2nd time as champion

TACLOBAN CITY—For the second time, Calbayog City’s ‘Hadang Festival’ has been declared the grand champion of the Tandaya Festival of Festivals, one of the highlights of Samar Day 2024.

Hadang Festival outshone nine other contingents from various towns and cities across Samar province with their captivating ritual dance performance during the festival competition held on August 5, in Calbayog City.
As the grand champion, Hadang Festival won a P1-million cash prize along with a trophy. They also received the special award for the most festive contingent.
Calbiga’s Pahoy-Pahoy Festival secured second place, winning P500,000.
Matuguinao’s Makarato Festival, which was the second-place winner in 2023, placed third this year and was awarded P350,000.
Catbalogan City’s Manaragat Festival Queen and King were both adjudged as the Tandaya Festival of Festivals Queen and King.
In the float category, Catbalogan City claimed first place, winning P400,000, while San Jose de Buan took second place with P300,000, and Calbayog City secured third place with P200,000.
The Tandaya Festival of Festivals serves as a platform for local communities in Samar province to celebrate their heritage and share their stories with a broader audience.
This competition showcases the creativity, passion, and resilience of Samar’s people, celebrating the rich cultural diversity and vibrant traditions of the province.
Other contingents in the Festival of Festivals included Marabut, Catbalogan, Gandara, Basey, Sta. Margarita, Tarangan, and Tagapul-an.
For the float competition, additional entries came from Sta. Rita, San Sebastian, San Jorge, and Matuguinao.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Samar is continuing its efforts to support the national government’s peace-building initiatives.

Thus said Governor Sharee Ann Tan during her State of the Provincial Address on Sunday, August 11, coinciding with the 183rd Samar Day celebration held at the Tandaya Hall in Catbalogan City.

Tan said that her administration has provided P14.4 million in financial assistance and P5.5 million in housing project funding to former rebels as part of their reintegration program.
Gov. Tan shared that since 2020, a total of 873 former rebels have received financial assistance from the provincial government under the local integration program.

In addition to the financial aid, the provincial government has also allocated funds to local government units for housing projects intended for former rebels under the ‘Saad nga Balay’ program.

The recipient local government units of the Saad nga Balay program include San Jose de Buan, Calbiga, and Matuguinao.

In San Jose de Buan, the provincial government funded and turned over 10 houses to beneficiaries. Another 10 houses are under construction in Calbiga, while 30 houses are planned for construction in Matuguinao.

Tan added that with the ongoing implementation of road network projects connecting interior municipalities to the national highway, she expects the insurgency problem in Samar to come to an end.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Suspected shabu worth P61 million seized from suspects

TACLOBAN CITY—Three individuals were arrested and are now detained at a local police station in Allen town, Northern Samar, following the recovery of suspected shabu valued at more than P61 million, along with a cache of firearms and ammunition.

Reports from the provincial headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Catarman, revealed that the suspects, who were aboard an L-300 van, were apprehended at a checkpoint on San Juanico Bridge on Friday, August 9, at about 1:35 a.m.

Police Col. Sonnie Omengan, the Northern Samar police provincial director, stated that cases of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, as well as illegal possession of drugs, were filed on Saturday, August 10, against the suspects before the Prosecutor’s Office in Allen town.

He further noted that the group might be part of a criminal syndicate operating in Mindanao, involved in illegal drug activities and gun running.

Prior to the arrest, the three suspects—identified only as “Kasim” from Taguig City, the driver of the van; “Salik” from Cotabato City; and “Musa” from Maguindanao—were linked to an ‘abandoned’ plastic luggage discovered by port officer Teddy Abayon, Jr. inside the Dapdap seaport terminal in Allen town on Thursday at around 7:00 p.m.

Upon inspection by the local police, with assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard, the luggage was found to contain nine tea bags filled with suspected shabu, weighing approximately one kilogram, with a street value of P61.16 million—one of the largest drug hauls in the region in recent months.

This discovery prompted the local police to conduct a hot pursuit operation.

With the help of CCTV footage, they learned that the suspected shabu had been abandoned by those aboard the L-300 van, which was believed to be en route to Mindanao from Bicutan, Manila.

The L-300 van was intercepted at a checkpoint on the Samar side of San Juanico Bridge at about 1:35 a.m. on Friday.

Inside the van, authorities discovered a cache of firearms, including two M16 rifles loaded with magazines and ammunition; two 40mm AVACOR cartridges; three M16 rifle lower receivers; three upper receivers with barrels for M16 rifles;17 bolt carrier assemblies for M16 rifles; two .30 caliber receivers with barrels; five barrels and bipod assemblies for .60 caliber weapons; 54 front sight assemblies for M16 rifles with attached sling holders; two caliber .30 ammunition box holders; two trigger mechanisms and grip assemblies; eight 5.56 mm rifle upper receiver assemblies; eight 5.56 mm rifle lower receivers; one forearm assembly for a .60 caliber weapon; one link cover for a .60 caliber weapon with spring; two butt stocks for a .60 caliber weapon; one 5.56 mm rifle ejection port cover; 45 military uniform T-shirts; along with personal items, IDs, cash, and electronic devices.

B/Gen. Reynaldo Pawid, the police regional director, commended the local police for their ‘successful operation.’

“We will continue to take strong actions against any criminal activities in our region. PRO 8 is diligently conducting a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the full scope of the suspects’ criminal network and identify any additional individuals involved in this operation,” he stated.
(JOEY A. GABIETA, ROBERT DEJON, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)