AMBULANCE UNITS FOR EASTERN VISAYAS. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office turned over ambulance units to different provincial governments in the Visayas. Among those who received their patient transport vehicles were Biliran Gov. Roger Espina, Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone, Northern Samar Gov. Christopher Harris Ongchuan, and Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan.(PHOTO COURTESY)
AMBULANCE UNITS FOR EASTERN VISAYAS. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office turned over ambulance units to different provincial governments in the Visayas. Among those who received their patient transport vehicles were Biliran Gov. Roger Espina, Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone, Northern Samar Gov. Christopher Harris Ongchuan, and Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan.(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY—The three provinces of Samar and Biliran province received new patient transport vehicles (PTVs) and their shares from Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) lotto revenues during a turnover ceremony held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Toyota Mabolo in Cebu City, strengthening local healthcare and emergency response services.
Biliran Governor Rogelio Espina personally received the vehicles saying these would help boost the delivery of medical services and even emergency cases across the province.
The province of Samar also received their own units with Governor Sharee Ann Tan personally accepting a new patient transport vehicle intended for use by the Samar Provincial Hospital. The unit is expected to enhance the province’s capacity to safely and efficiently transport patients, particularly those needing urgent medical attention.
Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone also received two patient transport vehicles, along with the province’s share of PCSO lotto revenues during the same ceremony.
Eastern Samar was among 10 beneficiary provinces in the Visayas that received a total of 18 patient transport vehicles valued at P38.502 million. Other recipients included Cebu, Bohol, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
In addition, Eastern Samar received P276,826 as its share from PCSO lotto revenues covering July to December 2025, which will support various provincial government programs and services.
PCSO officials said the turnover highlights the agency’s continuing commitment to support local governments in improving healthcare systems, emergency response, and public service delivery across the regions.
ORMOC CITY — A 47-year-old farmer facing charges of statutory rape and rape through sexual assault was arrested by police Thursday afternoon in Barangay Hugpa, Ormoc City, by virtue of warrants issued by a court in Carigara, Leyte.
The suspect, identified by police as Michael Arias Mutya, single and a resident of Barangay Guinadiongan, Capoocan, Leyte, was apprehended at around 1:46 p.m. by joint operatives from the Intelligence Section of Ormoc City Police Office Station 6 and the Capoocan Municipal Police Station.
Police said Mutya was arrested based on two warrants issued by the Regional Trial Court in Carigara, Leyte.
The first warrant, dated Feb. 25, 2026, was issued by Judge Lauro Andres Perez Castillo Jr. of RTC Branch 36 for a charge of statutory rape under Criminal Case No. R-CAP-2026-002-CR. The court recommended no bail for the offense.
The second warrant, dated Feb. 26, 2026, was issued by Judge Emelinda Ripalda Maquilan of RTC Branch 13 for rape through sexual assault under Criminal Case No. R-CAP-2026-001-CR, with bail set at P200,000.
During a police interview, the suspect claimed he was unaware that charges had been filed against him after he left his hometown to assist his ailing mother in Barangay Hugpa, where he was eventually arrested.
He denied the allegations involving the six-year-old complainant, saying he never raped the child and claiming that he had only pinched the child’s legs.
Police said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
He was taken to Police Station 6 for booking and documentation before being turned over to the court that issued the warrants for appropriate legal proceedings.
TACLOBAN CITY—Education took center stage at the Northern Samar Provincial Jail (NSPJ) as 139 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) celebrated a historic milestone after completing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program in the facility’s first-ever graduation ceremony.
The graduates consisted of 50 learners under the Basic Literacy Program (Kinder to Grade 3 level), 34 elementary completers, 35 junior high school graduates, and 20 senior high school learners for School Year 2025–2026.
The milestone highlighted the role of education in rehabilitation and personal development, demonstrating that learning opportunities can remain accessible even within correctional facilities.
In his salutatory address, the top junior high school PDL learner described the graduation as both a celebration of academic achievement and perseverance.
“Hindi lang po ito pagdiriwang ng pagtatapos, kundi pagdiriwang din ng ating pagsisikap. Bilang mga PDL learners, marami po tayong pinagdaanan, ngunit sa pamamagitan ng ALS, nabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon na mapatunayan na ang edukasyon ay susi sa magandang kinabukasan. Nawa’y maging inspirasyon ang okasyong ito upang patuloy tayong mangarap at magsikap para sa ating kinabukasan,” he said.
Governor Harris Ongchuan congratulated the completers for pursuing education despite their circumstances. He emphasized that the diplomas they received symbolize not only academic accomplishment but also perseverance, courage, and the opportunity to begin a new chapter in life.
Schools Division Superintendent Gaudencio Aljibe Jr., District In-Charge Dr. Raquel G. Perfas, and District ALS Coordinator Joy Balando-Sayde likewise underscored the importance of education in equipping individuals with knowledge, values, and skills necessary to become responsible and productive members of society.
Meanwhile, OIC Provincial Warden EnP Jay Keenson Acebuche highlighted the significance of the ALS program in supporting rehabilitation efforts within the provincial jail. He said education remains an effective tool for restoring dignity, building self-confidence, and preparing individuals for successful reintegration into their communities.
