ORMOC CITY– An American national facing charges under the Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Act was arrested in a joint operation by the Almeria Municipal Police, the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Biliran Provincial Police Office, and local authorities.
The arrest took place at around 4:50 pm on October 7, in Barangay Poblacion, Naval, Biliran.
The suspect, identified by police as Francis Smith, 63, a married, unemployed U.S. citizen currently residing in Barangay Iyusan, Almeria, Biliran, is originally from Texas, USA.
The arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Executive Judge Luz Petilla Navarrete of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 16, Naval, Biliran, for a violation of section 5, paragraph (1) of Republic Act 9262 (VAWC).
The court set bail at P72,000 for his temporary release.
Authorities informed the suspect of the charges against him and apprised him of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Smith was taken to the Almeria Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper processing before being turned over to the court that issued the warrant.
KERWIN’S RIGHT. Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla said that while drug-related issues hounded Rolan ‘Kerwin’ Espinosa, he has all the right to run for mayor in his native town of Albuera.(FILE PHOTO)
2025 Elections
KERWIN’S RIGHT. Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla said that while drug-related issues hounded Rolan ‘Kerwin’ Espinosa, he has all the right to run for mayor in his native town of Albuera.(FILE PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot Petilla said that Roland “Kerwin” Espinosa, a confessed drug lord, has the right to run for public office, despite the controversy surrounding him.
Petilla made this statement when asked about Espinosa’s candidacy for mayor of Albuera town during an interview.
“They say he’s involved in illegal drugs, which he has denied, but it is his right to run, as everyone is entitled to,” Petilla said. “At the end of the day, this is an election, and it’s the people who will decide.”
Espinosa, 43, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on October 1, the first day of filing, declaring his intention to run for mayor.
His sister, Mariel, is his running mate.
Espinosa said that one of his key priorities, if elected, would be to rid Albuera of illegal drug activities.
He also revealed that his decision to run was fueled by a desire to seek justice for his father, former Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
The elder Espinosa, once named by former President Rodrigo Duterte as a narco-politician, was killed in a shootout inside his cell at the Baybay City sub-provincial jail on November 5, 2016, during a raid by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Kerwin will face incumbent Mayor Sixto de la Victoria and board member Vincent Emnas, the brother-in-law of Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez, in the upcoming mayoral race.
Both de la Victoria and Emnas were present when Gov. Petilla submitted his own COC at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections in Tacloban City on October 8. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) in Eastern Visayas has extended shelter support through the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program for affected individuals.
In a recent “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas,” Atty. Michael Victor C. Tezon, regional director of DHSUD-8, announced an increase in financial housing services as a national strategy following its Public Housing and Settlements Division.
Up to P30,000 will be provided for those with totally damaged houses and up to P10,000 for partial damaged houses to help build or extend adequate housing.
“Last year, we only had P10,000 cash assistance to offer, and only to those with totally damaged houses. But now, we have considered total and partial damages and increased the cash assistance to P30,000 as the highest amount. We give it to victims of man-made and natural disasters,” he said.
Tezon recalled Tropical Depression ‘Aghon’ that affected the region due to heavy rains, floodings, and landslides in May of this year.
The initiative is a one-time offer with a careful selection process to ensure the eligibility of the victims.
In addition to having damaged houses, the targeted beneficiaries should not receive any other government or non-government assistance.
“The selection process for beneficiaries is transparent, fair, and inclusive. We will not allow any favored handpick from any municipalities,” Tezon said.
The DHSUD-8 continues supervising homeowner families and maintaining a safe and organized community.
The number of registered beneficiary homeowners is highest in Leyte, with 220, followed by Samar, with 130. Southern Leyte and Northern Samar have 14, Eastern Samar has 11, and Biliran has four (4). (AAC/JKPA, PIA Leyte)
Contestants from surfing havens Baler and Aurora dominated the 14th Calicoan Odyssey Waves held at the Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
(PHOTO COURTESY)
Contestants from surfing havens Baler and Aurora dominated the 14th Calicoan Odyssey Waves held at the Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – The final day of the 14th Calicoan Odyssey Waves at the renowned ABCD break on Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, proved to be an exhilarating conclusion to the six-day event.
Surfers from Baler, Sorsogon, La Union, and Surigao showcased their skills, once again demonstrating their dominance in catching the waves.
In the Men’s Open Shortboard category, Neil Sanchez from Baler emerged victorious, defeating Eduardo Alciso of Surigao. Meanwhile, in the Women’s Open Shortboard, Vea Estrellado of Sorsogon clinched the title against Nilbie Blancada, also from Surigao.
King Villanueva of La Union took the top spot in the Men’s Open Longboard, besting John Kennedy Martinez.
In the Women’s Open Longboard, Ashlee Lopez, also from La Union, dominated her category.
Both the shortboard and longboard winners in the men’s and women’s categories received a cash prize of P130,000 each.
In the Junior Girls Shortboard, Mara Lopez from La Union showcased her talent, while Troy Espejon from Surigao won the Junior Boys Shortboard event. They each earned a cash prize of P43,000.
Guiuan town was the first to award equal prizes in both the men’s and women’s divisions for longboard and shortboard disciplines.
The 14th Calicoan Odyssey Waves is part of the annual national surfing competition sanctioned by the United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA) and recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The event is organized by the municipal government of Guiuan and local surfing organizations, with support from the provincial government of Eastern Samar and other sponsors.(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
The end of the drug war was supposed to mark a shift towards a more humane and strategic approach to addressing the drug problem in the Philippines. Yet, reports of drug proliferation resurfacing in various communities suggest that the underlying issues remain unsolved. It seems the quiet following the drug war was less about victory and more about a temporary lull.
