TACLOBAN CITY – A member of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) was killed while two others were captured after government troops launched successive operations against communist insurgents in Paranas, Samar, on Saturday, September 13.

According to the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID), soldiers from the 46th Infantry Battalion were conducting security operations in Barangay Concepcion when they clashed with remnants of the Special Operations Group (SOG), Yakal Platoon, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Browser of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).
A series of three firefights later that day left one rebel dead, identified as Gerry Dela Cruz, alias “Justin,” and resulted in the capture of two others identified only as “Aye,” a political guide of SRC Browser, and “Tintin,” a member of the EVRPC Regional Security Force.
Troops recovered three M16 rifles, two .45-caliber pistols, three backpacks, three bandoliers, subversive documents, and other war materiel from the encounter sites.
Major General Adonis Ariel Orio, 8ID commander, commended the troops’ “vigilance and dedication,” saying the operations showed steady progress in dismantling the communist movement’s armed capability in Samar.

“These successful engagements are proof that our relentless pursuit operations are effectively dismantling the armed capability of the communist terrorist group. We will continue to hunt down these remnants until they can no longer threaten the peace and progress of Samar,” Orio said in a statement.

Colonel Arlino Sendaydiego, commander of the 801st Infantry Brigade supervising the 46IB, lauded the soldiers’ “swift and decisive action” and again urged remaining insurgents to surrender and avail themselves of government assistance.

Lieutenant Colonel Marvin Inocencio, commander of the 46IB, which is based in Calbiga town, also in Samar, assured the unit remains “steadfast and relentless” in its mission to end local insurgency.

The 8ID said intensified military operations would continue to dismantle the remaining EVRPC formations in Samar and across Eastern Visayas to ensure communities are free from insurgent threats.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

PALO, Leyte – Members of 33 agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) from across Eastern Visayas celebrated as they received their Certificates of Compliance (COC) and Certificates of Registration (COR) from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) transforming them into cooperatives during the ARB Summit cum DAR-CDA ARBO Cooperative Registration Caravan held on the 4th and 5th of September this year at The Tropics in this town.

Rosita Espiño, vice-chairman of the Anthurium Farmers ARB Cooperative in Alangalang, Leyte, kept on applauding while Undersecretary Alexander Raquepo, CDA chairman, enumerated the various benefits a cooperative gets, including the tax exemption. Espiño commented, “Good that we are now a cooperative.”

CDA Assistant Regional Director Maripaz Del Pilar, in turn, clarified in her orientation that the tax exemption should be applied at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Other ARBOs who received their CORs and COCs on Friday from the CDA chairman himself were from the towns of Naval, Cabucgayan, both in Biliran; Tanauan, Dulag, Tolosa, Tanauan, all in Leyte; Salcedo, San Julian, both in Eastern Samar; Allen, San Roque, San Isidro, Pambujan, all in Northern Samar; San Jorge, Calbiga, Pagsanghan, Motiong, Santa Rita, Samar, Pinabacdao Daram, Zumarraga, Santa Rita, Basey, Calbiga, and Tarangnan, all in Samar; Tomas Oppus, Malitbog, and Liloan, all in Southern Leyte.

Meanwhile, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Eastern Visayas Regional Director, Atty. Robert Anthony Yu, expressed his gratitude to the various government agencies for responding to his invitation in sharing their programs and services to the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) on the said occasion.

(JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)

TACLOBAN CITY– A major boost to Baybay City’s power capacity is on the way as the Leyte Electric Cooperative IV (Leyeco IV) broke ground for its 20-MVA Candadam Substation, a project aimed at meeting the city’s rising demand for electricity driven by rapid development.

Mayor Jose Carlos Cari led the ceremony together with acting general manager Brenda Flores-Ampolitod, board president Atty. Joseph Carnel Bandalan, barangay officials, and representatives from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

Designed with four feeders, the new substation will support Baybay’s business and government centers, supplementing the existing 10-MVA Baybay Substation and 5-MVA San Agustin Substation. It is also expected to improve system redundancy for more reliable power distribution.

The facility is scheduled to be energized by mid-2026, marking a significant step in Leyeco IV’s commitment to deliver efficient, reliable, and sustainable electric service to Baybay City and its growing communities. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

PALO, Leyte– Thousands of residents from Palo and neighboring towns flocked to the Leyte Academic Complex on Saturday, September 13, as Leyte province hosted the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para Sa Lahat” caravan—an inter-agency outreach program bringing government services directly to communities.

The event, part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship effort to deliver “whole-of-government” assistance nationwide, gathered dozens of national government agencies offering medical care, social services, financial aid, and livelihood support. National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Joseph Francisco Ortega represented the President, while Leyte 5th district board member Carlo Loreto represented Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.
In his speech, Ortega underscored the role of young people in sustaining government initiatives. “Sa mga kabataan, ang inyong pakikilahok ay mahalaga. Kayo ang susi upang maihatid ang mga benepisyo na kagaya nito… sa bawat barangay sa inyong probinsya,” he said, stressing that the government’s support is designed to bring lasting change to communities.

Among the highlights of the caravan include with the Department of Health (DOH) providing medical consultations, dental services, HIV screening, free medicines, and distribution of assistive devices (wheelchairs and crutches).

Department of Agriculture (DA), distributing P30 million worth of agricultural assistance to Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar; turnover of P7.9 million in interventions to 10 farmer beneficiaries under its banner programs; and distribution of 300 sacks of rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” initiative.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) issued 501 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) to 500 agrarian reform beneficiaries with a condoned total of P29.6 million while the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)distributed P562,500 under the Tulong Dunong Program and P3.59 million under the Tertiary Education Subsidy.
Other agencies present included the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Small Business Corporation, and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation—each providing frontline services to residents.

The caravan underscored the Marcos administration’s commitment to decentralizing services and reaching grassroots communities, ensuring that government programs are accessible to ordinary Filipinos in the provinces.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)