ORMOC CITY– A man who is wanted from drug violation in his hometown in Loay, Bohol was arrested by the local police of Villaba, Leyte on April 26.

Villaba police chief, Major Edwin Tolibas identified the accused as a certain Godinez,41, who was arrested in Barangay Tabunoc at about 2:50 pm.

The accused, who is from Brgy. Hinawanan, Loay, Bohol, stayed at the said village as his live-in girlfriend is from the said village, the police chief added.

The arrest of the accused was by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Samuel Amila Biliran, the executive judge of the 7th Judicial Region, Branch 50, in Loay issued on July 19, 2023.

He was accused of possession and selling of illegal drugs. (ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-The lifeless body of a woman who was later identified as a supplier of fruits and vegetables was found floating under a bridge in Mondragon, Northern Samar on April 27 at about 5:55 am.

Town police chief, Captain Verna Cesista, identified the victim as a certain Rita, 53, and a resident of Catarman.

Cesista said that a couple passing at the bridge located in Barangay Bugko found the lifeless body of the victim floating in Bugko River.

She said the couple who were stunned after seeing the floating body immediately called their station to pull it out of the water.

Cesista continued that upon arrival in the area, they learned that none of the residents know the identity of the victim prompting them to conduct a deeper investigation until they were informed that the victim was a trader from Catarman and a big supplier of fruits and vegetable in several markets including that of Catarman where she and her four children resides along with his common law husband.

The victim incurred big contusions in her back and a broken face which she said might be the cause of her sudden death, the town police chief.

Cesista suspected that the victim was killed somewhere and just threw her body in the river of the said barangay.

She further said that they have already have a person of interest with the said killing but did not elaborate. (ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-A coffee shop owner was found dead inside his hotel room at about 12: 30 midnoon on Wednesday( April 1) in Tacloban City.

Police named the victim as “Mar”, 38, single, coffee shop owner and resident of Maydolong, Eastern Samar.

Investigation conducted by investigators from Police Station 1 of the Tacloban City Police Office said that a room attendant of Hotel Estrella was instructed by his superior to inform the occupant of Room 210 about his check-out time.

The police said that the attendant heed then went to the room of the victim and knocked on the door several times.

However, the police added that the said occupant was not answering his call prompting the attendant to return to the desk and informed his superiors the occupant did not answer his knocking.

The hotel management had decided to open the room and were surprised to see the victim lying with his back in the bed with vomit in his mouth.

The local police immediately called the city police forensic unit to process the crime scene.
The police has yet to release the result of their finding and what could be possibly the cause of death of the victim.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Leyte Provincial Tourism Office launched the Gr8 Leyte Homecoming program, a tourism campaign for the celebration of the 80th Leyte Gulf Landings Commemoration aims to promote tourism and improved local economy.

Leyte Tourism consultant Frances Ann Petilla explained that creating the program that aims to attract diverse audience of locals, tourists, and even expatriates in the Gr8 Leyte Homecoming, showcasing the province cultural richness, historical significance, natural beauty, and economic premier through exhibitions, performances, and interactive experiences.

The program also aims for a positive media coverage and publicity to raise awareness and interest in Leyte as a premier destination for culture, heritage, and tourism.

The program also aims to support local businesses, artisans, performers, and cultural practitioners, fostering economic opportunities and cultural sustainability.

One component of the Gr8 Leyte Homecoming is the “Reunion Program” which, according to Petilla, is an invitation for Leyteňos who are already living abroad and those who are working as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to “look back, bring back, or give back to their home province,” by promoting tourism.

Reunion Program is a competition wherein Leyteňo OFWs and those who are already living abroad will have to submit a video entry to the Leyte Provincial Tourism Office that contains their information, how long have they been living abroad, the reason why they leave Leyte, and the reason why they are coming back.

Each month, a winner will be drawn from the entries and will win accommodation package, a three day all-expenses paid tour,and souvenirs.

Also part of the program is the participation of local government units under the province by submitting “Gr8 materials”. These are video promotion of their locality, either containing a well-research history of the LGU, a unique culture of the town, a tourism campaign video, or a video of the town or city’s heritage which will be posted at the Leyte Tourism page.

Bee Creatives event’s organizers Pete Figueroa said that featuring the LGUs gives them the spotlight and venue or platform in promoting their tourism program or offering.

Two LGUs will be featured every week at the Leyte Tourism Facebook Page for 22 weeks.
The Gr8 Leyte Homecoming program is a year-round campaign in relation to the 80th Leyte Gulf Landings Commemoration which will be celebrated this October 20 to commemorate the arrival of the Allied Forces lead by General Douglas McArthur to start the rally of liberating the country from the hands of Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II.

Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that even before this program of Leyte Tourism has been conceptualized, local tour operators and the tourism agencies had developed a tour package dubbed as sentimental tours.

This is a tour package with the itinerary focuses on visiting World War II engagement sites in the province of Leyte.

“But this time we enhance the program by ensuring that it is not only the sites that are ready but also those who are providing the tour services are providing above par,” Tiopes said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)