ORMOC CITY— An attempted overtaking maneuver along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Campetic, Palo town, Leyte on Thursday morning, June 4, resulted in a collision between a sport utility vehicle and a sedan driven by an American national, police said.
The accident occurred at around 10:20 a.m. and involved a 2021 Toyota Vios sedan driven by a 68-year-old United States citizen identified only as “Hemes” and a Ford Everest wagon driven by alias “Lim,” 28, of Ormoc City.

According to the Palo Municipal Police Station, officers responded to the area after receiving a report from a concerned citizen regarding the vehicular incident. Upon arrival, investigators found that the vehicles involved had already been moved from their original positions.

Initial investigation showed that both vehicles were traveling in the same direction from the BIR Junction toward Tacloban City, with the Toyota Vios positioned ahead of the Ford Everest and another vehicle situated between them.

Police said the Ford Everest attempted to overtake the vehicle in front while traversing the highway. At the same time, the Toyota Vios allegedly made a left turn, causing the two vehicles to collide in the inner lane of the roadway.

Despite the impact, both drivers escaped unharmed. However, the two vehicles sustained damage as a result of the collision.

The Toyota Vios driver is a resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, and holds a California driver’s license, while the Ford Everest driver is a resident of Baguioville Subdivision in Barangay San Pablo, Simangan, Ormoc City.

Police brought both drivers and their vehicles to the Palo Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition as the investigation continues.

(ROBERT DEJON)

QUEZON CITY– The Social Security System (SSS) today begins the early rollout of the second tranche of the Pension Reform Program (PRP) to 4.1 million pensioners, advancing the originally scheduled September pension increase to provide SSS pensioners with earlier financial relief.

Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission (SSC) Chair Frederick D. Go and SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph M. de Claro said the agency is releasing approximately P6 billion in additional pension benefits from June to August 2026 to help pensioners cope with inflationary pressures and higher energy costs.

“We are releasing the second tranche of pension increases ahead of schedule to support millions of pensioners and their families, helping them meet their daily needs and enjoy greater financial security sooner,” Go said.

“With the early implementation, we hope to provide timely relief to our pensioners and their families as they continue to face every day financial challenges,” de Claro said.
He explained that SSS pensioners as of May 31, 2026, will be eligible to receive the pension hike beginning June 1, 2026, while those whose contingencies fall between June 1 and August 31, 2026, will receive their increased pension starting September 1, 2026.
Under the second tranche of the PRP, retirement and disability pensioners will receive a 10% increase in their monthly pensions, while death and survivor pensioners will receive a 5% increase.

“We recognize that rising prices and economic uncertainty continue to place pressure on Filipino families and businesses,” de Claro added. “Through the PRP, SSS ensures that our pensioners have access to timely, affordable and reliable financial support when they need it most.”

The PRP is the first-ever multi-year pension increase in SSS history. Under the program, pensioners will receive annual increases in their pensions every September from 2025 to 2027.(PR)

ORMOC CITY — A suspected street-level drug peddler previously arrested for a drug-related offense was again caught by authorities during a buy-bust operation that led to the seizure of eight sachets of suspected shabu in Barangay Balud early Friday morning, May 29.

Lt.Col. Florentino Almayda Jr., assistant chief of the Special Operations Unit 8 (SOU-8) of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), identified the suspect only by his alias “Osmoy,” 46, a resident of Barangay Balud, Calbayog City.

According to the PDEG, the suspect is listed as a street-level individual in the drug watchlist and had previously been arrested during the implementation of a search warrant on October 30, 2024, for the same offense.

Operatives conducted the buy-bust operation at around 12:23 a.m., resulting in the suspect’s arrest after allegedly selling a sachet containing a white crystalline substance believed to be shabu to an undercover operative for P500.

A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of required witnesses, led to the recovery of a cigarette pack containing seven additional sachets of suspected shabu. Authorities also recovered the marked P500 bill used in the operation, bearing serial number AC9822979, as well as a blue Vivo mobile phone.

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

Charges for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office. The suspect is currently detained at the Calbayog City Police Station custodial facility pending further legal proceedings.

Authorities said the operation forms part of the continuing campaign against illegal drugs and the apprehension of individuals involved in the distribution of prohibited substances in the city.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– Police authorities in Leyte intensified their campaign against wanted persons with the arrest of two regional most wanted persons (MWPs) facing serious charges involving rape and child abuse during separate operations on June 1, 2026.
The most significant arrest involved the capture of Joben Dalantera,36, the region’s No. 1 most wanted person, who was apprehended at around 8:30 p.m. in Barangay Olotan, Jaro, Leyte.

Dalantera is facing three counts of rape and was arrested on the strength of a warrant issued on May 14, 2026, by Judge Manasseh Sumayo Bastes, acting presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 34, Tacloban City. No bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

The operation was led by personnel of the Jaro Municipal Police Station, with support from the Regional Intelligence Division 8, Provincial Intelligence Unit, 2nd Leyte Provincial Mobile Force Company, and the 805th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 8. Following his arrest, Dalantera was taken to the Jaro Municipal Police Station pending further legal proceedings.

Earlier that day, at around 11:30 a.m., authorities arrested Pablo Sab Andoy, 40, listed as the region’s No. 10 Most Wanted Person, in Barangay Causwagan, MacArthur, Leyte. Andoy, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, was apprehended by members of the MacArthur Municipal Police Station Support Unit in coordination with the Tagum City Police Station.

Andoy was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued on February 24, 2026, by Judge Jimmy Bustillo Boco, presiding judge of the Family Court, Branch 2, Eleventh Judicial Region, Tagum City. He is facing seven counts of lascivious conduct under Section 5(b) of Republic Act No. 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. The court recommended bail of P200,000 for each count. He was subsequently turned over to the Tagum City Police Station for proper disposition.

Police officials said the successful operations demonstrate the sustained efforts of law enforcement agencies to track down and arrest individuals wanted for grave offenses, ensuring that they are brought before the courts to answer the charges filed against them.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)