ORMOC CITY– A ‘habal-habal’ driver was apprehended in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of the Biliran Provincial Police Office and the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the local police on Monday, March 24, at around 8:29 pm in Blk 1, lot 38, Cool Mont Crest, Barangay Caneja, Naval, Biliran.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Arnold,” 48, and a resident of Barangay Villa Caneja.
During the operation, an undercover operative successfully purchased one sachet of suspected shabu from the suspect for P500. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of required witnesses, led to the recovery of two additional sachets containing a white crystalline substance, also suspected to be shabu and a marked P500 bill used in the transaction.

Authorities have yet to determine the total weight and estimated value of the confiscated illegal drugs, pending verification by the Regional Forensic Unit (RFU) 8.

The suspect was informed of his constitutional rights in a language he understood. Charges for violations of Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) have been filed against him at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

He is currently detained at the Naval Municipal Police Station’s lock-up cell, awaiting further legal proceedings.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is again accepting applications for the DAR Scholarship Program for the Dependents of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (DSP-DARBs).

This scholarship program aims to provide financial support to qualified dependents of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who are interested in pursuing a four-year agriculture-related course at any state universities and colleges (SUCs).

DAR Eastern Visayas Regional Director, Atty. Robert Anthony Yu, encourages children and other dependents of ARBs to grab this opportunity in achieving their dreams.

To qualify, applicants must possess the following: a legitimate dependent of an ARB with a total gross income of no more than P100,000 per year; a senior high school graduate with a general average grade of at least 83 percent; must have passed the college admission exam administered by the SUC; must not have been convicted of any crime that involves moral turpitude; and must not have any ongoing administrative or criminal case.

Interested parties should fill out the application form and submit it to any DAR office in their area together with the following required documents: certification from the DAR regional or provincial office that the applicant is a qualified dependent of an ARB; Personal Data Sheet (CSC Form 212); authenticated copy or certified machine copy of the birth certificate of the applicant; health certificate issued by a government hospital or physician; barangay clearance; certified photocopy of Form 137 (High School Report Card); statement of commitment and support by the parents or guardian of the applicant; certification of good moral character issued by the high school principal or religious leader in the community; certified true copy of the income tax return (ITR) of applicant’s parents; certificate of rating from the SUC for passing the entrance examination; and certificate of enrolment (if enrolled).

Deadline for the submission of applications is on March 31 this year.

As DSP-DARBs scholar, he/she will receive: P3,000 monthly stipend; P2,000 book allowance for every semester; P500 transportation allowance for every month; P500 lodging allowance for every month; graduation fee not exceeding P5,000; P10,000 thesis allowance, if applicable; and P5,000 summer class allowance for two months.

Yu shared that in Eastern Visayas, there are seven DAR DSP-DARBs scholars who are currently enrolled in different SUCs in the region.

(APRIL ROSE SEVILLANO/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY-Vote-selling and vote-buying can be considered as a modern cancer of democracy being compared to an illness that does not heal and hinders the constitutional right of suffrage of every citizen.

This was emphasized by Lawyer Ma. Goretti Caseñas-Cañas, Leyte provincial election supervisor during the meeting of the Committee on “Kontra Bigay” held recently at the Comelec Regional Office conference room in Tacloban City.

With barely two months ahead of the 2025 National and Local Elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Leyte Provincial Office will be conducting a close monitoring of the activities of local candidates as well as voters who may clandestinely practice vote-buying or vote-selling.

For the past elections, complaints about vote-buying or vote-selling were prevalent and perceived by many as a campaign strategy by some candidates.

Political aspirants resorted to some modes of vote-buying such as giving food or cellphone load to voters. But, monetary vote-buying is more popular when elections are so tight and positions are closely contested.

However, Cañas said no one was prosecuted for such offenses last year due to weak evidence and lack of witnesses.

The Comelec deemed it necessary to implement a whole-of-nation approach through the passage of Comelec Resolution No. 11104, thereby expanding more powers and functions to the Committee on “Kontra Bigay” which is composed of various government agencies and other stakeholders accredited as citizens arm of the Comelec.

With the passage of the new rules and guidelines, Cañas believes that it has more teeth now and can be stopped with the help of concerned agencies and other stakeholders before it metastasizes like cancer.

“It cannot be stopped by Comelec alone. It needs the concerted efforts of other government agencies and stakeholders to put an end to this malady,” Cañas said.

By virtue of the said resolution, the Committee has the power to direct and supervise synchronized operations against vote-selling, vote-buying, and abuse of state resources.
The Committee on “Kontra Bigay” will report incidents of vote-buying and vote-selling that are committed “in flagrante delicto” (caught in the act) to the Philippine National Police or Armed Forces of the Philippines having jurisdiction over the place where the alleged offense took place and gather relevant evidence for such activities including abuse of state resources in elections such as corroborated video clips, photographs and audio or visual recordings in relation to the report or complaint filed.

Cañas explained that abuse of state resources refers to the misuse of government resources whether material, human, regulatory, budgetary, media-related, and others for electoral advantage.

As an example, an abuse of state resources occurs when a government vehicle is being used by candidates in their campaign activities.

The committee was first implemented during the Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay Elections in October 2023.

It is expected that the Committee members in Leyte will start its monitoring activities on March 28, 2025, the start of campaign period for local candidates.

(CBA/PIA Eastern Visayas)