ORMOC CITY-Police arrested a 55-year-old man wanted for multiple counts of cybercrime during an operation conducted on October 22, in Barangay Smo. Rosario, Naval, Biliran.
The suspect, identified as alias “Al,” married and unemployed, is a resident of Barangay San Francisco, Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
He was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued on October 16, 2025, by Judge Luz Petilla Navarrete of the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Naval, Biliran. The warrant was for three counts of violation of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, under criminal case numbers N-4889, N-4890, and N-4891.
The operation was carried out by the Naval Municipal Police Station in coordination with the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Biliran Provincial Police Office.
Police said the suspect was properly informed of his arrest and his constitutional rights. The court recommended P30,000 bail for each count of the offense.
The accused is now under the custody of the Naval Municipal Police Station for booking and documentation prior to turnover to the issuing court.
TRIBUTE TO TEACHERS. The municipal government of Tanauan, Leyte under Mayor Ma. Gina Merilo, gave honor to the town’s more than 700 teachers during the 3rd Municipal Pasidungog for Teachers, recognizing their dedication and lifelong contribution to the town’s educational development.
(TANAUAN LGU FACEBOOK)
TRIBUTE TO TEACHERS. The municipal government of Tanauan, Leyte under Mayor Ma. Gina Merilo, gave honor to the town’s more than 700 teachers during the 3rd Municipal Pasidungog for Teachers, recognizing their dedication and lifelong contribution to the town’s educational development. (TANAUAN LGU FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY — The local government unit (LGU) of Tanauan, Leyte, led by Mayor Ma. Gina Merilo, paid tribute to nearly 700 teachers during the 3rd Municipal Pasidungog for Teachers held at the Tanauan Amphitheater, recognizing their dedication and lifelong contribution to the town’s educational development.
Carrying the theme “MAGTURUTDO: Una ha Serbisyo, Bida ha Kabubwason han Bungto” (Teachers: First in Service, Champions of the Town’s Future), the event gathered educators from public and private elementary, secondary, and tertiary institutions across the municipality.
Present during the celebration, held on Monday, Oct. 27, were Department of Education (DepEd) Leyte Division Schools Superintendent Mariza Magan, Vice Mayor Archie Kapunan, and Sangguniang Bayan Members Cherry Anne Fiel, Mark Efren Merilo, Josie Creer, Quintin Octa Jr., and Efren Merilo.
As a gesture of gratitude, Mayor Merilo personally distributed tokens such as umbrellas, fans, and personalized pouch bags to the teachers, symbolizing the town’s appreciation for their selfless service.
“This recognition is our way of showing how much we value our teachers. They are not just educators but the pillars of our community’s future,” said Mayor Merilo in her message.
Now on its third year, the Municipal Pasidungog for Teachers has become one of Tanauan’s signature events honoring the crucial role of teachers in shaping the town’s youth and future leaders. The initiative also reflects the LGU’s continuing partnership with the education sector in promoting quality learning and community development.
Upcoming Maynilad share sale marks the launch of the new IPO subscription feature within the GCash app, offered by broker AB Capital Securities Inc.
As more Filipinos look for ways to grow their investments, GCash is introducing a new IPO subscription feature on GStocks PH, offered by AB Capital Securities, Inc., that will allow everyday investors to participate in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).
The new feature enables individual investors to easily subscribe to shares when a company lists for the first time on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). It will launch on GStocks PH within the GCash app from October 23 to 29, aligning with the upcoming Maynilad IPO offer period, and will be available during other initial listings moving forward.
In the past, participating in an IPO was often a fragmented and uncertain process for retail investors. There was limited assurance that subscribed shares would be allocated, and transactions typically took place outside the broker’s main trading platform, which made the overall experience inconvenient and less accessible.
GCash aims to address these barriers by offering a fully digital, unified experience within the app. Through GStocks PH, Filipinos can open a stock trading account, fund it using their GCash wallet, and subscribe to IPO shares all in one platform.
The feature also brings greater transparency to the process by showing investors in real time how many shares are still available for subscription through their broker, and immediately confirming whether their purchase has been successfully allocated or not. By distributing shares on a first-come, first-served basis, this addresses a common issue in past IPOs where retail investors are not always guaranteed their shares, especially when an IPO is oversubscribed. Oversubscription occurs when demand exceeds available shares allocated to the broker.
