Police has yet to identify suspects

TACLOBAN CITY – A church in Gandara, Samar, has lost one of its precious items to burglars—one of its two bells.

The bell from St. Michael The Archangel Parish was reported missing on August 8, with the culprits still unidentified, Paolo Armateo, a convent personnel, said in an interview on Monday, August 12.

Armateo said that the bronze-cast bell had been placed on the floor of the church’s belfry before it was stolen.

“Although we do not use the bell during our masses due to some cracks, we still treasure it,” he said.

Armateo noted that given its weight, the bell, made in the 1970s in Cebu, likely required at least four to five people to carry it away.

“It weighs around 300 kilograms, so at least four to six individuals could have carried it from the belfry,” he said.

Unfortunately, he added, they don’t have CCTV cameras, so they have requested assistance from the barangay where the church is located and nearby areas to check if any movements of the suspects were captured.

“We are appealing for help in recovering the bell. The police are assisting us and are currently conducting an investigation to identify and apprehend the suspects,” Armateo said.

The incident has shocked parishioners, who condemned the theft.

“It’s so shocking. How could these culprits even steal something that belongs to the Church? May the Lord take care of you,” Abbie Ramos said.

Armateo mentioned that, to his knowledge, this is the first time an item has been stolen from their church.

The local police are still searching for leads in the incident as their investigation continues.
Major Jonathan Camacho, the town’s police chief, stated that they are seeking assistance from the public, particularly those with CCTV cameras, to help identify the perpetrators.
“Our investigation is ongoing, and we have yet to identify any suspects or persons of interest,” Camacho said in a phone interview.

Expressing his dismay, Camacho remarked that the suspects might have committed a grave offense.

“Even though the bell appears unserviceable due to its cracks, it’s still unforgivable to steal an item owned by the Church,” he said.

According to Camacho, the perpetrators likely took advantage of the night, with the crime possibly occurring between 1 AM and 3 AM, based on their initial findings.
He vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – A public national high school located in a remote village in Pambujan, Northern Samar received a new school building from the provincial government.

The Fructuoso B. Regulacion National High School (FBRNHS), located in the interior village of Tula received a P4-million school building, consisting of two classrooms, equipped with essential amenities such as green boards, proper lighting, and good ventilation to create a conducive learning environment.

The additional classrooms will help accommodate the increasing number of students at the school. Previously, the school had only five classrooms, which were no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the growing student population.

Enrollment at the high school has risen from 130 students in the 2023-2024 school year to 190 this year.

Oriclo Abayon Jr., the principal of FBRNHS, expressed his gratitude to the provincial government led by Governor Edwin Ongchuan, for the new school building, which will serve as classrooms for senior high school students.

“We are thankful for all the efforts of our beloved Governor Edwin Ongchuan in uplifting the quality of education in our barangay by providing us with another two-classroom school building,” Abayon said.

This project is one of many school building initiatives funded by the provincial government under its Special Education Fund.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-8) celebrated a significant milestone on Monday, August 12 with the unveiling of its drug-free workplace marker at the Regional Training Center on Kanhuraw Hill, this city.

This recognition was awarded to DILG 8 after all 70 selected personnel tested negative for illegal substances during a random drug test conducted by the DILG and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on July 31, 2024.

In his address, DILG Regional Director Arnel Agabe praised the collective efforts that led to this achievement and emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy and safe workplace.

“This is a great achievement for the department, but it doesn’t end here. We must continue to embody our core values of being ‘Matino, Mahusay, at Maasahan’ in everything we do, “he said.

PDEA Regional Director Atty. Jacquelyn De Guzman, who played a key role in declaring DILG 8 as a drug-free workplace, commended the DILG’s dedication and commitment.

“This marker reflects your commitment, especially as DILG stands at the forefront of the government’s barangay drug clearing program,” she said.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Contrary to claim of Sen. de la Rosa

TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Visayas’ top Army official, Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, has refuted Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ de la Rosa’s claim that New People’s Army (NPA) recruitment is once again active under the Marcos administration, suggesting a resurgence of communist insurgency in the country.

Ligayo countered the senator’s assertion, stating that the situation is actually the opposite.
Specifically, in Eastern Visayas, the insurgency problem has significantly weakened, and there is confidence that the issue will be resolved under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

“I don’t think so. They are still there, but they are not gaining strength. It is not happening here or even throughout the country that they are gaining strength,” Ligayo said on Tuesday, August 13, dismissing de la Rosa’s claim.

In fact, Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, mentioned that they are now applying the final touches to quelling the insurgency problem in the region.

“It’s just a matter of time for us to end this communist armed conflict. If this were a basketball game, we’re not just in the fourth quarter, we’re in the last two minutes,” he stated.

Sen. De la Rosa had claimed that NPA recruitment is gaining momentum under the Marcos administration.

The senator made this claim on August 6 during a Senate inquiry into the reported recruitment of students in schools to join the communist group.

Based on their report, the relentless campaign to eliminate the insurgency problem in the region under President Marcos’ administration has led to the surrender of 162 NPA rebels and the deaths of 94 others, 14 of whom were considered key leaders in the region.
Ligayo also mentioned that around 148 firearms were recovered from the rebels and that 284 of their camps had been dismantled.

He attributed the weakening of the insurgency problem to the rebels’ decision to surrender and return to the fold of the law, as well as the strong support from local government units and various government agencies in helping to solve the issue.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)