TACLOBAN CITY-At two high-value individuals (HVIs) and seven other suspected drug personalities were arrested in separate anti-narcotics operations across the region from May 20-22, 2024.

“Our dedicated police force is committed to fulfilling its duty by thoroughly investigating the source of these illicit drugs,” said Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas (PRO-8) director Brigadier General Reynaldo Pawid.

In a statement to the local media, Pawid lauded the different Philippine National Police (PNP) units in the region and the collaboration with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Eastern Visayas for the arrest of the suspects.

“Our relentless pursuit of justice for our community will persist until those responsible are apprehended and brought to face the full extent of the law, ensuring that these criminals are held accountable for their actions,” he added.

The HVIs were identified as alias Dod, a 44-year-old jail guard residing in Hilongos, Leyte; and alias Cris, 40, a resident of Allen, Northern Samar.

Dod was arrested by the combined elements of PDEA-Southern Leyte and the Matalom Municipal Police Station.

Recovered from the suspect were five small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu and one caliber .45 pistol during the buy-bust operation in Barangay Punong, Matalom, Leyte on May 21.

Cris yielded four sachets of suspected shabu in a buy-bust operation led by the Allen Municipal Police Station operatives at Barangay Sabang, Zone II, in Allen town on May 20.
The police regional command identified the seven other drug suspects as street-level individuals.

The onsite marking and inventory of the recovered evidence were conducted in the presence of invited witnesses and the suspects, according to the police regional command.
The actual weight and value of the confiscated drug items are yet to be determined by the Regional Forensics Unit-8, it added.

The arrested suspects will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
(RONALD O. REYES)

ORMOC CITY-The Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) seized an estimated 60 grams of suspected shabu with a commercial value of P408,000 during a buy-bust operation together with PDEA and the City Drug Enforcement Unit of Tacloban City Police Office at about 8 pm on Monday(May 20)in Barangay 106 Sto. Niño of said city.

PDEG SIU 8 Chief PLT/Col. Arturo Fullero identified the suspects as Arnel Sy alias “Dudoy” 32, single, jobless, a resident of Zone 8 Barangay 105 San Isidro here.

The suspect is listed as a high-value individual drug watch list at the Regional Level and undergoing rehabilitation at Salag, Dulag Leyte after he was arrested for a drug offense in February 2022.

Also arrested was Samuel Quintina alias “Sammy” 65, a barangay tanod of the same village.

Subject of the operation was Sy and PDEG operatives recovered from his possession one medium-sized sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu procured by an operative in the amount of P68,000.

During the conduct of a body search done in the presence of an elected barangay official and a representative from the local media, the searching cops recovered four more sachets containing suspected shabu and 68 pieces of P1,000 bills.

No illegal item was recovered from Quintana.

Charges of violations of sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) & 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Art II of RA 9165 the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002 were filed by the arresting police against the suspect who was brought to Tacloban City Police Office Detention Facility for documentation and proper disposition and temporary detention.(ROBERT DEJON)

NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, N. Samar– The municipal mayor of Catubig, Northern Samar, Honorable Solomon G. Vicencio was present during the inauguration and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the completed construction of Catubig Flood Control Structure and Drainage System, Catubig River Basin, Catubig, Northern Samar, last March 13, 2024.

The construction of Catubig Flood Control Structure and Drainage System, Catubig River Basin, Catubig, Northern Samar, started on February 7, 2023, with a budget appropriation of P57,500,000 intented for the construction of 256 linear meter flood control structure.
“An mga sugad sine nga proyekto nga bisan pag ananuon namon dihan sa Catubig, dire namo kakayanon.” Mayor Solomon Vicencio said.

Mayor Solomon was grateful to the national government led by President Bongbong Marcos, DPWH, Congressman Harris Christopher Ongchuan, and the Provincial Government for addressing and strengthening the disaster resilience and mitigation by constructing indispensable project in his jurisdiction.

“Kabaysay na sa ato riverbank, maiibanan na liwat an kulba sa mga residente nga hane. Maiibanan an damage nga caused by erosion and flood-water. This is a massive occurrence, a massive gift to the town of Catubig”, he added.

By this project, it indicates that the municipality of Catubig can now stand against disastrous events which may occur in their locality.

(RONEL L. GALUPO, PIO ALTERNATE/PR)