“Through GStocks PH, we’re ushering in a completely digital IPO experience that addresses traditional barriers that limited how ordinary Filipinos participated in public listings in the past,” said Group Head of New Businesses Winsley Bangit at Mynt (the parent company of GCash)
“We aim to extend the same ease of access and convenience experienced by institutional investors to individual investors while ensuring a secure, transparent, and compliant investment environment for all. The rollout of this feature ensures public offerings are truly open to the public and brings us one step closer to democratizing investing for every Filipino.” he added.”
“Through our continued partnership with GCash, AB Capital Securities is proud to make IPOs more accessible to Filipinos by bringing a fully digital experience via GStocks PH. This aligns with our mission to make investing in stocks more inclusive and transparent,” said AB Capital Securities Inc. Research Head, Hazel Tanedo Tan.
To access the IPO subscription feature, fully verified GCash users with an updated kyc must go to GInvest in the GCash app and register for GStocks PH. The new feature will be launched during the Maynilad IPO from October 23 to 29 and will continue to be available on GStocks PH via AB Capital Securities Inc. during future IPOs and FOOs (follow-on offerings).
GCash continues to deliver accessible and inclusive financial tools that empower Filipinos to build their wealth through smarter investing. (PR)
LAST FAREWELL. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez bids his final goodbye to his father, former city mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez, before the latter’s burial at the Romualdez family property in Olot, Tolosa, Leyte, on Saturday, October 25. (Photo from Tacloban City Information Office)
Final Farewell
LAST FAREWELL. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez bids his final goodbye to his father, former city mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez, before the latter’s burial at the Romualdez family property in Olot, Tolosa, Leyte, on Saturday, October 25. (Photo from Tacloban City Information Office)
TACLOBAN CITY — Former Tacloban City mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez, who served the city during a period of rapid development, was laid to rest on Saturday, October 25, at the Romualdez family mausoleum in Barangay Olot, Tolosa, Leyte. He was 91.
Before his interment, a requiem Mass was held at the Santo Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum—the family’s ancestral home in Tacloban—where his remains had been brought on October 21.
The Mass was concelebrated by several priests led by Palo Archbishop John Du, who described the late mayor as “a friend to priests and bishops” and lauded him for his love for Tacloban and dedication to public service.
Romualdez, who passed away on October 17 in a Manila hospital due to multiple organ failure, served as Tacloban City mayor from 1998 to 2007.
During his nine-year term, he oversaw major infrastructure projects such as the Tacloban Convention Center (Astrodome), the public market, and the new bus terminal, while also fostering a business-friendly environment that paved the way for investments and the arrival of major commercial establishments.
His bronze casket, draped with the Philippine flag, was placed on a flower-decked funeral carriage that made its way through key city landmarks, including Tacloban City Hall and the Eye Referral Building, which he owned and had envisioned as a specialty center for eye care.
Despite overcast skies, a large crowd of former city officials, employees, and supporters joined the funeral procession to pay their final respects. At 12:30 p.m., Romualdez was interred beside his parents, Vicente Orestes and Remedios Trinidad Romualdez, in the family mausoleum, with uniformed soldiers carrying his remains during the final rites.
Neither President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. nor his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos—Romualdez’s sister—were present at the burial, though both had earlier visited the wake at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City. Also notably absent were House Speaker Martin Romualdez and his family.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the late mayor’s son, became emotional as he thanked those who came to honor his father.
“Thank you all for your support. My father served the Filipino people well,” Mayor Romualdez said, joined by his siblings and his son, Vice Mayor Raymund Romualdez.
Romualdez is remembered not only as a political leader but as a public servant who helped shape Tacloban’s transformation into a thriving regional center—leaving behind a legacy of development, civic pride, and family service deeply rooted in Leyte’s history.
REOPENS. After a four-day temporary suspension, the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital (NSPH) in Catarman has resumed normal operations as of October 23. The hospital earlier halted patient admissions due to overcrowding, after accommodating more than double its 150-bed capacity.
