ORMOC CITY– The body of a six-year old girl was found dead in an abandoned house and was suspected to have been raped.

The tragic incident was reported on the evening of June 17, 2025, in Barangay Cansiboy, Burauen, Leyte.

The victim was identified as a local resident of the barangay. The suspect, known by the alias “Amiel,” a 50-year-old married farm laborer, and the witness, “Risa,” a 43-year-old mute woman and the victim’s aunt, are also residents of the same barangay.

According to police, at around 11:20 pm, a certain alias “Videl” personally reported the incident at the Burauen Municipal Police Station (MPS), stating that a possible homicide had occurred in their community.

Responding to the report, personnel from Burauen MPS immediately proceeded to Barangay Cansiboy to investigate.

Upon arrival, they were approached by a visibly distressed witness who communicated via sign language. She pointed to the suspect and narrated that she saw him allegedly seize the child and bring her into an abandoned house nearby. She further described how he used torn pieces of the victim’s clothing to gag her.

Initial police investigation revealed that at approximately 7 pm, the victim was at home having dinner with her grandmother, cousin, and aunt. After the meal, the child’s grandmother—who is a barangay tanod—left for duty at the nearby outpost. When she returned around 9 pm, the victim was no longer in the house, prompting the family to launch a search.

During the search, the suspect, who had joined the search efforts, suddenly went to an abandoned house near the family’s residence and shouted that the child was inside. When asked how he saw the victim in the dark, he claimed she was visible due to a light.
The child’s grandmother recounted that upon retrieving her granddaughter, she noticed bleeding from the child’s private parts.

The victim was immediately rushed to Burauen District Hospital aboard a barangay rescue vehicle but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

CATBALOGAN CITY – Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. is urging higher education institutions to take bolder steps in funding and commercializing the results of their own research and innovation projects.

Speaking during the opening of the first-ever Regional Smart Communities Exposition and Networking Engagement (rSCENE) held this city, Solidum challenged universities to move beyond traditional research and academic publishing and instead focus on transitioning their outputs into viable market products.

“If we look at the history of developed countries, universities have significantly contributed to economic development by transitioning from education and research to commercialization,” he told the media.

Solidum emphasized that since assuming his post as DOST Secretary, he has pushed for all university-led innovation projects to be designed with market potential in mind to ease their transition into commercial applications.

“This is not easy to do. The university itself must have the framework and advocacy to support this transition,” he noted.

To speed up the process, Solidum encouraged universities to establish partnerships within their departments and with potential investors or industry players when developing proposals. These collaborations, he said, are key to bridging the gap between technology creators and capitalists.

“This will fast-track the interaction between technology producers and investors, giving them a platform to create companies or startups,” he added.

Solidum highlighted the DOST’s ongoing support for universities working to commercialize research, but also called for wider collaboration.

“While DOST is funding and facilitating, we hope other agencies will also support this effort. This can help create more enterprises, boost productivity, and generate employment,” he said.

The three-day rSCENE event aims to showcase innovative smart city solutions and strengthen collaboration among key players in the technology and development sectors. It also seeks to address urban challenges in Catbalogan City—such as public service delivery and sustainability—through digital transformation and smart technologies.

Joining Secretary Solidum were DOST Undersecretary Engr. Sancho Mabborang, Catbalogan City Mayor Dexter Uy, Samar 2nd District Representative Reynolds Michael Tan (representing Governor Sharee Ann Tan), and DOST Regional Director John Glenn Ocaña.
Catbalogan has already begun its smart city journey through initiatives like the City Data Center and digital governance tools. It now aims to position itself as a regional hub for smart, sustainable, and inclusive urban development.

The event also featured the launch of Smart and Sustainable Roadmaps for nine local government units, namely, the cities of Ormoc, Tacloban, Maasin, Borongan, Catbalogan, and Calbayog; Catarman and Bobon, both in Northern Samar, and Naval, Biliran, fund turnovers to Borongan and Catbalogan and to Eastern Visayas State University, and the unveiling of Project TANAW—a 3D-printed urban model of Catbalogan that includes geohazard simulations using virtual environments and AR projection mapping. The project is funded by the City of Catbalogan in partnership with Samar State University.

rSCENE is a joint project of the DOST and the City Government of Catbalogan, with support from the DILG, DTI, DOT, DICT, CHED, PNP, and the Provincial Government of Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Eastern Visayas is stepping up efforts to ease transport disruptions caused by restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge, recognizing the issue’s impact on commuters, truckers, and the flow of essential goods across the region.

During its 2nd quarter meeting held this week, the RPOC, chaired by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, expressed appreciation for the RIACC Task Force San Juanico, led by Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 8 Director Lord Byron Torrecarion, for addressing logistical challenges stemming from the ongoing bridge policies.

As a proactive response, the OCD announced the upcoming launch of the RIACC8 Libreng Sakay program, which will offer free transport assistance for cargo trucks carrying essential items.

The initiative aims to minimize delays in the delivery of basic goods, curb inflation, and stabilize regional market prices.

Beyond transport concerns, the RPOC also tackled key regional issues, including the prevailing peace and order situation, the fight against illegal drugs, and updates on the government’s counter-insurgency campaign.

The council emphasized the need for sustained inter-agency cooperation to ensure safety, stability, and development in Eastern Visayas.

Mayor Romualdez and council members reaffirmed their commitment to unified governance and responsive public service, noting that strategic coordination is crucial in both crisis mitigation and peacebuilding efforts.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)