ORMOC CITY — A parked Toyota Deluxe Van was damaged by fire in Barangay 90, Payapay, San Jose in Tacloban City on Tuesday morning, January 6, with investigators pointing to an overheated power bank as the possible cause.
The fire broke out at around 9:46 a.m. and involved a white Toyota Deluxe Van registered to alias “Neta” and driven by alias “Naldo,” a resident of Barangay 110, Utap, Tacloban City.
Personnel from Police Station 2 of the Tacloban City Police Office immediately responded to the incident. By the time authorities arrived, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) had already brought the fire under control, which was declared out at around 9:50 a.m.
Based on the driver’s account, the van had been parked along the roadside near a coconut (“buko”) stall while he was taking a short rest. Moments later, the vehicle suddenly caught fire, prompting him to seek help from nearby residents to prevent the flames from spreading.
The driver sustained minor injuries during the incident and was given first aid by medics from the Tacloban City Rescue Unit (TACRU).
Further investigation by BFP fire investigators revealed that the blaze may have been caused by a power bank left unattended inside the vehicle, which reportedly overheated.
Authorities estimated the damage to the van at around P100,000.
Police reminded motorists to avoid leaving electronic devices inside vehicles, especially during daytime, as extreme heat can trigger fires.
TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent “RV” Evardone has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the province to strengthen and heighten security measures in the town of Oras following the killing of a village official earlier this week.
Gov. Evardone said he directed authorities to increase police presence in Oras and to establish regular checkpoints to prevent similar incidents and ensure public safety.
He also instructed barangay officials to activate their barangay tanod units to assist law enforcers in maintaining peace and order in their respective communities.
The governor appealed for public understanding, saying the tighter security measures are being implemented for the safety of residents and the overall peace and security of the province.
“Hopefully, you will understand why we tightened the security. This is for your safety and for the peace and security of the province,” Evardone said in a video message posted on his Facebook account.
The security alert followed the killing of Barangay Tiguib chairman Arnel Montallana, 56, who was stabbed to death on January 6, 2026. Police identified the suspect as Erick Lorot, 45, a resident of Barangay Butnga in the same town.
Montallana sustained multiple stab wounds and was declared dead on arrival at Oras Doctors Hospital. The suspect was immediately arrested by police in a hot pursuit operation.
Authorities said an investigation is ongoing to determine the motive behind the killing.
ORMOC CITY– A sitting barangay chairman was killed in a stabbing attack in Barangay Tiguib here on Tuesday morning, January 6, in an incident that has shocked the local community and prompted a swift police response.
The victim, Arnel Montallana, 56, married, and the incumbent barangay chairman Tiguib, was declared dead on arrival at Oras Doctor’s Hospital after sustaining multiple stab wounds. Police identified the suspect as Erick Lorot, 45, unemployed and single, a resident of the same barangay.
According to a report from the Oras Municipal Police Station (MPS) to the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), the stabbing occurred at around 7:50 a.m. A concerned resident alerted police, prompting responding officers to rush to the area.
Upon arrival, police found the barangay chairman lying bloodied on the side of the road with visible stab wounds. He was immediately rushed by an Emergency Response Team to the hospital but was pronounced dead by the attending physician.
Initial police investigation revealed that the victim had just brought his wife to their store in Barangay Tiguib and was on his way home aboard his motorcycle. While passing through an intersection about 40 meters from his residence, he was suddenly attacked by the suspect, who allegedly used a short-bladed weapon locally known as a “dipang,” stabbing the victim in various parts of his body.
Police said the victim managed to dismount his motorcycle and attempt to seek help, but the suspect chased him and stabbed him again, inflicting a fatal wound to the chest.
The suspect fled on foot toward the mountainous area of Barangay Camanga, but a hot pursuit operation conducted by the police led to his arrest at an isolated house owned by his younger brother in the same area.
Authorities said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood. He was brought, along with the weapon used in the incident, to the Oras MPS for proper disposition as police continue their investigation to determine the motive behind the attack.
SHEARLINE’S EFFECTS. Several areas in Eastern Visayas experienced flooding on Sunday, January 4, due to the shearline. The photo shows floodwaters inundating the town of Dolores in Eastern Samar. (DOLORES MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
Due to shearline
SHEARLINE’S EFFECTS. Several areas in Eastern Visayas experienced flooding on Sunday, January 4, due to the shearline. The photo shows floodwaters inundating the town of Dolores in Eastern Samar. (DOLORES MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY — Widespread flooding triggered by days of heavy rain from a shear line has disrupted classes across Eastern Visayas and left two fishermen missing in Eastern Samar, as authorities stepped up disaster response and safety measures across the region.
The missing fishermen were identified as Ian Allester, 26, of Barangay Soong, and Anthony, 50, of Barangay Tungkip, both residents of Llorente, Eastern Samar. The two failed to return after heading out to sea aboard a fishing banca named Mama Mary on January 2. Local authorities said search and monitoring operations are ongoing.
As rains continued to pound the region, local government units suspended classes at all levels, both public and private, on Monday, January 5. Class cancellations were announced in Catbalogan and Calbayog cities and the town of Daram in Samar; Dulag, Carigara, and Tanauan in Leyte; San Policarpo, Jipapad, Dolores, and Sulat in Eastern Samar; and Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, Cabucgayan, and Almeria in Biliran province.