The resurgence of illegal drugs points to a systemic failure in addressing root causes, such as poverty and corruption. While the previous administration’s violent campaign was unsustainable, it highlighted the scale of the problem. Now that the fear factor is gone, the same networks have quietly returned to business. This raises the question: Did we dismantle the problem or push it underground?
One glaring issue is the lack of comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration programs. Without giving former drug users a path forward, we are simply putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. The drug trade is fueled by desperation, and people trapped in poverty are lured back into it without meaningful alternatives. The war on drugs may have temporarily suppressed symptoms, but it ignored the disease.
Moreover, enforcement has become inconsistent. The promise of focusing on big fish, not small-time users and pushers, has fallen. Local communities now speak of police forces that seem less engaged, perhaps hesitant after being criticized for their previous aggressive methods. Corruption, long embedded in the system, continues to allow drug lords to thrive, while the very structures meant to protect society crumble from within.
To truly address this issue, we need a multi-pronged approach beyond surface-level solutions. Rehabilitation, social services, economic opportunities, and stronger enforcement with accountability must work hand-in-hand. The government must shift from reactionary policies to preventive measures, focusing on long-term solutions instead of short-term wins. Ending the drug war doesn’t mean ending the fight—it means changing how we fight.
I’ve always recognized the freedom to be who you are, and that applies just as much to the LGBTQIA+ community as it does to anyone else. If someone feels that they are a different gender from what the world sees or if they love in ways that traditional norms may not always understand, I don’t see why anyone should stop them from embracing that. But—and this is the part that gets tricky—it’s one thing to live your truth, and another thing entirely to expect everyone else to live by that same truth. There’s got to be some space where people can coexist, even with their differing views, without feeling forced into adopting each other’s beliefs.
I understand the struggle of LGBTQIA+ folks; it takes guts to stand up against centuries of societal norms and carve out an identity that feels authentic to them. It’s a deeply personal journey, and no one else can walk that road for them. But I’ve noticed that in pushing for acceptance, there’s sometimes this quiet demand that straight people not only accept but believe the same things. And to be honest, that’s where I started to feel a bit uneasy. I’m all for respecting someone else’s perspective, but why does that mean I have to change mine? It’s not that I’m rigid or closed-minded, but I also want the same respect for the fact that I see the world differently. There’s a fine line between seeking validation and imposing a worldview on others.
It’s like this: imagine you’re at a potluck, and everyone brings their favorite dish. You’ve got someone who’s into exotic cuisine—let’s say, some spicy, off-the-wall recipe that most people haven’t tried before. It’s great they’re proud of it, but it doesn’t mean everyone at the table has to load up their plate with it if it’s not to their taste. Let people enjoy their meal, and if someone wants to try something new, they will. It’s the same with identity. You can present yourself however you wish, but expecting everyone to embrace the same flavor of life feels a bit like serving a dish with no regard for someone else’s preferences.
Of course, the irony is that LGBTQIA+ advocacy has always been about freedom—freedom to love who you love, freedom to express who you are. But then, why is it sometimes suggested that straight people should get with the program and adopt the same beliefs, almost as if they’re behind the times if they don’t? Let’s not forget that freedom is a two-way street. Straight people, or anyone for that matter, have the right to say, “That’s not how I see things,” without being labeled as bigoted or close-minded. To me, that’s real freedom—when we can all walk down different roads without forcing each other into the same lane.
I’ve had conversations with friends who identify as LGBTQIA+, and while I respect where they’re coming from, I also feel like there’s this subtle pressure in the air. It’s like there’s a checklist now—you must use the right pronouns, and accept fluid identities as fact, and if you hesitate for even a second, you’re suddenly part of the problem. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll gladly call someone whatever they want to be called, but it feels less like a mutual understanding and more like a demand sometimes. And honestly, that kind of pressure doesn’t make me feel more understanding, it makes me feel cornered. Who enjoys being told what to think or how to behave?
What gets lost in all this, I think, is the idea that people are capable of holding different beliefs without hating each other. I can disagree with someone’s identity without denying their right to live that way. Just like how I can prefer classic country music while someone else loves hip-hop. We’re not in a cultural war over it—just two people with different tastes. So why does it seem like when it comes to gender and sexuality, things have to be so black and white? It’s as if there’s no room for respectful disagreement anymore. You either buy into the whole package, or you’re out of touch.
And honestly, straight people aren’t immune to confusion either. Let’s not pretend that everyone who’s cisgender has got life all figured out. There are plenty of straight folks trying to sort out their issues, and the last thing they need is to feel like they’re obligated to buy into a concept that doesn’t resonate with them. It’s not about being threatened by someone else’s freedom, but more about being allowed to maintain their sense of reality. If someone’s version of reality says they’re a man or a woman in the traditional sense, that should be okay, too. It doesn’t mean they’re rejecting others’ realities; they just don’t want to deny their own.
What I think we need is a middle ground—a space where people can be unapologetically themselves without expecting everyone else to follow suit. If someone wants to live out their truth, I’m all for it, but let’s not pretend that one version of reality is the gold standard for everyone. If there’s one thing that might help, it’s the realization that freedom includes the freedom to disagree. Maybe, just maybe, we can start appreciating our differences without making anyone feel like they’re on the wrong side of history for simply thinking differently.
