TACLOBAN CITY – Candidates across Eastern Visayas officially launched their local campaigns on Friday, March 28, starting with Holy Masses before engaging in house-to-house visits, motorcades, and proclamation rallies.

In Tacloban City, reelectionist Mayor Alfred Romualdez and his slate began their campaign with a motorcade from Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport, passing through the downtown area and heading toward the northern part of the city.

Ferdinand Martin “Marty” Romualdez Jr., son of House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, went on a house-to-house campaign, personally introducing himself to voters. He is vying for a seat in the city council, while his brother, Andrew Julian Romualdez, is the first nominee of the Tingog party-list. This marks the first electoral run for both siblings.

Meanwhile, Speaker Romualdez held a meeting with mayors from Leyte’s 1st District, including Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, mother of Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.
The younger Petilla, a former political rival of the Romualdezes, is seeking a second term as governor unopposed.

In Southern Leyte, Governor Damian Mercado and his brother, Roger Mercado, who is running for congressman, also attended a Mass before launching their campaign.
In Samar, reelectionist Governor Sharee Ann Tan joined the proclamation rally of Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy and his slate.

Borongan City, Eastern Samar, also saw a major campaign kickoff as reelectionist Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda and his team held their proclamation rally.

Some other key candidates in the region opted for a low-key start to their campaigns, either planning rallies over the weekend or maintaining a minimal campaign presence due to a lack of strong opponents.

The first day of the campaign period was also marked by “Operation Baklas,” an initiative led by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to remove campaign materials placed outside designated areas.

Comelec-8 legal officer Atty. Ma. Krishna Athena Elardo warned candidates that violations could lead to disqualification.

“Of course, due process will be observed,” she assured.

(JOEY A. GABIETA, ROEL T.AMAZONA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

ORMOC CITY-A barangay chairman is currently recuperating in a hospital after surviving a shooting incident on Sunday morning, March 23, at Purok 2, Barangay Sinidman Occidental, Oquendo District, Calbayog City.

Authorities identified the victim as alias “Rom,” 50, married, and the incumbent chairman of Brgy. Sinidman Occidental.

The suspect, identified as alias “Rene,” 50, unemployed, and a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Sinidman Occidental, was reportedly accompanied by an unidentified male during the attack.

According to the Calbayog City Police Station (CPS), they received information from PEMS Erwin Beso, Oquendo PCP Commander, regarding the shooting incident at around 11:30 am.

The victim had already been rushed to St. Camillus Hospital when police arrived to verify the report and conduct an investigation.

Authorities disclosed that the motive behind the attack was a personal grudge. Fortunately, the barangay chairman was in stable condition during the police interview at the hospital.
Meanwhile, Calbayog police launched a hot pursuit operation to track down the suspect, and charges of frustrated murder are being prepared against him.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A 39-year-old woman was arrested for engaging in illegal ‘swertres’ operations during an anti-illegal gambling operation conducted by the San Roque Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Northern Samar Provincial Police Office on Friday, March 21, at around 6:30 pm in Purok 10, Barangay Bantayan, San Roque in Northern Samar.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Elsie,” a housewife and resident of Brgy. Bantayan.
Authorities seized the following items from the suspect’s possession: P1,471 in cash of various denominations, believed to be proceeds from the illegal numbers game; one small green pouch; one black ballpen; six betting sheets; 10 stub lotto result sheets dated March 20, 2025; and two stub lotto result sheets dated March 17, 2025.

The suspect, together with the confiscated evidence, was taken to the San Roque Municipal Police Station for proper documentation and legal proceedings.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A ‘habal-habal’ driver was apprehended in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of the Biliran Provincial Police Office and the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the local police on Monday, March 24, at around 8:29 pm in Blk 1, lot 38, Cool Mont Crest, Barangay Caneja, Naval, Biliran.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Arnold,” 48, and a resident of Barangay Villa Caneja.
During the operation, an undercover operative successfully purchased one sachet of suspected shabu from the suspect for P500. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of required witnesses, led to the recovery of two additional sachets containing a white crystalline substance, also suspected to be shabu and a marked P500 bill used in the transaction.

Authorities have yet to determine the total weight and estimated value of the confiscated illegal drugs, pending verification by the Regional Forensic Unit (RFU) 8.

The suspect was informed of his constitutional rights in a language he understood. Charges for violations of Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) have been filed against him at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

He is currently detained at the Naval Municipal Police Station’s lock-up cell, awaiting further legal proceedings.

(ROBERT DEJON)