Earlier, the Tacloban City government and the entire province of Northern Samar also ordered class suspensions due to worsening weather conditions.
In Borongan City, flooding affected 379 families or 1,266 individuals in Barangays Siha and Balacdas, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
Eastern Samar’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that at least 54 families, or 153 individuals, from three low-lying barangays in Jipapad were evacuated to government-designated centers.
Municipal DRRM Officer Vicky Abestros said floodwaters inundated 10 of the town’s 13 barangays, with water levels in Poblacions 1, 3, and 4 reaching up to three to five feet deep.
“The affected families are now staying in evacuation centers, while others are temporarily sheltered in elevated private homes,” Abestros said on Sunday, January 4.
As a precaution, power supply in Jipapad—a low-lying town with a population of more than 8,500—was temporarily cut off upon the request of the municipal government to prevent possible electrocution.
Flooding was also reported in the towns of Maslog, Dolores, and Llorente, as well as in Borongan City, which placed all barangay disaster risk reduction and management offices on alert amid continuous rainfall.
In Leyte, Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla ordered the raising of Blue Alert Status on Sunday afternoon, activating all municipal and city disaster offices to ensure coordinated response and preparedness. Several LGUs in the province—including Carigara, Dulag, Leyte, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and MacArthur—also suspended classes on Monday.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez likewise ordered the suspension of classes at all levels due to flooding in several barangays. Some families were evacuated, while schools, particularly in the northern part of the city, were inspected and opened as potential evacuation centers.
In Biliran province, flooding affected the town of Kawayan, while landslides were reported in Barangays San Roque and Pinanihagon in Culaba.
In Naval, the provincial capital, authorities opened two major evacuation centers and ordered mandatory evacuation on Sunday afternoon for residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas. Public schools in Maripipi were also readied to accommodate possible evacuees.
Northern Samar also experienced flooding in Catubig and Lope de Vega, while strong winds toppled trees in Catarman. Flooding was likewise reported in Calbayog City, Samar.
Due to rough sea conditions, the Philippine Coast Guard enforced a no-sailing policy in parts of Eastern and Northern Samar to prevent maritime accidents.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Eastern Visayas urged LGUs to fully activate their disaster risk reduction and management offices as more rainfall is expected, raising the risk of further flooding and landslides.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has prepositioned 176,806 family food packs and 18,543 non-food items, including hygiene and sleeping kits, for distribution to affected families.
A shearline is a weather feature where two air masses with different temperatures or wind directions meet. This creates a narrow zone of strong wind changes, which often leads to heavy rain, thunderstorms, and sometimes flooding, especially in the tropics.
NEW SKILLS FOR PDLs. Persons deprived of liberty or PDLs in Maasin City are given new skills for them to earn income once they regain their liberty. The BJMP together with Maasin City Jail entered an agreement with the DOST for this purpose. (PHOTO COURTESY)
NEW SKILLS FOR PDLs. Persons deprived of liberty or PDLs in Maasin City are given new skills for them to earn income once they regain their liberty. The BJMP together with Maasin City Jail entered an agreement with the DOST for this purpose. (PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY — Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Maasin City Jail will soon have new opportunities to learn skills and earn a livelihood, following a partnership between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Southern Leyte and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The collaboration, formalized through an agreement signed during the fourth quarter 2025 meeting of the Southern Leyte Provincial Science, Technology, and Innovation Council, brings science- and technology-based livelihood and training programs to the jail under DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program.
DOST Southern Leyte Provincial Director Ramil Uy said the initiative is designed to help PDLs make productive use of their time in custody while preparing them for life beyond jail.
The program also aims to support their families and communities by building practical skills that can translate into income-generating activities.
One of the key projects under the partnership is the establishment of a small-scale bakery inside the Maasin City Jail. With basic equipment and hands-on training, participating PDLs will learn baking skills that can provide livelihood opportunities during detention and after release.
Beyond livelihood, the program also focuses on learning and personal development. It includes the improvement of workspaces, additional technical skills training, and access to STARBOOKS, DOST’s offline digital library that offers a wide range of science and technology resources.
DOST said the initiative reflects its continuing effort to make science and innovation accessible to all sectors, including marginalized communities, and to support inclusive and sustainable development across Southern Leyte.
DSWD AID. With flooding affecting families due to the shearline, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas has prepositioned food and non-food items ready for distribution to affected communities. (DSWD-Eastern Visayas FILE PHOTO)
DSWD AID. With flooding affecting families due to the shearline, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas has prepositioned food and non-food items ready for distribution to affected communities. (DSWD-Eastern Visayas FILE PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office is on high alert and ready to provide immediate food and relief assistance to families affected by the shear line currently bringing heavy rainfall across Eastern Visayas.
To ensure swift response, DSWD-8 has prepositioned relief resources valued at P142. 25 million, including 164,832 family food packs, 11,973 ready-to-eat food packs, 18,543 non-food items, and P2.59 million in standby funds. These resources can be quickly deployed to support affected communities.
In a statement, DSWD- 8 continues to coordinate closely with local government units to guarantee timely and orderly distribution of assistance. Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and adhere to advisories from disaster management offices to stay safe amid ongoing adverse weather conditions.
The agency’s proactive measures come as continuous rains, triggered by the shear line, have already caused flooding and displacements in several towns across the region.
