Terminal, as part of intensified safety measures ahead of the Holy Week travel rush.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Eastern Visayas confirmed that one of the drivers operates a bus, while the other is a motorcycle-for-hire (MCH) driver.

LTO-8 Regional Director Ledwino Macariola said the random drug testing was carried out in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to help ensure the safety of passengers during the peak travel season.

Macariola clarified that the two drivers will still undergo confirmatory testing to validate the initial screening results and determine possible drug use.

The LTO said monitoring and enforcement efforts in transport terminals will continue to be strengthened to prevent drug-related incidents and uphold road safety, especially during periods of increased passenger traffic.

(KEIZHA KRYSTEIL BAYOT, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

ORMOC CITY– An elderly woman listed as a high-value target on the Philippine National Police (PNP) drug watchlist was arrested in a buy-bust operation on the early hours of March 26 in Barangay San Jose, Ormoc City, authorities reported.

The suspect, identified as “Pacita,” 57, married, and a resident of the same barangay, was apprehended by the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) and the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Police Station 3 at around 2:07 a.m.

Recovered from her possession were approximately 30 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P204,000. Items seized included several sachets of the white crystalline substance and a P500 bill used as buy-bust money.

Capt. Arwin Perez, chief of the PDEG Leyte Special Operation Unit, said Pacita had a prior arrest for the same offense in 2005. Her husband is currently serving a sentence at the National Penitentiary for a similar drug case.

The suspect is now facing charges under RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law Against Illegal Drugs of 2002, filed at the Ormoc City Prosecutor’s Office, and is temporarily detained at Police Station 2’s locked-up cell in Barangay Cagbuhangin.

Authorities did not release a statement from the suspect, who is considered a high-profile drug personality in the region.

(ROBERT DEJON)

In Southern Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY — The municipal government of Hinunangan in Southern Leyte has moved to restrict the transport of rice outside its jurisdiction, issuing an executive order aimed at preventing local shortages and stabilizing prices amid the ongoing oil crisis.
Mayor Ymard Joseph Tocmo signed the order on March 25, requiring all individuals, traders, and companies to secure a transport and export permit before moving rice out of the municipality. The measure comes in response to growing concerns over supply constraints and potential price spikes linked to rising fuel costs.

In an advisory, the local government described the directive as a “concrete step to protect the people’s interests and sustain the economic well-being” of the town.

Under the order, applicants must disclose the volume, destination, and purpose of the rice shipment, along with supporting documents such as stock records and purchase receipts. Approval will be subject to a food security assessment by the Municipal Agricultural Office to ensure that sufficient supply remains for local consumption.

The policy covers all participants in the rice supply chain, including millers, warehouse operators, farmers, transporters, and logistics providers. However, exemptions are granted for government procurement, humanitarian assistance, and authorized transfers by the national government.

To enforce the directive, the municipal government has created a Rice Monitoring and Enforcement Team composed of the Philippine National Police, Department of Trade and Industry, the Municipal Agriculturist’s Office, village officials, and accredited civil society organizations.

The team is authorized to conduct inspections, set up checkpoints, and monitor the movement of rice stocks. Violators may face penalties ranging from fines and permit revocation to possible legal action.

The town has also organized a local price coordinating council to monitor commodity prices and prevent profiteering as the oil crisis continues to impact transport and production costs.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)