ORMOC CITY– A 70-year-old farmer, listed as Rank No. 8 on Biliran’s most wanted list, was apprehended by local authorities in Sitio Upper San Agustin, Barangay Uson, Caibiran, Biliran at 11:00 am on March 19.
Caibiran Chief of Police, PCpt. Teofilo Gervacio III, identified the suspect as alias “Eriano”, a resident of Sitio Upper San Agustin, Brgy. Uson.
The arrest was carried out based on a warrant of arrest issued on March 18, 2025, by Judge Constantino Esber of RTC Branch 37 (Caibiran), 8th Judicial Region, Naval, Biliran, for the crime of statutory rape.
Authorities informed the suspect of his arrest and constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine in a language he understood. He was then transported to the Caibiran Municipal Police Station for booking and proper disposition before being turned over to the issuing court. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY-A lifeless newborn male infant was discovered in a grassy area of the Sky City Project in Barangay San Andres, Catbalogan City on Sunday, March 23, at around 1 pm.
According to an initial police investigation, a man identified only as “Edgar” was walking through the area when he noticed a shoe box discarded in the shrubbery. Curious about its contents, he opened the box and was shocked to find the lifeless body of a newborn baby.
The infant was wearing a disposable diaper but had no upper garment and was wrapped in a cloth.
“Edgar” immediately reported the gruesome discovery to barangay officials, who then contacted the local police to conduct an investigation.
The Catbalogan City Police Station (CPS) has launched a follow-up probe to determine the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death and to identify those responsible.
Meanwhile, the Samar Provincial Forensic Unit has been called in to process the scene for further evidence.
ORMOC CITY– A newly identified drug peddler was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) at 10:49 pm on March 17, in Carigara, Leyte.
Carigara Chief of Police, Major Reymund Quinagutan, identified the suspect as alias “Jonax”, 38, unemployed, and a resident of Barangay Barugohay Norte of said town.
During the operation, authorities recovered one sachet of suspected shabu purchased by an undercover operative for P500.
Three more sachets of suspected shabu, found inside a cigarette pack during a body search conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses.
The suspect was informed of his arrest and constitutional rights under the Miranda Doctrine in a language he understood. He was immediately taken to the Carigara Municipal Police Station (MPS) for booking and proper disposition.
Charges for violating Sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) have been filed against the suspect at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
He is currently detained at the Carigara MPS lock-up facility.
CATARMAN,N. Samar-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Northern Samar First District Engineering Office has successfully completed Phase 1 of the Circumferential Road, providing improved transportation access for locals and farmers in Barangay Kailingan, Rosario, Northern Samar.
The project involves Construction of roads with a total length of 1.01 lane km; 505 meters length (2-lanes, thk=0.23m,cw=3.05m) which includes drainage structures, embankment of 9,014.80 cu.m., slope protection (Sta.0+060-Sta.0+260,Sta.0+298-339 and Sta.0+486-526); and Road Opening of 21m length at Sta.000+505-Sta.000+526.
District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio stated that the district allocated a total of Php 28.93 million for the completion of Phase 1 with plans to implement the remaining sections in the coming years to bring further transport relief to locals specially farmers who face difficulties in transporting their products.
In an interview, Raymundo D. Ballicud, Brgy. Captain of Brgy. Kailingan, Rosario, N. Samar said that the completion of this project has greatly improved transportation, enabling faster deliveries of farm products to neighboring barangays.
“Ako la gin-papasalamatan ini nga inabot sa amon nga proyekto. Dako-dako nga bulig para sa amon barangay tungod kay sadto nga wara pa ini kahihimo makuri didi an pagpagawas sa amon mga produkto pakadto sa luyo nga barangay. Nag-iiha, nalulupa nala an mga kopras bago maka-abot sa luyo nga barangay. Sa yana, nga nahimo na in ini, mas masayon na an transportasyon sa mga produkto ngadi sa uma pakadi ngadto sa iba nga barangay ngan mas masayon na an amo pagpasyada liwat ngadto sa luyo san barangay san San Jose labi na kay sementado na ini nga amon dalan. Nagpapasalamat ako sa DPWH, sayo an amon barangay san natagan sin sini nga proyekto, kami nalilipay didi, salamat”.
