In Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY – The island town of Capul in Northern Samar has been added to the growing list of local government units in the region declared with Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status.

The declaration was held on April 16 and attended by Capul Mayor Isidro Bandal, board members Dexter Galit and Gilbert Layon, security officials in the province led by Col. Ericson Rosana, the commanding officer of the 803rd Infantry Brigade, and Police Col. Antonio Montaño, police provincial director for operations.

“This declaration of SIPS is a testament to the peace we have been protecting for so long,” Mayor Bandal said in his message, adding that it was achieved due to the collaborative efforts among the local government, Army, PNP, and other stakeholders.

According to the mayor, the SIPS status of the town will be a big help for them to attract both investors and tourists.

Known for its beautiful beaches and the century-old lighthouse, Capul is the fourth municipality under the jurisdiction of the 43rd IB that was declared with SIPS status.
The island town passed the conditions to be granted the SIPS status for its absence of recorded non-violent and violent New People’s Army activities and sightings for at least a year, conduct of local peace engagements down to the barangay level, the surrender and disaffiliation of former members and non-support from their network of supporters, and inter-agency and multi-sectoral pledge of commitment.

“Capul has not only passed said parameters but looking at their history, they have neither been affected nor infiltrated by communist insurgency,” LtCol. Arojo said.

Earlier, the towns of Tarangnan in Samar; Giporlos in Eastern Samar; San Jose, and Rosario, both in Northern Samar were declared under the SIPS status by the military.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar-Aiming to improve the telecommunications services in Northern Samar, Globe Telecom has set its sights on boosting the network infrastructure across the province in a recent courtesy visit with Governor Edwin C. Ongchuan at the provincial capitol.

According to Mr. Marlon Casio a representative from Globe Telecom, Globe intends to enhance both mobile and fiber connectivity infrastructure in Northern Samar. This initiative is in response to concerns raised by Nortahanon subscribers regarding weak internet connectivity.

Globe also mentioned that they are cooperating with TowerCos for the establishment of new cell sites all throughout Northern Samar.

This expansion is part of Globe’s commitment to meeting the data requirements of emerging industries such as Business Processes Outsourcing (BPO) companies that are eyeing the province.

Globe assured that with the new cell sites, the residents of Northern Samar can anticipate a noticeable improvement in mobile and broadband services.

Ultimately providing businesses and residents access to reliable and high-speed internet connectivity.

Governor Edwin C. Ongchuan extended the province’s gratitude to Globe Telecom for its initiative in enhancing network connectivity, which paves the way for a more resilient and progressive Northern Samar.
(PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)

ORMOC CITY– A fish vendor was arrested in a sting operation in Cabucgayan, Biliran resulting in the seizure of nine sachets containing suspected shabu valued at P7,000.
Arrested in the buy-bust operation last April 19 at about 11:25 pm was a certain ‘Ric’, 40 in Barangay Bunga of the said town.

Recovered from the possession of the suspect was one sachet containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu procured by an operative in the amount of P1,000.

During the conduct of a body search done in the presence of elected official and a representative from the National Prosecutor’s Services, the searching cop recovered from the suspect seven more sachets containing white crystalline substances also suspected to be shabu with an estimated weight of 1.033 grams and an estimated street value of P7, 024. 00.

Charges of violation of sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) & 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165 the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002 was filed at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against the suspect who is temporarily detained at the locked-up cell of the Cabucgayan municipal police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – In celebrating the Filipino Food Month, the Department of Agriculture (DA) in this region in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) hosted a food exhibit featuring traditional and local dishes from various parts of the region.

The food exhibit was part of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo participated by 15 exhibitors from the provinces of Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and from this city.
As part of the Filipino Food Month, local delicacies such as suman, binagol, sagmani, sarungsong, keseo, puto, and kutsinta, among others, were displayed and sold in the exhibit.

A cooking demonstration showcasing how the process of making suman of Leyte, mango maja ala cheesecake of Biliran, sarungsong of Eastern Samar, bagoong alamang, kinagang, and pinangat of Northern Samar.

DA-8 Regional Executive Director Andrew Rodolfo Orais said that they have planned this collaboration with the DOT since last year.

“(Tourism Regional) Director Karen approached me and said that we should partner to help increase the income of our farmers, which led us to combine forces in this celebration,” he said.

“This is a good opportunity because we have been looking for partners to expand our reach and value of agriculture,” Orais added.

For her part, Tiopes encouraged everyone to patronize Filipino cuisine, saying today’s generation is no longer familiar with them anymore.

She emphasized the importance of documenting heirloom dishes in the region for the preservation of its process and to ensure that this will live on and the future generation will have a chance to taste the food that the ancestors of Eastern Visayan people had created and enjoyed.

“This is not the end of the partnership. We will continue to partner with the DA, especially in the agri-tourism sector”, Tiopes said.

Aside from local and traditional dishes, the food exhibit also sells root crops, fresh vegetables, fruits, black rice, and other products of local farmers at affordable prices.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY- A dispute between a tricycle driver and his woman passenger here led to the death of the former on Thursday (April 25) night.

Jessie Gaco, 40, now faces a murder charge for fatally stabbing his passenger, Jessa Mae Laurente, 29, during a heated argument along the highway of Sitio Palinpinon, Barangay. San Vicente.

Laurente, a vendor and a resident of Brgy. Cogon was pronounced dead at Ormoc District Hospital following the altercation. Both Gaco and Laurente attended a fiesta celebration in Brgy. San Vicente, separately.

According to investigator-on-case Police Corporal Joehanes Macalinao of Police Station 3, the fatal encounter occurred as Gaco, accompanied by his operator Joseph Latumbo, was preparing to return home after the festivities.

Both Gaco and Laurente were reportedly drunk.

Despite being unacquainted, Laurente requested Gaco for a ride to San Vicente.

However, matters took an awful turn when, upon reaching her destination in Sitio Palinpinon, Laurente disembarked from the tricycle and engaged in a physical altercation with Gaco.

Laurente even resorted to video recording their clash before disembarking and slapping Gaco.

Gaco left the scene momentarily only to return having a kitchen knife, which he then used to fatally wound Laurente in the chest. Despite efforts by responding rescuers to save her, Laurente succumbed to her injuries upon arrival at the hospital.

It was not clear yet what caused the altercation between the two which led to the death of Laurente.

Police from Police Station 3 swiftly apprehended Gaco at the scene, with a murder case filed against him.
((ELVIE ROMAN ROA)