ORMOC CITY– Police arrested a 34-year-old farmer wanted for qualified theft during an operation conducted around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22, in Barangay Palanay, Caibiran, Biliran.
The suspect, identified as alias “Samuel,” married and a resident of Sitio Cabacungan, Barangay Cabibihan, Caibiran, was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued on September 16, 2025, by Executive Judge Constantino F. Esber of the Regional Trial Court Branch 37, 8th Judicial Region, Caibiran, Biliran.
The case is docketed under Criminal Case No. CB-25-1160, with the court recommending P10,000 bail for the suspect’s temporary liberty.
Police said the accused was properly informed of the reason for his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights.
He is currently detained at the Caibiran Municipal Police Station for booking and documentation before being presented to the issuing court.
The Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) has finished its major upgrades to its water supply system, expanding the hospital’s total storage capacity from 303 cubic meters in 2023 to 998 cubic meters in 2025, and providing uninterrupted access to clean water for sanitation, infection control, and day-to-day services. (EVMC FACEBOOK)
The Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) has finished its major upgrades to its water supply system, expanding the hospital’s total storage capacity from 303 cubic meters in 2023 to 998 cubic meters in 2025, and providing uninterrupted access to clean water for sanitation, infection control, and day-to-day services. (EVMC FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) has completed major upgrades to its water supply system, securing a steady and sustainable water source essential for hospital operations and patient care.
The initiative, which expanded the hospital’s total storage capacity from 303 cubic meters in 2023 to 998 cubic meters in 2025, aims to ensure uninterrupted access to clean water for sanitation, infection control, and day-to-day services.
According to EVMC, the infrastructure improvements include the installation of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) tanks, stainless steel storage systems, and rainwater collection units strategically distributed across multiple buildings. The system now draws from a combination of PrimeWater, deep and shallow wells, and rainwater harvesting facilities, creating a hybrid model that reduces reliance on external suppliers.
These developments also translated into significant cost savings. From 2023 to 2025, the hospital recorded a 47.3% drop in water expenses, equivalent to around P2.52 million, while overall consumption decreased by only 6.3%. The average cost per cubic meter also fell fromP76.35 in 2023 to P42.92 in 2025, reflecting both operational efficiency and sustainability.
In 2024, EVMC launched its Automated Water Storage System, equipped with GRP tanks, new distribution lines, and automated pump controls to maintain steady flow across hospital units. Two additional PrimeWater connections were also installed to address past limitations that once restricted water supply to only four hours daily.
Further improvements include rainwater collection tanks with membrane filtration and chlorination systems, and a 5-ton stainless steel vertical storage tank that supports the Operating Room Complex. Optimization of the Multi-Disciplinary Building’s cistern system has also increased reserve capacity.
Through these investments, EVMC not only strengthened its operational resilience but also advanced its commitment to sustainable, cost-efficient healthcare.
“Our goal is not only to reduce costs but to ensure that EVMC remains a safe and efficient institution capable of serving patients without disruption,” the hospital said in a statement.
With its upgraded water infrastructure, EVMC stands as a model for sustainable hospital management—where innovation and compassion flow together to sustain quality healthcare in Eastern Visayas.
GIVING HONORS. Soldiers stand guard as the remains of former Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez lie in state at the family’s ancestral home Santo Nino Shrine in Tacloban City. Romualdez, a longtime local leader and member of the influential Romualdez clan, passed away on October 17 at the age of 91. He will be buried on Saturday at the family mausoleum in Olot, Tolosa, Leyte.
Romualdez was city mayor from 1998-2007
GIVING HONORS. Soldiers stand guard as the remains of former Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez lie in state at the family’s ancestral home Santo Nino Shrine in Tacloban City. Romualdez, a longtime local leader and member of the influential Romualdez clan, passed away on October 17 at the age of 91. He will be buried on Saturday at the family mausoleum in Olot, Tolosa, Leyte.
