ORMOC CITY– A 28-year-old unemployed man was caught in a police buy-bust operation on Thursday afternoon, March 27, adding to local authorities’ efforts to curb illegal drug activity in Baybay City.
The suspect, identified only as alias “John”, a single resident of Brgy. Mailhi of said city, was listed in the local police drug watchlist as a street-level personality. The City Drug Enforcement Team (CDET) apprehended him around 2:19 p.m. on March 26 in Brgy. Mailhi.
Authorities recovered a sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, which had been purchased by an undercover operative for P500. A body search conducted in the presence of court-mandated witnesses also yielded the same bill used in the operation.
The suspect was immediately informed of his arrest and his constitutional rights in a language he understood. He is now temporarily detained at the Baybay City Police Station’s lockup.
Charges for violations of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) have been filed with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office, and the investigation is ongoing.
MAASIN CITY — A 37-year-old man, identified only as alias “Alfy,” was arrested Tuesday afternoon in a buy-bust operation conducted by the City Drug Enforcement Team in Brgy. Bilibol, Maasin City.
Police recovered three sachets of suspected shabu from the suspect, purchased by an undercover operative for P1,000. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, also yielded a P1,000 marked bill, P200 in cash, P48 in coins, and a blue lighter. The exact weight of the suspected drugs will be confirmed by the Regional Forensic Unit 8 (RFU8).
Lt.Col. Jason Balbarona, city police chief, said the suspect, a single, unemployed resident of Brgy. Bilibol, was informed of his arrest and read his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Charges for violation of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law Against Illegal Drugs of 2002, have been filed with the City Prosecutor’s Office, and the suspect is temporarily detained at the Maasin City Police Station’s locked cell.
TACLOBAN CITY — Police in Eastern Visayas arrested two high-value drug suspects while another individual voluntarily surrendered amid intensified anti-illegal drug operations on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) said the operations were carried out as part of the continuing campaign of the Philippine National Police to curb illegal drug activities in the region.
In Tacloban City, joint operatives from the city police’s Drug Enforcement Unit and the Regional Special Operations Unit 8 arrested alias “Kerby,” 39, a self-employed resident. Authorities seized four sachets of suspected shabu weighing 2.4 grams, with an estimated value of P16,320.
In a separate buy-bust operation in Guiuan, alias “Mark,” 38, an internet installer, was apprehended by joint elements of the local police, the Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Confiscated from him were seven sachets of suspected shabu weighing 1.66 grams, valued at P11,288.
Meanwhile, in Borongan City, alias “Rod,” 42, a government employee, voluntarily surrendered to police following a house-to-house visitation campaign. He executed an affidavit expressing willingness to cooperate and provide information on illegal drug activities.
PRO-8 Regional Director B/Gen Jason Capoy said the operations highlight the dual approach of enforcement and community engagement in addressing the drug problem, emphasizing that authorities will continue to target drug personalities while encouraging voluntary surrender and rehabilitation.
All confiscated items were marked and inventoried in accordance with standard procedures. The arrested suspects are now under police custody and will face charges for violating Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
TACLOBAN CITY — Police authorities in Eastern Visayas have created a special task force and intensified region-wide monitoring to address fuel supply concerns and prevent illegal activities such as hoarding, smuggling, and overpricing.
The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8), led by Regional Director B/Gen.Jason Capoy, began heightened monitoring operations on March 10, 2026 to ensure the proper distribution of petroleum products across the region.
On March 11, PRO-8 also strengthened inter-agency coordination through a meeting of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee 8 (RLECC-8) at Camp Kangleon in Palo, Leyte. The meeting led to the creation of Special Task Force “GASOLINA,” which is tasked to intensify enforcement efforts against fuel-related violations.
The task force aims to provide a unified and rapid response to fuel security concerns, while strengthening oversight of petroleum distribution in Eastern Visayas.
As part of the initiative, PRO-8 has coordinated with the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and local government units (LGUs) to conduct joint inspections of fuel stations, depots, and distribution facilities to ensure compliance with existing laws and regulations.