(Photo from NSPH Facebook page)
Following over bed capacity issue
REOPENS. After a four-day temporary suspension, the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital (NSPH) in Catarman has resumed normal operations as of October 23. The hospital earlier halted patient admissions due to overcrowding, after accommodating more than double its 150-bed capacity. (Photo from NSPH Facebook page)
TACLOBAN CITY– The Northern Samar Provincial Hospital (NSPH) has returned to normal operations on Thursday, October 23, after temporarily exceeding its maximum bed capacity earlier this month.
This was disclosed by Arlyn Cui, provincial information officer, who added that Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ma. Aurora Vicencio and NSPH Chief Dr. Joseph Estanislao informed Governor Harris Ongchuan and members of the Northern Samar Health Board that the hospital is now able to accommodate new admissions during their meeting on Oct.25.
“NSPH returned to normal operations on Thursday, or four days after the (management) issued the advisory,” she said.
Cui was referring to the Oct.18 advisory of the hospital that it would stopped accepting admission of patients as it was already beyond its be capacity.
The hospital, which has a 150-bed capacity, had been attending to more than 300 patients at the height of the surge, prompting an advisory that it was operating beyond capacity.
Dr. Estanislao clarified that the spike in admissions was not due to any disease outbreak but to common illnesses such as diarrhea, measles, respiratory infections, influenza-like illnesses, and injuries from vehicular accidents.
To ease congestion, NSPH coordinated with rural health units (RHUs) and eight district hospitals to manage less serious cases within their areas, allowing the provincial hospital to focus on patients requiring higher-level care.
During the meeting, Governor Ongchuan also commended local government efforts to strengthen primary healthcare services, particularly the accreditation of municipal health centers as primary care facilities.
The Provincial Health Board lauded San Roque Mayor Ma. Ana Abalon for leading the way, as the San Roque RHU became the first in the province to be accredited by the Department of Health. The municipalities of Catubig, Pambujan, Bobon, and Gamay are also nearing completion of their accreditation requirements.
Governor Ongchuan urged other local government units to follow suit, noting that accreditation will enhance their capacity to deliver quality healthcare to their constituents.
CATARMAN, N. Samar-The Department of Public Works and Highways Northern Samar First District Engineering Office has officially turn over a completed concrete Bridge to the Local Government Unit of Catarman on October 18, 2025 at Brgy. Gebulwangan, Catarman, Northern Samar.
District Engineer Alvin. Ignacio of the DPWH-NSFDEO officially turned over the newly completed structure to Municipal Mayor Dianne E. Rosales.
On his turnover message, DE Ignacio assured that he, along with the district inspectorate team conducted multiple inspections to ensure the project was completed in accordance with the approved Program of Works (POWs) and plans. He emphasized that the Gebulwangan Bridge is among the best-implemented project in the district, and serves as a permanent solution to the residents’ long-standing transportation challenges and hazardous river crossings especially during inclement weather.
In her acceptance message, Mayor Dianne E. Rosales urged the residents and barangay officials to help in maintaining the said project.
“Laum ko nga an aton mga opisyales ngan mga residente magburubligay pag-ataman sine nga proyekto,para diri la yana kundi tubtob pa sa masunod nga mga henerasyon an magpulos sini” said Mayor Rosales.
Barangay Captain Dominador V. Senining also expressed his gratitude, stating that the bridge is a major help to residents in their daily routines, allowing them to travel more safely and conveniently.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DPWH sa pag-supervise nga waray pabay-i an project. Natapos ngan naimod san kadam-an nga matibay an pagkahimo. Nagagamit na ini labi na san iba pa nga mga barangays nga adto banda sa iraya nga nag-aagi sine nga tulay. Dako gud an amon pasalamat,” said Brgy. Captain Seneneng.
Meanwhile, former Congressman Paul R. Daza acknowledged everyone behind the project. “DAMO NGA SALAMAT sa ngatanan nga nagburublig para maging posible ngan maging realidad ine nga maiha na nga gin uungara nga proyekto san mulopyo labi na san mga tuminungnong san Barangays Gebulwangan, Quezon, Trangue, ngan Mabini.”
The Gebulwangan Bridge is a three-span Reinforced Concrete Deck Girder (RCDG) bridge, with a total length of 45 meters. It includes stone masonry slope protection, concrete blocks with painting, and steel sheet piles driven as foundation support to protect both abutments from scouring.
The inauguration was officiated with a blessing by Fr. Pax Maghacot Jr. and attended by several municipal and barangay officials, including former Representative Paul R. Daza.
