ORMOC CITY-Operatives from the City Drug Enforcement Team of the Catbalogan city police seized ten sachets of white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu from a construction worker in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Canlapwas in the said city on Friday at about 9:43 pm.

The suspect, identified as alias “Jojo,” 30, single, and a resident of Canlapwas, was apprehended by the police.

Initially, one sachet of the suspected shabu was recovered from Jojo, which had been purchased by an operative for P500.

A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, led to the discovery of nine additional sachets of suspected shabu inside a green plastic container.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and was advised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

Charges for violating sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against the suspect at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The suspect is currently detained in a locked-up cell of the Catbalogan city police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) will soon issue notices to local government units (LGUs) that have yet to comply with Republic Act 11032, also known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

“By August 15, we will send out notices to explain why certain LGUs have not complied. Before that, we have instructed our offices to conduct inspections and require these LGUs to submit their action plans,” ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez stated in a press conference on Tuesday, August 6.

Out of the 1,634 cities and municipalities nationwide, 48 LGUs have been recognized by the agency for their compliance with the law. Recent additions to this list include the city government of Ormoc and the municipal government of Palompon.

“If these LGUs fail to provide a valid explanation for their non-compliance, we will have no choice but to conduct investigations and file appropriate charges with either the Office of the Ombudsman or the Civil Service Commission,” Sec. Perez added.

He emphasized that being a low-income municipality does not exempt LGUs from implementing the law.

For example, Guinsiliban, a 6th-class municipality in Camiguin, and San Roque, a 4th-class municipality in Northern Samar, have successfully complied.

“It really requires political will from the mayor. If the mayor is committed and directs the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) and barangay officials, compliance will follow,” Perez noted.

Although ARTA has recognized only 48 compliant LGUs so far, Sec.Perez clarified that this does not imply that others are non-compliant.

ARTA is working with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to align their data with the list of compliant LGUs.

Regarding connectivity issues, Sec.Perez mentioned that a joint memorandum circular involving the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), DILG, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and other relevant agencies will address permitting processes for shared passive telecommunication infrastructure and fiber optic pole construction.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY-A high-value individual listed on the Philippine National Police(PNP-PRO-8) drug watch list and ranked No. 1 in the regional priority target list was apprehended by joint forces led by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) 8 during a buy-bust operation at approximately 10:24 pm on Wednesday, August 7, in Barangay Pawing, Palo, Leyte.

The arrested suspect was identified as alias “Ton,” 34, jobless, with a common-law wife, and a resident of said village.

Recovered from his possession was one sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, purchased by an operative for P20,000.

During a body search conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, agents found 15 additional sachets of the same white crystalline substance, also suspected to be shabu, inside a sling bag worn by the suspect.

Charges for violating sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against the suspect at the City Prosecutor’s Office. The suspect is currently detained in a locked-up cell at Palo municipal police station. (ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has apprehended Emmanuel ‘Weng-Weng’ Veloso, the alleged mastermind behind the 2019 killing of Levi Mabini, the former municipal administrator of San Isidro, Leyte.

Veloso was arrested by NBI personnel on Wednesday, August 7, at approximately 8:01 am while he was at his batching plant in Barangay Linao, San Isidro.

Veloso is accused of orchestrating the murder of Mabini, who was killed on May 8, 2019, in Brgy. Capiñahan, San Isidro.

Veloso’s arrest follows a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 85 in Quezon City on April 2 of this year.

The case against Veloso was transferred to the Quezon City-based regional trial court by a Supreme Court resolution dated January 22, 2024, at the request of Mabini’s family.
The murder case was originally filed at RTC Branch 11 in Calubian, Leyte, which had also issued an arrest warrant for Veloso.

Veloso is part of a politically prominent family in Leyte’s third district, which has recently experienced a series of violent incidents involving barangay officials.

His sister, Juanita Veloso, was ambushed and killed on December 21, 2023, while driving in Brgy. Libongao, Kananga, on her way home to San Isidro.

Emmanuel Veloso is the brother of Mayor Remedio Veloso of San Isidro.

Mayor Veloso, who visited the NBI regional office when his brother was arrested, declined to comment on the situation involving Emmanuel.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

ORMOC CITY-A drug personality listed in the Regional Target List was apprehended by joint forces led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during a buy-bust operation at approximately 11 pm on Thursday, August 8, in Barangay 3, Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

PDEA 8 Regional Director Atty. Jacqueline De Guzman identified the suspect as alias “Tope,” of legal age, married, unemployed, and a resident of the same barangay.

Recovered from the suspect’s possession was one sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, purchased by an agent for P500.

During a body search conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, agents discovered an envelope containing eight additional sachets of white crystalline substances, also suspected to be shabu, with an estimated total weight of 0.75 grams and a market value of approximately P8,000.

Charges for violating sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were filed against the suspect who is now detained in the locked-up cell of the Balangiga municipal police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)