ORMOC CITY-The lifeless body of an unidentified woman was found floating in a fishpond on Saturday, July 27, at about 8 am in Sitio Lawis, Barangay San Juan, Palompon, Leyte.
According to the police, a 45-year-old fisherman known as “Ed,” a resident of said village reported discovering the body while searching for firewood in a bushy area near the fishpond.
The victim is described as over 50 years old, small-built, with dark skin, with curly hair, and appeared to be a vagabond.
Another resident, “Sam,” aged 67, informed the police that he saw the victim around 8 am on July 26.
The victim appeared haggard and repeatedly fell to the ground along the pathway of Sitio Lawis. However, Sam did not attend to her as he was busy tending to the fishpond.
No visible injuries were initially found on the victim’s body, which was taken to the rural health unit for a post-mortem examination by the Medico-Legal Officer.
The investigation into the identity and cause of death of the victim is ongoing.
ORMOC CITY-A former barangay chairman was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the local police on Wednesday, July 24, at around 4 pm in Barangay Villahermosa, Calubian, Leyte.
The suspect, identified by Calubian Chief of Police Major Alexander Alfonzo as Reno Cabalhin, 46, single, and jobless, and a resident of Brgy. Cabalquinto.
Cabalhin had previously been arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
During the operation, an operative purchased one sachet of suspected shabu from Cabalhin for P500. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, led to the recovery of another sachet of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P500.
Further inspection revealed a caliber .45 pistol with a magazine loaded with seven live rounds of ammunition, placed inside a sling bag marked “Nike,” along with drug paraphernalia.
Charges for violations of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, and RA 10591, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunition, and Explosives, have been filed at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Cabalhin is currently detained at the Calubian Municipal Police Station’s lock-up cell. (ROBERT DEJON)
FLOOD RESILIENCE.The Tacloban City District Engineering Office announced that the retarding basin projects at housing projects located in Suhi and Greendale, Tacloban City are almost complete .The retarding basin projects has a budget allocation of more than P101 million. (TCDEO)
FLOOD RESILIENCE.The Tacloban City District Engineering Office announced that the retarding basin projects at housing projects located in Suhi and Greendale, Tacloban City are almost complete .The retarding basin projects has a budget allocation of more than P101 million. (TCDEO)
TACLOBAN CITY– The Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO) is nearing completion of retarding basins at housing projects located in Suhi and Greendale, Tacloban City.
This project, funded under the 2023 General Appropriation Act with a total contract amount of Php 101,207,765.11, aims to enhance flood resilience in these residential areas.
Retarding basins play a crucial role in mitigating flood risks by temporarily storing excess storm water runoff, thereby preventing the overwhelming of drainage systems during heavy rainfall or storms.
This proactive approach safeguards residents and their properties from flooding and helps mitigate waterborne diseases associated with stagnant floodwaters.
Furthermore, beyond flood control, these basins are designed to serve the local community by providing a reliable water supply.
To ensure safety, water from the basins will pass through a water treatment facility to be constructed soon after project completion. Meanwhile, excess water from the basins will automatically flow into the river.
These retarding basins are constructed using gravity-type stone masonry with concrete pacing, spanning 748.267 lineal meters, ensuring durability for long-term benefits to the community.
“The construction of these retarding basins is a crucial investment in our community’s ability to handle floods. We’re focused on creating infrastructure that not only addresses our current needs but also prepares us for future challenges, keeping our residents safe and secure,” said District Engineer Rebecca G. Yuse.
COURTESY VISIT. Officers of the Tacloban City Federation of Solo Parents headed by Aileen M. Grafil pay a courtesy call to City Mayor Alfred Romualdez at his office on Thursday, July 25. Joining in the visit are Councilor Aurora Aimee D. Grafil and city social welfare officer Chona Bahin. (PHOTO COURTESY)
COURTESY VISIT. Officers of the Tacloban City Federation of Solo Parents headed by Aileen M. Grafil pay a courtesy call to City Mayor Alfred Romualdez at his office on Thursday, July 25. Joining in the visit are Councilor Aurora Aimee D. Grafil and city social welfare officer Chona Bahin. (PHOTO COURTESY)
School year 2024-2025
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Education (DepEd) in Eastern Visayas has announced its readiness for the upcoming school opening on Monday, July 29.
Ronilo Al Firmo, the assistant regional Director of DepEd-8, assured that classes would commence smoothly as schools have been thoroughly cleaned during the ‘Brigada Eskwela’ week.
As of Thursday, July 25, the DepEd has recorded 720,594 students enrolled for the 2024-2025 school term across 4,179 public schools in the region.
This number is expected to rise, as enrollment is open until the end of the month.
Last school term, the region saw approximately 1.25 million students enrolled from Kindergarten to Senior High School.
Firmo urged parents not to wait until the last minute to enroll their children, emphasizing that late enrollees would miss some lessons.
