President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday approved the declaration of a state of national calamity due to the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino in several regions, and the impact of another incoming powerful typhoon.

President Marcos approved the proposal of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to declare a state of calamity, during a situation briefing held at the NDRRMC headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The President said the government is continuing rescue and relief efforts for all those affected by Typhoon Tino, while preparing for Typhoon Uwan.

“Mabigat talaga ang pagkatama sa Cebu. Actually, Regions VI, VII, VIII, MIMAROPA, umabot sa Negros Island Region dahil tumawid ang Tino – the damage is heavy,” President Marcos said in a media interview after the briefing.

“And so, we are doing our usual relief and support activities para lahat nung mga na-displace, lahat nung naging biktima, ay matutulungan ng pamahalaan, together with national government, together with the first responders, of course, the LGUs.”

“Because of the scope of, shall we say, problem areas that has been hit by Tino and will be hit by Uwan, there was a proposal from the NDRRMC, which I approved, that we will declare a national calamity because ilang regions na ‘yan,” President Marcos continued.
President Marcos said 10 to 12 regions are expected to be affected by the twin typhoons. “So, pagka ganoon karami, ganoon ang scope, then we really have to, then it is a national calamity.”

The declaration of a state of national calamity will accelerate the government’s and the private sector’s rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts. The declaration will also facilitate the use of calamity funds in affected areas.

“That gives us quicker access to some of the emergency funds. Secondly, mapapabilis ang ating procurement so that we don’t have to go to the usual bureaucratic procedures and we can immediately provide assistance to the victims,” President Marcos said.

Following the onslaught of Typhoon Tino, the Office of the President (OP) has provided a total of PhP760 million in financial assistance to the affected local government units: P50 million each for the provinces of Cebu, Capiz, Surigao del Norte, Iloilo, Bohol, and Negros Occidental; PhP40 million each for Eastern Samar, Surigao del Sur, Southern Leyte, Antique, and Aklan; P30 million each for Leyte and Masbate; PhP20 million each for Guimaras, Agusan del Norte, and Dinagat Islands; PhP10 million each for Biliran, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Misamis Oriental, Negros Oriental, and Palawan; and P5 million to Albay, Romblon, Batangas, Northern Samar, Siquijor, Quezon, Samar, Agusan del Sur, Laguna, Zamboanga City, City of Manila (due to stranded passengers), Camiguin, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, and Iligan City.

President Marcos said the government is evaluating the deployment of personnel to cover ongoing rescue and relief operations in the Typhoon Tino-affected areas and prepare for the impact of Typhoon Uwan in Northern Luzon.

“Kaya’t ‘yun ang aming binabalanse. Siyempre, hindi namin iiwanan ang Cebu hangga’t lahat na ay in place na. But we will do as much as we can to anticipate – if we anticipate well and we prepare well, marami tayong nagagawa para medyo mas mabawasan ang effect,” said the President. (PR)

ORMOC CITY– A tragic accident claimed the life of an eight-year-old girl who was struck by a falling coconut tree while on her way to buy fish on Monday afternoon, October 27, in Sitio Manipis, Barangay Bagaba-o, Leyte, Leyte.

Police identified the victim as alias “Majeng,” 8, a Grade 3 pupil and a resident of Sitio Manipis, Barangay Bagaba-o.

The incident involved two men identified as alias “Pino,” 42, married, chief tanod, and alias “Pabs,” 38, married, farmer, both residents of Barangay Mataloto, Leyte.

According to a report from the Leyte Municipal Police Station submitted to the regional police office, authorities received a phone call around 1:30 p.m. from Cpl. Kael, a Police sa Barangay (PSB) assigned in Barangay Mataloto, reporting that a child had been accidentally hit by a coconut tree being cut down in the area.

Responding police officers immediately proceeded to the scene, where they found the girl lying on the ground. She was rushed by family members, aboard a police vehicle, to the Leyte Rural Health Unit, but was pronounced dead on arrival at 3:45 p.m. by attending physician Dr. Avery Carol B. Bartolome.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim was passing by when the coconut tree, being cut by the suspects, suddenly fell and hit her. The suspects and the victim’s family immediately tried to lift the tree and rescue the child, but she succumbed to her injuries before receiving medical treatment.

