CAMP JORGE DOWNES,Ormoc City– Military troops unearth the buried rifle and magazines belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA) in the remote area of Barangay Old Union, Sta. Rita, Samar on 26 August 2024.

The discovery was made by soldiers from the 63rd Infantry Battalion (63IB), operating under the 802nd Infantry Brigade (802IBde), following a tip-off from concerned local residents. The residents alerted the soldiers of the presence of the concealed weapon and magazines in the area.

Acting Commanding Officer of the 63IB, Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Meclat Jr., promptly ordered his troops to conduct a thorough search, leading to the successful recovery of a Bushmaster 5.56mm rifle and three empty magazines, among other related equipment.
Lieutenant Colonel Meclat emphasized that the successful operation was made possible by the trust, cooperation, and proactive stance of the local community in safeguarding their area.

“The discovery of this firearm underscores the critical role that the partnership between the military and local communities plays in ensuring security, “ Meclat said.

Meclat encourages all community members to continue working with the government to maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Noel A. Vestuir, Commander of the 802IBde, commended the troops for their relentless efforts to uphold peace and security in the area.

He also expressed his gratitude to the populace for their cooperation and deep concern for their community, which has been instrumental in sustaining peace.

“On behalf of the peace-loving citizens, we are grateful to the residents of Barangay Old Union for their invaluable support and cooperation,” Vestuir ended. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY-Families of victims of the drug war carried out during the administration of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte are finding new hope in the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Yes, I am hopeful that with the involvement of the ICC, the victims of the drug war, especially our relatives, will be given justice,” said Belinda (not her real name), whose uncle was killed in a 2019 drug raid in the Eastern Visayas region.

Belinda, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, shared that her family did not pursue legal action against the government’s anti-drug operatives due to financial constraints.

“This is the fate of poor people who are simply killed, even if they don’t deserve it,” Belinda told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

She and her family were elated to learn that the ICC has requested assistance from the Philippine government in interviewing persons of interest related to Duterte’s drug war campaign.

On July 30, 2024, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV disclosed that an incumbent Philippine senator and four high-ranking police officials have been placed on Interpol’s “blue notice” list at the request of the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor.

“It seems the blue notice is just part of the ICC’s process. While it’s too early to say that this will lead to a favorable outcome for the thousands of victims of ‘drug war’ killings, it sends a message to abusive law enforcers: there will be a time of reckoning,” said Carlos Conde, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“The ICC appears serious in pursuing its investigation. The Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration should fully cooperate with the court’s investigation,” Conde added.

A blue notice is a tool used by the Interpol to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location, or activities in connection to a criminal investigation.

Various human rights organizations claim that over 20,000 suspected drug personalities were killed during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
(RONALD O. REYES)