The completion of Phase 1 is expected to drastically reduce travel time, making the road more accessible to both commuters and transporters of agricultural products.
In the long run, this road will eventually connect 10 far-flung barangays across 6 municipalities in the first district, fostering stronger economic activities and providing new opportunities for local farmers and residents alike.
TACLOBAN CITY – A Catholic priest in Leyte has called on the Philippine Army to increase its presence in the province’s third and fourth districts in the days leading up to the election to ensure a fair, peaceful, and secure voting process.
Fr. Edwin Perito, a civil society organization representative in the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), emphasized that a stronger military and police presence in villages would help deter election-related crimes and violence.
“We are requesting the army and police to be visible in every village, or at least in sub-villages, especially in the third and fourth districts before the elections, to ensure that voters are not intimidated when casting their votes,” he said.
He stressed that the presence of uniformed personnel would contribute to a peaceful and orderly election.
In response, Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, assured that as deputized personnel of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), they are actively supporting the Philippine National Police (PNP) in maintaining security.
“Even before the elections, we have ongoing coordination with the PNP for deployments. Our monitoring continues, and we have strategic plans in place alongside the PNP and COMELEC to ensure security in key areas,” B/Gen. Vestuir said.
The military is currently assisting police forces across its entire jurisdiction, including the third and fourth districts of Leyte, by conducting checkpoints and security operations, which will continue until Election Day.
According to COMELEC’s classification of election hotspots, several towns in Leyte’s third and fourth districts fall under different security categories:
Green Category (no security concerns): Isabel, Kananga, Matag-ob, Merida, and Ormoc City.
Yellow Category (history of election-related violence, partisan rivalry, or private armed groups): Albuera, Palompon, and Villaba.
Orange Category (serious threats due to insurgency and presence of multiple risk factors): Calubian, Leyte, San Isidro, and Tabango.
Authorities are closely monitoring these areas to prevent any incidents that could disrupt the electoral process.
TACLOBAN CITY– The region’s total number of constructions increased by 5.1 percent, from 1,344 constructions recorded in the 3rd quarter of 2023 to 1,413 constructions in the 3rd quarter of 2024.
The regional increase was brought about by the 11.9 percent growth in the non-residential buildings with 421 constructions in the 3rd quarter of 2023 to 471 constructions in the 3rd quarter of 2024. The number of residential buildings also went up by 5.1 percent, from 804 constructions in the 3rd quarter of 2023 to 845 constructions in the 3rd quarter of 2024.
On the other hand, the combined number of additions/alterations and repairs decreased by 18.5 percent, posting 97 constructions in the 3rd quarter of 2024 from 119 construction in the 3rd quarter of 2023.
In the 3rd quarter of 2024, the number of residential buildings comprised 59.8 percent of the total constructions in the region, while non-residential buildings and additions/alterations and repairs accounted for 33.3 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively.
The growth in the total number of constructions led to a 25.0 percent increase in their total value during the 3rd quarter of 2024.
The estimated P 3.0 billion total value of constructions in the 3rd quarter of 2023 went up to P 3.8 billion in the same period in 2024.
This increase was attributed to the 52.5 percent growth in the total value of non-residential buildings, from P1.5 billion in the 3rd quarter of 2023 to P 2.3 billion in the 3rd quarter of 2024.
The total value of residential buildings also increased by 2.9 percent from P 1.20 billion in 3rd quarter of 2023 to P 1.24 billion in the 3rd quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, the total value of additions/alterations and repair of existing structures went down by 25.6 percent from P 0.3 billion in the 3rd quarter of 2023 to P 0.2 billion in the 3rd quarter of 2024.
In terms of share to total value of construction, non-residential buildings’ value of construction comprised the bulk at 61.3 percent. The value of construction of residential buildings contributed 32.6 percent, while, additions/alterations and repairs accounted for 6.1 percent of the region’s total value of constructions in the 3rd quarter of 2024.
Average cost of construction per square meter was estimated at PhP 11,108 for residential buildings and PhP 12,261 for non-residential buildings.
Data were based on the results of construction statistics from approved building permits. (PR)