Both suspects voluntarily surrendered to PSB personnel in Barangay Mataloto following the incident. The chainsaw used in cutting the tree and the suspects themselves were brought to the Leyte Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and disposition.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY– A 50-year-old barangay captain was shot dead by unidentified assailants while his live-in partner escaped unharmed on Sunday morning, November 2, 2025, in Barangay Nijaga, Calbayog City.

The victim, identified only as “Rolly,” a resident and barangay captain of Purok 3, Barangay Guinbaoyan Norte, was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital. His 34-year-old live-in partner, “Jen,” was left uninjured.

Initial investigation by the Calbayog City Police Station revealed that the couple was on their way home aboard a motorcycle when unidentified suspects opened fire using an unknown caliber firearm at around 10:12 a.m.

The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) said the gunmen fled immediately after the attack.
Authorities have launched chokepoint and dragnet operations in coordination with nearby police stations to track down the suspects. Meanwhile, the Calbayog City Forensic Unit has processed the crime scene for evidence.

Police investigators are still determining the motive behind the killing.

(RONALD O. REYES)

ORMOC CITY– A 12-year-old girl was declared dead on arrival at a hospital after she was allegedly stabbed multiple times by her 22-year-old boyfriend in a fit of jealousy early Saturday morning, November 1, in Sitio Lawis, Barangay Sto. Niño, Isabel, Leyte.

Police identified the victim only as “Bea,” a student and resident of Barangay Sta. Cruz, and the suspect as “Roy,” a butcher residing in Sitio Lawis, Barangay Sto. Niño.

According to a report from the Isabel Municipal Police Station, officers were conducting a mobile patrol when they received information about a stabbing incident in the area. Upon arrival, a witness identified as “Jeff” pointed to the suspect as the assailant.
Police immediately arrested Roy and confiscated a kitchen knife, believed to be the weapon used in the attack.

Initial investigation revealed that the suspect became enraged after seeing the victim walking with another man, prompting him to stab her several times. The victim was rushed to the Isabel Emergency Hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The suspect is currently detained at the Isabel Municipal Police Station, where a murder charge is being prepared against him.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A 12-year-old boy was injured after being accidentally hit by a motorcycle while crossing the road along the Diversion Road in Barangay San Roque, Biliran town, Biliran around 11:25 a.m. on Friday, October 31.

Police identified the victim only as “Indoy,” a resident of Barangay San Isidro in the same municipality.

The motorcycle involved, a black Kawasaki CT 100, was driven by “Lito,” 53, a fisherman and resident of Barangay Mapuyo, Kawayan, Biliran.

According to a report from the Biliran Municipal Police Station (MPS), the motorcycle was traveling from La Paz, Leyte, toward Kawayan, Biliran, when the boy suddenly crossed the road near the Biliran gasoline station, resulting in the collision.

The impact caused the child to sustain abrasions and a wound on his left knee. He was immediately brought to the Biliran rural health unit for treatment.
Police took the driver and the motorcycle into custody at the Biliran MPS for proper investigation and disposition.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A 45-year-old woman with disability was found lifeless in a lake located at the back of her home in Sitio Amanday, Barangay Sto. Rosario, Matag-ob, Leyte around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, in what authorities believe to be an accidental drowning.

Police identified the victim only as “Sally,” a housewife and resident of the area.
According to the Matag-ob Municipal Police Station, the victim was last seen seated in their kitchen at around 8:00 a.m. by her family. Two hours later, her son, identified as “Vince,” discovered her floating face-up in the lake behind their house.

Responding officers, led by Police Major Dennis Clemencio, said the victim’s son had already retrieved her body and brought it inside their home before authorities arrived. The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) assisted in the response.

Dr. Maurren Kate Umacob, municipal health officer of Matag-ob, examined the victim and declared her dead at 11:19 a.m. on the same day.

Police said no signs of foul play were found, and the incident is being treated as an accidental drowning. The victim’s remains were brought to a funeral home in Ormoc City for post-mortem examination.

(ROBERT DEJON)