TACLOBAN CITY — More barangays in Northern Samar are set to benefit from government-funded development projects as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) expands the coverage of the Support to the Barangay Development Program (SBDP) in the province.

The DILG–Northern Samar announced that a total of 17 additional barangays have been identified as new beneficiaries of the SBDP, with projects scheduled for implementation from 2025 to 2026. The update was presented during the 4th Quarter Joint Councils Meeting held at the Provincial Capitol held on Dec.19 and presided over by Governor Harris Ongchuan.

DILG Northern Samar project team leader Engr. Roddie Jay Doroja presented the list of newly covered barangays for 2026, as well as those included under the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) for 2025–2026.

For 2025, the newly identified barangays are Macagtas, Washington, Somoge, and Libjo in Catarman, and Barangay Del Pilar in Las Navas. For 2026, the beneficiary barangays include Alejandro Village in Allen; Sumuroy in Bobon; Magtuas and Sulitan in Catubig; Sibunot and Yabyaban in Laoang; Quezon in Las Navas; Bayho in Lope de Vega; Mirador and Talolora in Mondragon; and Guindauhan and Kailingan in Rosario.

Engr. Doroja also reported that in 2024, a total of 161 projects were completed under the Local Government Support Fund–Support to the Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP), benefiting 161 barangays across Northern Samar.

For 2025, two projects have already been completed, two additional projects in the towns of Gamay and Mapanas are currently ongoing, while three projects remain under procurement.

The LGSF-SBDP is a flagship DILG-led initiative that supports critical infrastructure and social development projects, including farm-to-market roads, rural health stations, water systems, and school buildings.

These projects are aimed at addressing long-standing service gaps in conflict-cleared and geographically isolated barangays, while helping reduce poverty and sustain peace.
Provincial officials said the continued rollout of SBDP projects underscores the shared commitment of the national government and the provincial government to accelerate development in underserved communities.

Aligned with the Harmonized Community-Oriented (HCO) Framework, the provincial government under Governor Ongchuan continues to pursue its vision of making Northern Samar a peaceful, happy, and progressive province.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

The Supreme Court has finalized its decision affirming the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to accredit external auditors (Certified Public Accountants) for covered corporations, such as those with secondary licenses or registered securities.

In a resolution released on October 14, the en banc of the Supreme Court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by 1Accountants Party-List, Inc., citing a lack of substantial arguments to reverse the original decision in favor of the SEC.

The Court also issued an order stating that no further pleadings or motions would be entertained, and the entry of judgment would be issued immediately.

The case arose when 1Accountants Party-List questioned the constitutionality of the SEC’s policies on accrediting external auditors, arguing that such authority exceeded the SEC’s mandate since the Board of Accountancy (BOA) holds jurisdiction over CPAs.

In its initial 2022 decision and the 2023 resolution, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of 1Accountants Party-List, declaring the SEC regulations invalid and unconstitutional.

Following an appeal by the SEC, the Supreme Court in January 2025 reversed its prior ruling, declaring the SEC regulations valid and constitutional. According to the Court, the SEC has the right to supervise the auditors of corporations under the agency’s jurisdiction.

For Chairperson Lim, this decision is crucial for maintaining the integrity of overall business governance in the country. (PR)

MAASIN CITY — A high-value drug suspect listed on the local police watchlist was arrested after operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Team seized suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation at around 12:46 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, in Purok Kamagong, Barangay Mantahan, this city.

Maasin City Police Station chief PLtCol Jason Balbarona identified the suspect as alias “Ay-ay,” 39, single, unemployed, and a resident of the area.

Police recovered from the suspect one sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, allegedly sold to an undercover operative for P1,000.

A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, yielded a cigarette pack marked “Marlboro” containing another medium-sized sachet of suspected shabu.

Also recovered were a P1,000 bill used as marked money, a P20 coin, a Columbia Black Bull cap, and a yellow-green lighter.

Authorities said the confiscated suspected shabu has an estimated weight of 13.05 grams and a Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) value of P88,740.

The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

Charges for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared against the suspect, who is currently detained at the Maasin City Police Station lock-up cell.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– Police arrested a provincial most wanted person for illegal drug possession on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, in Zone 1, Poblacion, Baybay City.

The suspect, July Casas,32, married and a painter by profession, is listed as Rank No. 5 Most Wanted Person at the provincial level.

The arrest, carried out at around 3:15 p.m., involved the 1st Leyte Provincial Mobile Force Company (LPMFC) as the lead unit, with support from Baybay City Police Station, Police Intelligence Unit–Leyte Police Provincial Office (PIU-LPPO), Regional Intelligence Unit 8–Counter Intelligence Team (RIU8-CIT) Ormoc, and AKF-VFU Ormoc Satellite Office.

Casas was arrested under a warrant dated December 22, 2025, issued by the Regional Trial Court of Baybay City for violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) in relation to SACLEO( Simultaneous Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Operations).

The offense is non-bailable.

He was brought to Baybay City Police Station for proper disposition and further legal proceedings.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY– A mother and her two young daughters died after their home was engulfed in flames in Babatngon, Leyte, in the early hours of December 27, 2025, authorities reported.

The victims were identified as ‘Marie’, 34, her 13-year-old daughter ‘Ella’, and 8-year-old ‘Mona’, all residents of Block 70, Lot 7, Channel Ridge View, Barangay District I.

Police said the fire started around 12:30 a.m. while the family was sleeping. Neighbors attempted to put out the flames, but the fire spread quickly, trapping the victims inside. A concerned citizen reported the incident at 2:23 a.m., prompting a response from the Babatngon Police Station.

Firefighters declared the fire under control at 2:49 a.m., and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) 8 arrived around 4:45 a.m. to conduct an investigation. All three victims were pronounced dead by Dr. Julieta Conge, Municipal Health Officer of Babatngon.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) estimated the damage at P1.3 million. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY — A contractor’s wife who was previously arrested for illegal drugs and later released on bail has been re-arrested after police caught her in another buy-bust operation in this city late Friday night(Dec.19), underscoring authorities’ intensified campaign against repeat drug offenders.

Operatives of the Police Regional Office-8 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit arrested the suspect, identified as alias “Lea,” 48, unemployed and a resident of Barangay Salvacion, at about 11:56 p.m. on December 19 during an operation conducted in the same barangay.
Police said the suspect had earlier been arrested in 2024 together with her husband, a contractor, in a buy-bust operation. She was temporarily freed after posting bail while her drug case remains pending.

Seized from her possession was one large sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, which was sold to an undercover operative for P65,000.

A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, yielded a black shoulder bag containing 23 more large sachets of the same suspected illegal drug.
Also recovered were P65,000 in buy-bust money as well as a portable digital weighing scale, a silver-colored Infinix Android cellular phone, two pairs of scissors, a brown Coach card holder, three identification cards (two National IDs and one driver’s license), two ATM cards, P900 in cash, and other personal belongings.

Police estimated the total weight of the confiscated suspected shabu at approximately 1,082 grams, with a Dangerous Drugs Board value of P7,357,600.

The suspect was informed of the nature of her arrest and was apprised of her constitutional rights in a language she understood.

Charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office. The suspect is currently detained at the custodial facility of Police Station 4 in Barangay Linao, Ormoc City.

(ROBERT DEJON, ELVIE ROMAN ROA)