The ALS program was implemented through the collaboration of the Provincial Government of Northern Samar, the Department of Education, the Northern Samar Provincial Jail, volunteer teachers, and other education stakeholders.
The initiative is part of the provincial government’s commitment to inclusive and transformative development by extending educational opportunities to marginalized sectors, including PDLs.
Volunteer teachers, jail personnel, and education partners were also recognized for their efforts in ensuring that learning remained accessible inside the correctional facility.
ORMOC CITY — A 60-year-old man was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants while taking his wife to work Wednesday morning along the national highway in Tabango, Leyte, police said.
The victim, identified only by his alias “Atong,” was driving a motorcycle with his wife, alias “Rending,” 58, riding as a passenger when they were attacked at around 6:08 a.m. in Sitio Sooy, Barangay Inangatan. Both are residents of Villaba, Leyte.
Police said they received a call from a concerned citizen reporting the shooting and immediately dispatched responding officers to the scene.
Upon arrival, authorities found the victim lying face down beside his motorcycle. He had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. His wife survived the attack unharmed.
Based on the initial police investigation, “Rending” told investigators that while they were traveling to her workplace, two unidentified men suddenly appeared and opened fire on them.
After the shooting, the suspects fled on a separate motorcycle toward an unknown direction.
Police launched a hot pursuit operation to track down the assailants, but no arrests had been made as of this writing.
Authorities also requested the Ormoc Forensic Unit to deploy a Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team to process the crime scene and gather evidence.
Investigators have yet to establish the motive behind the killing, and the identities of the suspects remain unknown. The incident remains under investigation.
HEALING AFTER TRAGEDY. Students and teachers of San Jose National High School participate in a Psychological First Aid session organized by the Department of Education and partner agencies in Tacloban City’s San Jose district. The three-day intervention, held at the St. Roch the Healer, aims to help members of the school community recover emotionally following the June 22 campus shooting that left three students dead and 20 others injured. (Photo Courtesy)
HEALING AFTER TRAGEDY. Students and teachers of San Jose National High School participate in a Psychological First Aid session organized by the Department of Education and partner agencies in Tacloban City’s San Jose district. The three-day intervention, held at the St. Roch the Healer, aims to help members of the school community recover emotionally following the June 22 campus shooting that left three students dead and 20 others injured. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Education (DepEd) has conducted a three-day Psychological First Aid (PFA) intervention for students and personnel of San Jose National High School (SJNHS), days after a campus shooting that claimed the lives of three students and injured 20 others.
The psychosocial intervention, which opened on Wednesday, June 23, is part of DepEd’s immediate response to help the school community recover from the June 22 tragedy, considered one of the most devastating incidents to hit a school in Tacloban City in recent years.
Conducted in partnership with the Department of Health, mental health professionals, government agencies, and faith-based organizations, the program aims to provide emotional support and help affected students, teachers, and school personnel process the trauma brought about by the incident.
DepEd Tacloban Schools Division Senior Guidance Coordinator Julienne Rosa Saballa said all teaching personnel will undergo the intervention, while priority is being given to students who directly witnessed or were most affected by the shooting.
“If these experiences are not addressed now, they may manifest later in adulthood. Among students, one sign is when they no longer want to attend classes or lose interest in school, and that could have a significant impact on their future,” Saballa said, translating her remarks from Waray.
She said early psychosocial intervention is vital because untreated trauma may lead to long-term mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, poor coping mechanisms, and feelings of helplessness and isolation.
Saballa also urged parents to remain vigilant for changes in their children’s behavior, emotions, or school performance and to seek professional help if needed.
The intervention is being conducted at St. Roch the Healer Parish and San Jose Parish in Tacloban City’s San Jose district. It is facilitated by DepEd nurses, Department of Health personnel, trained guidance counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health practitioners from both government and non-government organizations.
Participants engage in storytelling, art therapy, emotional processing activities, and individual and group counseling sessions aimed at helping them express their feelings, regain a sense of safety, and begin the healing process.
According to DepEd, the intervention follows the internationally recognized Psychological First Aid framework anchored on the principles of “look, listen, and link,” which focuses on ensuring safety, listening with empathy, validating emotions, and connecting affected individuals to practical assistance, social support, and specialized mental health services.
The psychological intervention is part of DepEd’s continuing efforts to restore a sense of normalcy at San Jose National High School as students and teachers gradually return to classes following the deadly shooting.
AFTERMATH OF VIOLENCE: Members of the Tacloban City Police Office examine the crime scene at San Jose National High School following a deadly shooting that shocked the city and prompted the suspension of classes indefinitely. (Photo by Joey A. Gabieta)
AFTERMATH OF VIOLENCE: Members of the Tacloban City Police Office examine the crime scene at San Jose National High School following a deadly shooting that shocked the city and prompted the suspension of classes indefinitely. (Photo by Joey A. Gabieta)
TACLOBAN CITY — Three students were killed and five others wounded after two minors allegedly opened fire inside San Jose National High School on Monday morning, June 22, in a shocking act of violence that has left the city reeling and raised serious questions about school security.