TACLOBAN CITY — The remains of former Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez arrived in the city Tuesday afternoon, drawing hundreds of residents who gathered to pay their last respects to the late patriarch of one of Leyte’s most prominent political families.
A Philippine Air Force plane carrying Romualdez’s body landed at the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport) around 2:30 p.m. The hearse then proceeded to the family’s ancestral home along Real Street, where his casket was placed for public viewing.
Romualdez, who served as Tacloban City mayor for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007, passed away on October 17 at the age of 91 due to multiple organ failure, according to his son, incumbent Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
“He died peacefully in his sleep, and we decided not to revive him because it was already multiple organ failure,” the younger Romualdez told reporters following a requiem mass.
The late mayor’s remains will lie in state for several days before being laid to rest on Saturday, October 25, at the Romualdez family mausoleum in Olot, Tolosa, Leyte, about 26 kilometers from Tacloban City.
While the elder Romualdez had wished to hold his wake at their residence in Algo Subdivision, San Jose District, Mayor Romualdez said the family decided to transfer the wake to the Santo Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, another Romualdez ancestral property, to accommodate the public and avoid disrupting nearby residents.
“We wanted to give everyone who loved and respected him the chance to say goodbye properly,” the mayor said.
Earlier this week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Bejo’s sister, paid their respects during a private viewing at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.
“Kami-kami lang ang nandoon. She (Imelda) stayed there for about two hours to mourn,” Mayor Romualdez recalled.
A respected local leader, Bejo Romualdez was known for his hands-on governance and for guiding Tacloban through key development programs during his tenure. He was instrumental in improving basic infrastructure and public services at a time when the city was rebuilding its post-war identity.
Mayor Romualdez said his father had fulfilled one of his life’s wishes — to live until the age of 90.
“He often told us he wanted to reach 90. He did — and more. His life was a gift to our family and to Tacloban,” he said.
Since Tuesday evening, city officials, barangay leaders, and residents have flocked to the wake to offer prayers and pay tribute to the former mayor, remembered by many as a humble, quiet, yet steadfast leader devoted to Tacloban’s growth.
Public viewing will continue at the Santo Niño Shrine until October 25, when the late mayor will be brought to Tolosa for interment.
SECOND TIME. Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho `Icot’ Petilla was named as chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC) by Pres. Marcos. It will be the second time that Petilla will chair the regional policy-making body. (PHOTO COURTESY)
Icot’s second time to head RDC-8
SECOND TIME. Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho `Icot’ Petilla was named as chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC) by Pres. Marcos. It will be the second time that Petilla will chair the regional policy-making body. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas, bringing him back to a post he last held more than ten years ago.
The appointment, confirmed through a letter signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and transmitted to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) on October 6, was made public by the DepDev regional office on October 21.
“I am pleased to transmit the appointment of (Gov.) Carlos Jericho Petilla as chairperson, Regional Development Council, for a term of three years, which shall coincide with his term as a local elective official, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” Bersamin stated in his letter.
This marks the second time Petilla has been selected to lead the RDC, the region’s highest policymaking and coordinating body composed of national government agencies, local government units, and private sector representatives.
Petilla first chaired the RDC in 2011, but his tenure was cut short when he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Energy by then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, a position he held from 2012 to 2015.
He succeeds Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, who previously served as RDC chair. During the council’s September 8 meeting, Petilla, Gomez, and Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari—Petilla’s cousin—were nominated for the role.
In an earlier interview, Petilla said he accepted the appointment “without hesitation and mental reservation,” expressing hope for stronger attendance and engagement among regional directors to ensure the council’s effectiveness.
As RDC chair, Petilla is expected to lead efforts to align regional development priorities with national goals and promote greater collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and local stakeholders across Eastern Visayas.
His appointment also continues a family legacy of leadership in the region’s development planning body. Both his mother, former governor Remedios Petilla, and his brother, former governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, previously chaired the RDC during their respective terms.
Leyte Board Member Carlo Loreto lauded the governor’s reappointment, citing his “visionary and data-driven leadership” that has strengthened governance, improved social services, and advanced economic and infrastructure development in the province.
