TACLOBAN CITY —Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre on Sunday, Jan.18, urged an end to what he described as baseless allegations, welcoming contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya’s public denial of claims linking former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to an alleged high-end property purchase in Makati City.

Acidre said Discaya’s categorical denial highlights the importance of grounding public discourse on facts and verified evidence, not speculation. “This underscores the need for evidence-based discussion anchored on documents and sworn testimony, rather than conjecture,” he said.

The lawmaker issued the statement after Discaya refuted allegations that he acted as a “front” for Romualdez, representing Leyte’s first congressional district, saying he had only seen the former Speaker once at a public event and had never spoken to him. Discaya also lamented that his name was being used to drag Romualdez into the controversy.

While stressing that legitimate inquiries should proceed where warranted, Acidre cautioned against repeating unproven claims. “Investigations serve the public best when they rely on verified records. Repeating allegations without proof only muddies the waters,” he said.

Earlier, Romualdez, through his lawyer and spokesman Atty. Ade Fajardo, denied any knowledge or involvement in the alleged property transaction, branding the claims as baseless.

Discaya, who remains detained at the Senate over his alleged links to the flood control controversy, said he has nothing to hide and is even willing to have the Makati property included in the list of assets under review by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, despite maintaining that the accusation is untrue.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

ORMOC CITY— Eleven passengers, including five tourists from Luzon and six local residents, narrowly escaped tragedy when their motorized pump boat capsized in Limasawa, Southern Leyte amid strong winds and rough seas early Saturday morning, January 17.

The incident occurred at around 7:40 a.m. along the waters of Barangay San Agustin, a popular route for tourists visiting the scenic island municipality of Limasawa. The boat, identified as the green-colored motorized pump boat “WINTER,” was carrying passengers when it overturned due to heavy waves.

Authorities confirmed that all passengers were rescued safely by a joint response team from the Limasawa Municipal Police Station, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Limasawa Emergency Rescue Team (LERT). The survivors were brought to the Limasawa Rural Health Unit for medical assessment.

Limasawa police reported that a concerned citizen alerted them immediately after the boat capsized. Thanks to the prompt coordination of local authorities and rescue teams, all passengers were pulled to safety within an hour of the incident.

Officials reminded boat operators and tourists to exercise caution during trips, especially when strong winds and high waves are forecasted, highlighting the importance of safety measures in this popular island destination.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY— The lifeless body of a 67-year-old farmer, who had been missing for two days, was discovered floating in a creek in Barangay Canmarating, Abuyog in Leyte on Saturday afternoon, January 17, police reported.

The victim, identified as alias “Lon,” was last seen on the evening of January 15 while visiting a relative’s home. Authorities said he reportedly left at around 11:45 p.m. to use the restroom and never returned. Family-led searches initially yielded no results.

Police said the body was found at about 3:15 p.m. by a barangay tanod in a creek locally known as “sapa.” Responding Abuyog Municipal Police Station (MPS) personnel verified the report and initiated an investigation.

Family members told authorities that Lon had no known enemies or disputes and believed the death was accidental. The body was transported to the Abuyog Municipal Morgue for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Authorities are continuing their investigation but suspect drowning as the likely cause of death.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — Accessing birth, marriage, and death records will soon be faster and more convenient for Ormocanons as the city government and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) formally partnered to establish an LGU-operated Civil Registry System (CRS) outlet in Ormoc City.

The local government unit of Ormoc and the PSA signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday, January 16, paving the way for the opening of the CRS outlet that will cater not only to city residents but also to people from nearby cities and municipalities.
Once operational, the CRS outlet is expected to significantly reduce processing time and improve access to vital documents, easing the burden on residents who previously had to travel farther or wait longer for civil registry services.

The LGU committed to operate and maintain the facility, providing the required office space, equipment, and personnel to ensure uninterrupted and responsive service delivery.
In his message, acting Mayor Ari Larrazabal said Ormoc has long functioned as a service hub for surrounding areas, making the establishment of the CRS outlet a natural step in strengthening people-centered governance. “This service stands on integrity. Trust in government is built not through words, but through consistency,” he said.

PSA Regional Statistics Service Office VIII Director Wilma Perante described the agreement as a long-awaited milestone that deepens cooperation between the PSA and the city government in delivering efficient and accessible public services.

The MOA signing was also attended by PSA National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa, Assistant National Statistician and Officer-in-Charge Deputy National Statistician Kristine Joy Briones, City Civil Registrar Marinette Solibaga, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and barangay officials.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)