The two suspects, identified by authorities as Grade 9 and Grade 10 students of the school, are now in police custody as investigators work to determine the motive behind what is believed to be one of the deadliest school-related shooting incidents ever recorded in Eastern Visayas.
The attack occurred at around 9:20 a.m., barely an hour after classes began at the school, which has more than 1,600 students and over 110 teachers.
Police said three students, aged 16 to 17, were killed in the attack. Two victims died at the scene after sustaining gunshot wounds to the head and back, while a third succumbed to injuries while being transported to a hospital.
Five other students suffered gunshot wounds and were rushed to medical facilities for treatment.
As gunfire echoed across the campus, students and teachers scrambled for cover, turning what had begun as a normal school day into a scene of chaos and fear.
Tacloban City Police Director Col. Noelito Getigan said investigators are still piecing together the circumstances surrounding the attack.
One of the suspects reportedly claimed during initial questioning that he had been a victim of bullying, although authorities have yet to verify the allegation.
“We are still conducting a thorough investigation and gathering statements from witnesses and persons involved,” Getigan said.
Police are also examining whether the shooting had been planned and how the suspects obtained the firearms allegedly used in the attack.
A teacher who handled one of the suspects described him as quiet and socially withdrawn.
“He is a loner. He does not mingle much with his classmates. He was also a repeater,” said the teacher, who requested anonymity.
The teacher said the student remained in Grade 9 despite being of an age that would normally place him in Grade 10.
Authorities are validating all information related to the suspects, including reports regarding their family backgrounds and possible connections that may aid investigators in understanding the circumstances leading to the shooting.
Teachers and students who survived the attack recounted moments of terror as the suspects allegedly moved through portions of the campus carrying firearms.
One teacher said one of the suspects first fired from outside a classroom window before entering the room.
“We all ducked after he started shooting at us,” the teacher said.
Another teacher, Glenn Bazar, said he was conducting a lesson when one of the armed students appeared outside his classroom.
“He pointed the gun at me, which made me immediately drop to the floor for safety. My students were already on the floor crying,” Bazar said.
He said he later saw the suspects moving from one classroom to another while carrying firearms.
For many students, survival meant running without looking back.
“Diane,” a 16-year-old classmate of one of the suspects, said she fled the classroom the moment an opportunity presented itself.
“I ran as fast as I could. Several times I stumbled because I was terrified,” she said.
She sustained minor injuries to both ankles while escaping.
A parent working at the school canteen recalled seeing the suspects carrying what appeared to be handguns shortly before the shooting began.
Moments later, she heard multiple gunshots.
“We were all shocked. We did not know what to do. We tried to hide while worrying about our children,” she said.
Her two sons, aged 14 and 16, managed to escape unharmed.
News of the shooting quickly spread throughout the city, prompting hundreds of parents and guardians to rush to the campus.
Many were seen embracing their children in tears after locating them. Some students emerged from the school grounds barefoot, having abandoned their belongings while fleeing the violence.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over security at public schools.
A teacher who requested anonymity said San Jose National High School has only two security guards despite serving more than 1,600 students.
The school is equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, and investigators have taken custody of footage that may help reconstruct the sequence of events.
Authorities are reviewing the recordings to determine how the firearms entered the campus and whether warning signs may have been missed.
Investigators are also looking into reports that one of the suspects was an active member of the school’s Boy Scouts organization.
Police moved swiftly to arrest the two suspects.
One was reportedly restrained by students, teachers, and parents while attempting to flee the school grounds.
The second suspect was later surrendered to authorities by a neighbor and tricycle driver after police tracked him to a residence located about 200 meters from the school.
Getigan said the suspect did not resist arrest and later admitted involvement in the incident during initial questioning.
Both suspects remain under police custody as authorities prepare the appropriate charges and continue their investigation.
The Department of Education in Eastern Visayas condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this unfortunate incident, particularly the learners, personnel, and families who may have experienced fear, trauma, or distress as a result of the situation,” the agency said in a statement.
DepEd Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez said the regional office immediately coordinated with the Philippine National Police, the Tacloban Schools Division Office, and school officials following the incident.
The agency has also partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other government agencies to provide psychosocial support and assistance to affected students and school personnel.
“The safety, security, and well-being of our learners and personnel remain our highest priority,” DepEd said.
Vice Mayor Raymund Romualdez described the shooting as a tragedy that has deeply shaken the city.
“We are assuring the public that public safety is our main concern and that no similar incident would ever happen again here in Tacloban,” Romualdez said.
He commended police officers for their swift response and said the city government would review existing school security measures and provide assistance to the victims’ families.
Meanwhile, City Social Welfare Officer Chona Bahin said counselors and social workers would conduct debriefing sessions for students, teachers, and parents affected by the tragedy.
“Imagine the trauma experienced by our students and even their parents after this deadly incident,” Bahin said.
Classes at San Jose National High School have been suspended indefinitely while authorities continue their investigation and the school community begins the long process of recovery from a tragedy that has stunned Tacloban City.
