ORMOC CITY— Authorities have arrested the sixth most wanted person in Southern Leyte during a joint police operation in Mati City, Davao Oriental on Wednesday, April 15.

The suspect, identified only as alias “Nante,” 37, a farmer and native of Maasin City, was apprehended around 1 p.m. in Barangay Taguibo by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office, in coordination with the Maasin City Police Station and the Mati City Police Station under Philippine National Police Regional Office 11.

Southern Leyte police director Col. Raymundo Graviles said the arrest was carried out by virtue of a warrant issued on July 17, 2025 by a regional trial court in Maasin City.
The suspect is facing charges of sexual assault and attempted statutory rape. The court recommended bail of P200,000 for the sexual assault case and P120,000 for the attempted statutory rape charge.

Police said the accused was informed of the nature of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood.

He was initially brought to the Mati City Police Station for booking and proper disposition and will be returned to the issuing court in Maasin City.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — Two agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in Catarman, Northern Samar are set to receive livelihood and agricultural productivity assistance from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under a program aimed at strengthening climate-resilient farming in disaster-affected communities.

The initiative forms part of DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program–Sustainable Livelihood for Disaster Affected Areas (CRFPSP-SLS), which seeks to enhance farm production while improving the income of smallholder farmers.

Under the program, the Barangay Gebulwangan ARBs and Farmers Association Inc. will receive machinery and support for vegetable and rice production, while the Sitio Hibabaogan Farmers Association Inc. in Barangay Washington will be provided with a greenhouse and hydroponics system for lettuce production.

Each group will receive assistance worth P300,000, including farming machinery, vegetable seeds, and other essential farm implements. Project implementation is expected to begin in June this year.

A coordination meeting was held at the Catarman municipal hall with representatives from the DAR Northern Samar Provincial Office, Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Chona Catunga, and Municipal Agriculture Office head Merlyn Ambos to finalize project preparations and implementation details.

Also present were Marita Adlawan, president of the Barangay Gebulwangan Farmers Association, and Aniceto Ortego, president of the Sitio Hibabaogan Farmers Association.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support, saying the assistance will significantly improve their farming operations and productivity.

Local government officials also assured their full support to ensure the successful rollout of the program in the municipality.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — A community-based association in San Jose, Northern Samar has received a boost to its livelihood operations after the provincial government extended financial and material assistance through its Barangay Livelihood Empowerment and Sustainability (BLES) Program.

The Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO) facilitated the turnover of fishing tools, equipment, and machinery worth P100,000 to the Tulungan ng Iba’t-Ibang Sektor Para sa Bagong Pangarap Association, aimed at enhancing the group’s productivity and sustaining its income-generating activities.

Provincial officials said the assistance is part of continuing efforts to empower grassroots organizations by equipping them with the necessary resources to expand their operations and improve their economic standing.

The initiative underscores the local government’s push for inclusive growth, particularly in rural communities, by strengthening small-scale livelihood enterprises and creating more opportunities for income generation.

Aligned with the province’s broader development agenda, the BLES Program focuses on building the capacity of local associations, enabling them to become self-reliant and active contributors to community development.

Members of the beneficiary group expressed gratitude for the support, saying it will significantly improve their operations and help uplift the welfare of their members.
PEDIPO reiterated its commitment to sustain programs that promote livelihood development and strengthen community-based organizations across Northern Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)