“We are appealing to our parents not to wait for the deadline of enrollment or until August, considering that classes will formally start on Monday,” Firmo said.
To ensure a smooth and secure school opening, DepEd has coordinated with other government agencies, including the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army, for the safety of students, teachers, and parents.
Also, DepEd is working with the Department of Trade and Industry to monitor the prices of school supplies.
“We are now ready for the opening of classes as we have coordinated with other government agencies to ensure a smooth and secure opening of classes this Monday,” Firmo stated.
Firmo also reiterated that enrollment in government schools is free and that collecting contributions is strictly prohibited.
He clarified that this should not be a hindrance to any student’s enrollment.
And while wearing school uniforms is not mandatory, most schools encourage it for security reasons of the students.
This school year will consist of 170 calendar days and is to end on April 15,2025.
NO TO POGO. Leaders in Eastern Visayas like Eastern Samar Ben Evardone and Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list group hailed Pres. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. of his directive to stop all operations of Pogos in the country.
PBBM SONA
NO TO POGO. Leaders in Eastern Visayas like Eastern Samar Ben Evardone and Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list group hailed Pres. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. of his directive to stop all operations of Pogos in the country.
TACLOBAN CITY — Leaders in Eastern Visayas have expressed their praise and support for the pronouncements made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Monday, July 22.
Rep. Jude Acidre of the Tingog party-list group lauded the President banning the POGO operations, stating that it will help “restore public order and address the social economic issues associated” with their operations.
“The President’s decision to ban POGOs is a significant step towards restoring public and addressing the social and economic issues associated with these operations,” he said in a statement.
“This move will lessen the negative impacts of gambling activities to ensure a safer and more secure environment for Filipinos. I applaud our President for listening to our economic managers and security advisors,” Rep. Acidre added.
For his part, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone expressed his strong support for President Marcos’s stance on banning the operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), echoing the President’s sentiment that their operations bring more harm than good to the country.
“Indeed, POGOs have brought more harm than good to our country and people. The challenge is now in the hands of our law enforcement agencies to ensure that these POGOs do not go underground,” the governor said.
Both leaders also lauded the President’s declaration on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
“We should rally behind President Marcos’s stand on this issue,” Evardone said.
Acidre urged China to respect the President’s declaration, noting that there is already a ruling favoring the Philippines as the rightful owner of the disputed West Philippine Sea.
“His statements must be met with respect by the Chinese government to stop harassing Filipino coast guards and fisherfolk, as the Permanent Court of Arbitration had decided,” he said.
Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan also expressed his support with the President in defending the West Philippine Sea.
“We are one with the President in defending the West Philippine Sea from foreign takeover,” he said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, JOEY A. GABIETA)
TACLOBAN CITY – Palapag town Mayor Florence “Fawa” Batula Jr. has called on parents to prevent their children from being used in armed conflicts.
This plea came during a press conference on July 24, following the turnover of three minors by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Balay Darangpan of the Northern Samar provincial government to their relatives.
Mayor Batula, who leads the Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC), witnessed the turnover of three minors rescued by military personnel from the 74th Infantry Battalion on June 3.
The rescue occurred after an exchange of fire between government forces and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the village of Osmeña in Palapag.
The minors, including two 14-year-old boys and one 13-year-old boy, were initially brought to the Palapag Municipal Police Station by military personnel, accompanied by a representative from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).
Due to the lack of facilities in Palapag, the children were then taken to Balay Darangpan in Catarman.
In interviews after their rescue, the children admitted that their parents and some relatives are NPA members. They were tasked with delivering food and other essentials to the communist group.
“As parents, let’s not allow our minor children to be used as instruments to deceive the government. It is not a good role model for children to be involved in rebel group activities,” Mayor Batula said.
He added that using children as couriers or for any tasks linked with insurgency should not be tolerated and must be discouraged.
“This should be stopped, and if people know of parents engaging in these practices, they should be reported because we have a law, Republic Act 11188, that protects children,” Batula emphasized.
The mayor also appealed to residents of Palapag who are still active members of the communist group to surrender and take advantage of the support and programs available for former rebels.
“There is still a chance. It’s not too late, and the door of MTF-ELCAC is open because we value lives. What’s important is for you to be with your family living a decent life,” he added.
Interested individuals can coordinate with barangay officials, the town police station, the military, or town officials.
During the turnover ceremony attended by officials from the 74th IB, Palapag Municipal Police Station, and the Department of Education, DSWD and Balay Darangpan personnel shared that the children received several interventions, including medical and dental check-ups, personal hygiene care education, individual and group counseling sessions, and psychiatric evaluations.
The rescued minors will also receive educational support.
“Mike” will be enrolled in Grade 7, while “Julian,” who has reached Grade 1, and “Justin,” who has reached Grade 2, will be enrolled in the Alternative Learning System program.
The families of the three minors will receive assistance from the social welfare agency, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), enrollment in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and other financial assistance.