“The RDC chairmanship is both an honor and a responsibility. It demands a leader who can unite local governments, national agencies, the private sector, civil society, and the academe around a shared agenda for inclusive growth,” Loreto said.
“Governor Petilla brings that blend of strategic thinking and collaborative leadership. Under his guidance, we can look forward to a development agenda that prioritizes competitive industries and jobs, resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy, digital innovation, and opportunities that reach every community—from our cities to the remotest barangays,” he added.
Loreto expressed confidence that under Petilla’s leadership, the region will continue to build on its resilience and drive for progress.
“Eastern Visayas has always shown courage and hope amid challenges. With Governor Petilla at the helm of the RDC, these strengths will be harnessed toward lasting progress that uplifts families, empowers youth, and honors the hard work of every Eastern Visayan,” he said.
TACLOBAN CITY — The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) has clarified that it properly coordinated with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in the operation that resulted in the arrest of 12 Chinese nationals in Tacloban City, denying claims of an intelligence lapse or police inaction.
In a statement, PRO-8 said the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) first conducted surveillance after receiving reports about the suspicious activities of several foreign nationals in the area. Upon verification, TCPO immediately referred the matter to the Bureau of Immigration, the agency with the sole authority to verify and enforce immigration laws.
The BI later confirmed that the 12 Chinese nationals had violated the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 for misrepresentation and were also charged under the Alien Registration Act of 1950 (Republic Act 562).
PRO-8 further explained that police personnel assigned at nearby checkpoints could not have lawfully apprehended the foreign nationals without clear evidence of a crime, as doing so would have been considered an overreach of police authority and a violation of human rights protocols.
The regional office also clarified that the arrested foreigners were employees of an internet service provider and not connected to any Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO). Intelligence monitoring, it added, has so far found no evidence of POGO-related operations in Eastern Visayas.
PRO-8 underscored that the police followed due process and maintained close coordination with concerned national agencies throughout the operation to ensure legality and transparency.
“The PNP remains committed to upholding the rule of law while protecting the rights of all individuals within its jurisdiction,” the statement said.
The Chinese nationals were arrested on Oct. 15 inside their office at Ocean Wave in Brgy.95-A, Caibaan, this city.
The arrested individuals were identified as officials and employees of Ocean Wave Communications (Philippines) Corp., also known as Hailang Communications (Philippines) Company, an internet service provider operating in Tacloban City and nearby areas, including Palo, Leyte.
PROPOSED MEASURES. The Tingog party-list representative by Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre authored several measures, about 14 of them been identified as among the priorities under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
PROPOSED MEASURES. The Tingog party-list representative by Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre authored several measures, about 14 of them been identified as among the priorities under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
TACLOBAN CITY — The Tingog party-list, represented by Reps. Yedda Romualdez, Andrew Romualdez, and Jude Acidre, has filed a total of 177 bills in the first regular session of the 19th Congress, including 14 measures identified as priorities under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The party-list group said the volume of proposed measures reflects its commitment to “people-centered governance,” focusing on the needs of ordinary Filipinos rather than political interests.
“Every bill we file is rooted in the stories and struggles of ordinary Filipinos — from mothers feeding their families to workers seeking stability,” Tingog said in a statement issued on Thursday, Oct. 23.
Among its key LEDAC-aligned measures are proposals to strengthen food security and healthcare, such as the Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, Universal Health Care amendments, and the Geriatric Health Act;expand access to education and social welfare through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Act and the Private Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act; promote transparency and economic growth with amendments to the Bank Secrecy Law and the MSME Magna Carta; enhance digital resilience with the proposed Cybersecurity Act; and advance sustainable development through the National Land Use Act, Blue Economy Act, and National Water Resources Act.
Tingog said its legislative efforts aim to translate “stories of hardship into policies of hope,” emphasizing service and compassion in public leadership.
“Our mission is clear: to put people at the heart of governance by listening with compassion, leading with integrity, and ensuring no one is left behind,” the group said.
