ORMOC CITY — Police authorities arrested two most wanted persons in separate law enforcement operations conducted in Southern Leyte and Leyte on May 13 and 14, 2026.
In Liloan, Southern Leyte, personnel of the Liloan Municipal Police Station (MPS), supported by the 2nd Southern Leyte Police Mobile Force Company, arrested the Municipal Level Most Wanted Person, Rank No. 1, at around 10:30 a.m. on May 14, 2026, in Barangay Malangsa.
The suspect was identified as Dionesio Mantilla Sajol, 50, single, a laborer, and a resident of Barangay Malangsa, Liloan, Southern Leyte.

Authorities said the arrest was carried out through a warrant issued for four counts of rape under Article 266-A(1) (d) of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act 11648, docketed under Criminal Case Nos. R-2500 to R-2503, dated May 12, 2026. The warrant was issued by Judge Fabio T. Albao Jr. of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), 8th Judicial Region, Branch 39, Sogod, Southern Leyte, with no bail recommended.

The suspect is now under the custody of Liloan MPS for proper documentation and disposition.

Meanwhile, in Leyte, operatives of the MacArthur Municipal Police Station arrested the province’s No. 4 Most Wanted Person at around 8:00 p.m. on May 13, 2026, in Poblacion District 1, MacArthur, Leyte.

The suspect was identified as Elson Estorpe, 26, single, a laborer, and a resident of MacArthur, Leyte.

Police served a warrant of arrest dated July 21, 2025, for statutory rape issued by the RTC Branch 10 in Abuyog, Leyte, also with no bail recommended.

After his arrest, the suspect was brought to the custody of MacArthur MPS for proper booking and documentation.

Authorities said both operations are part of sustained police efforts to locate and apprehend wanted persons in the region to ensure public safety and the swift administration of justice.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY — A police officer escaped unharmed after he was fired upon by an armed suspect in Barangay Busay, Barugo, Leyte early morning of May 25, 2026, in what authorities described as a targeted attack.

The incident occurred at around 6:10 a.m. when the victim, identified as PCpl “Rex,” 36, a resident of Barugo and an active member of the Philippine National Police, was on his way home.

Police said the suspect, identified only by the alias “Reo,” 40, unemployed and also a resident of the area, allegedly blocked the officer’s path while carrying a firearm.
Initial investigation showed that the suspect confronted the officer and reportedly uttered, “Ginpe-personal mo gud ako,” before suddenly firing shots.

The officer managed to take cover behind a nearby post and returned fire, hitting the suspect on his left arm.

Following the exchange, the victim immediately alerted the Barugo Municipal Police Station (MPS) for assistance. Responding personnel later found the suspect lying on the road with a gunshot wound. Emergency responders from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) transported him to a hospital for treatment.

Authorities confirmed that the police officer was not injured during the incident.

Investigators also disclosed that the suspect had prior run-ins with the law, including a drug-related case in 2019 and a previous arrest on January 24, 2026 for alarm and scandal in relation to Republic Act 10591. He was reportedly out on bail at the time of the shooting and was listed as a monitored drug personality in the area.

Recovered from the scene were two firearms and an extra magazine allegedly in the possession of the suspect. Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) processed the area for further evidence collection.

The Barugo MPS continues to investigate the incident to determine the full circumstances and possible motives behind the attack.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA/ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed P5,000 in cash assistance to 2,855 delivery riders across Eastern Visayas as part of the government’s response to rising fuel prices.

The regionwide payout, conducted simultaneously on May 27, aimed to provide immediate financial relief to transport-dependent workers whose daily income has been affected by increasing fuel costs amid the country’s ongoing energy concerns.

Tacloban City logged the highest number of beneficiaries with 1,124 riders receiving assistance. Samar followed with 536 beneficiaries, while Ormoc City recorded 402 recipients. Eastern Samar had 346 beneficiaries, Southern Leyte 202, Northern Samar 157, and Biliran 88.

According to the DSWD, delivery riders were prioritized under the program because of their heavy reliance on fuel for work and day-to-day operations. The agency said the initiative forms part of continuing government interventions designed to help vulnerable sectors cope with higher transportation expenses.

The DSWD added that coordination with local field offices and partner agencies will continue to ensure the orderly implementation of future payouts and the verification of qualified beneficiaries.

(BLUE REUGINE RUTHIELLE L. NICOLAS, LNU Student Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY — After days of intense heat, sudden rain showers have brought temporary relief to residents of Tacloban City, along with the familiar earthy smell known as petrichor — the scent produced when rain falls on dry ground.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned this week that Tacloban’s heat index could reach as high as 45°C, placing the city under “danger level” conditions. Pagasa said heat indices between 42°C and 51°C may cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Even with the extreme heat, rain showers and thunderstorms continue to affect parts of Eastern Visayas due to prevailing easterlies. Pagasa forecasts partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rains throughout the week.

For many residents, the rain offers relief from the high temperatures.

As rain hits dry roads and soil, the scent of petrichor becomes noticeable across the city. Scientists describe petrichor as the smell created when rain releases natural oils from plants and compounds from soil bacteria into the air.

In Tacloban, however, rain also carries emotional meaning. More than a decade after Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ devastated the city, many residents still associate heavy rains and changing weather patterns with memories of disaster and uncertainty.

As extreme heat and unpredictable rainfall continue to affect many parts of the country, the smell of petrichor has become a reminder of both comfort and concern for residents adapting to changing climate conditions.

(LANCE GABRIEL ENTERESO, LNU Student Intern)