CATARMAN, Northern Samar-In line with the province’s 59th founding anniversary, the provincial government of Northern Samar through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWO) honored the elderly in the province held at the Capitol Covered Court on June 2.

Aside from receiving food packs, hygiene kits, and vegetable seeds, the elderly availed of various services which include medical and dental check-up with free medicines and vitamins, pedicure, manicure, haircut and body massage, blood typing and hemoglobin test.

The senior citizens were also given the chance for an online registration to the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and received flyers for the availment of PhilHealth benefits and packages.

“Today is all about you, savor the delight treats and the welcoming atmosphere created just for this occasion. Enjoy the company of fellow seniors, share stories and laughter, and create new memories together,” said Jhen Darish of the Provincial Social Welfare Office.

Making them aware and informed of the basic healthy living, Dr. John Ezekiel Valera of the Provincial Health Office discussed the Usapang Healthy Aging, while PHO Senior Citizen Focal Shirley Alba presented the Most Common Chronic Diseases in Older Age.

Lynette Lapara, the PHO Mental Health Program Focal, talked on Usapang Mental Health while an orientation on PhilHealth Benefit Packages and Availment Process was given by Joan Manalili, chief social insurance officer of PhilHealth Northern Samar.

As he recognized the valuable contribution of the elderly, Vice Governor Clarence Dato extended his appreciation and gratitude to the elderly acknowledging the vast knowledge we learned from them.

“Your rich experiences, the wisdom and love imparted are our guide and the foundation which made the community vibrant,” Dato said in his inspirational message.

The day ended with the awarding of certificates to the speakers, stakeholders, participating LGUs and the seniors.
(AND, PIA-Northern Samar)

ORMOC CITY– Operatives of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office and the local Station Drug Enforcement Team apprehended the rank number 3 of illegal drug personalities- provincial level in a buy-bust operation at about 7:38 pm on June 21.

Police identified the suspect as Greg Maceda, 34, single, a resident of Barangay Maria Clara, Maasin City, in a sting operation in Brgy. San Miguel, Sogod town, Southern Leyte.
Recovered from the possession of the suspect were five sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu procured by an operative in the amount of P5,000.

The searching cop also recovered cash of P23,700 in different denominations, two sticks of cigarettes, one lighter color green, one bag pack containing a lunch box, jacket, t-shirt, towel, roll bag, and one iPhone cellphone

Charges of violations of Sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illicit drugs) of Art II of RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, were filed at the Provincial Prosecutors Office against the suspect who is temporarily detained at the detention cell of Sogod municipal police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– Six sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu were recovered from a jail guard assigned at the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Abuyog, Leyte.
Arrested by the operatives during the June 21 sting operation was alias ‘Vladimir,’ 25 and a resident of Barangay Can-uguib, Abuyog who was in possession of suspected shabu weighing 3.24 grams with a street value of P22,032.

The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and was apprised of his constitutional rights through the Miranda Doctrine in a language he understood and spoke.

Charges of violations of sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illicit drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, were filed against the suspect who is temporarily detained at the locked-up cell of the Abuyog municipal police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-A farmer, who was last reported harvesting nipa leaves, was found dead at about 7 am on Saturday (June 22) in the coastal area of Sitio Batang, Barangay Uban in Babatngon, Leyte.

The victim was identified by the police as alias “Longgoy”, 65, married, and a resident of Brgy. Uban of the said town.

Babatngon police said that they received a cellphone call from a concerned citizen that a dead body was found in the mangrove area of the said barangay.

Initial investigation conducted by responding police disclosed that the victim was last seen alive at about 8 am on Friday(June 21), harvesting nipa leaves.

However, the following day, at about 7 am, the lifeless body of the victim was discovered dead, with clothes printed with ‘barangay tanod’ tied in his left hand was trapped within the mangrove trees.

The police added that based on their findings, the victim accidentally hacked his left hand while harvesting the nipa leaves at the said place.

Dr. Julieta Conge, municipal health officer, pronounced the victim dead.

She theorized that the victim died from loss of blood due to the wound he sustained on his wrist. (ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-A Russian national died on the spot after he was overrun by a wing van at about 5:40 am on Saturday (June 22) along Maharlika Highway in Barangay 99 Diit in Tacloban City.

The police said that the unidentified male victim was driving a Honda ACB 125 with plate number 478-HSY.

While another victim was identified as alias “Rod”, 68, unemployed, and a resident of Brgy. Diit, here.

The incident also involved two other vehicles, a Yamaha, Mio Sporty, color matte black, with plate number 980-HCP, registered to alias “Leo” of V and G Subdivision, Tacloban City, and driven by an unidentified foreign national who left the area after the incident and the vehicle behind the death of the foreign national a aluminum wing van truck with plate number CBS-2511, registered to TL TRAFI Logistics Inc. of Cainta, Rizal, and driven by alias “Melchor”, 41, married, a resident of Tacurong, Sultan, Kudarat.

Initial investigation conducted by the local police disclosed that the wing van and the Honda ACB 125, driven by the Russian were traveling along the Maharlika Highway in the same direction to which the single motorcycle was on the right side of the wing van.
However, upon reaching the place of occurrence, the single motorcycle accidentally hit an electrical post on the side of the road and eventually hit the victim who was standing on the road.

Unfortunately, the single motorcycle driven by the Russian continued to move forward and in the process hit the park single motorcycle causing the driver together with his driven motorcycle to be placed underneath the wing van and eventually run over by the truck.
As a result, the foreign national and the pedestrian victim sustained serious injuries and were brought to EVMC for medical treatment.

The wing van driver together with the vehicles was brought to Police Station 2 for documentation and proper disposition.

The local police are still conducting a thorough investigation on the incident.
(ROBERT DEJON)