Police units have also increased their presence in critical fuel infrastructures, including oil depots, pipelines, refineries, and major distribution hubs. Authorities are likewise conducting intensified checkpoint operations and intelligence-driven monitoring to prevent the illegal transport and entry of petroleum products into the region.
PRO-8 said it is also closely tracking fuel prices to deter unauthorized increases and profiteering, while ensuring that hoarding does not occur and that the “Direct-to-Tank” policy is strictly enforced.
LGU Tourism Officers Pitch Investment-Ready Projects – Tourism and investment officers from Eastern Visayas present their proposals during the Investor Pitching Session of the DOT’s Tourism Investment Training Series held on March 26–27 at Aviore Hotel, Tacloban City. The municipality of Arteche was recognized as the top awardee for its “PAGTIPIG: From Poachers to Keepers Program,” highlighting sustainable, community-centered environmental tourism. The session aimed to help LGUs develop competitive investment portfolios and attract potential investors to the region. (DOT-EASTERN VISAYAS FACEBOOK)
LGU Tourism Officers Pitch Investment-Ready Projects – Tourism and investment officers from Eastern Visayas present their proposals during the Investor Pitching Session of the DOT’s Tourism Investment Training Series held on March 26–27 at Aviore Hotel, Tacloban City. The municipality of Arteche was recognized as the top awardee for its “PAGTIPIG: From Poachers to Keepers Program,” highlighting sustainable, community-centered environmental tourism. The session aimed to help LGUs develop competitive investment portfolios and attract potential investors to the region. (DOT-EASTERN VISAYAS FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY – Local government units (LGUs) across Eastern Visayas are now better equipped to attract investors after the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the region concluded its Tourism Investment Training Series with an Investor Pitching Session, aimed at helping LGUs develop investment-ready tourism projects.
The final workshop, “Tourism Investment Portfolio Development and Project Packaging,” was held on March 26–27 at Aviore Hotel.
Tourism and investment officers from all six provinces participated in the two-day program designed to boost the region’s competitiveness as a tourism investment destination.
Facilitator John Paulo Rivera highlighted the need to bridge the gap between tourism and investment promotion. “Tourism officers are learning a new language, but investment officers already speak it. Understanding this dynamic allows LGUs to better market their projects to potential investors,” he said.
The training focused on developing competitive investment portfolios, packaging high-impact projects, and aligning proposals with marketability and investor expectations.
A key highlight was the Investor Pitching Session, where 23 LGUs presented proposals to a panel of evaluators, receiving technical feedback for potential funding and partnerships.
Panelists Professor Michael Angelo Cortez of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and Dr. Marla Sudario of the University of the Philippines lauded the quality and financial viability of the proposals. Cortez noted, “These projects are ready for investment; they just need the right investors who believe in the region’s potential.”
The municipality of Arteche emerged as the top awardee with its “PAGTIPIG: From Poachers to Keepers Program,” recognized for sustainability and community-centered environmental tourism. Arteche also received the Strategic Communication Excellence Award for best presentation.
Other top performers included the Province of Samar, Lavezares, Province of Northern Samar, and Ormoc City.
Arteche’s proposal will be featured in the Eastern Visayas Tourism Investment Portfolio, the country’s first regional portfolio of its kind, and showcased at local and international investment forums.
With the training series concluded, DOT expects participating LGUs to be more capable of developing, packaging, and pitching tourism projects, further positioning Eastern Visayas as an attractive investment destination.
TACLOBAN CITY – Tacloban City is set to play a key role in the upcoming 2026 United States–Philippines Balikatan Exercise, one of the largest joint military drills in the region, the 8th Infantry Division (8th ID) confirmed.
While the 8th ID will not directly engage in combat training during the exercises, Division Public Affairs Office Chief, Cpt. Christopher Tataro, said the unit will provide logistical and operational support to the participating forces.
“This year’s Balikatan goes beyond traditional combat exercises,” Cpt. Tataro explained. “It will also include humanitarian missions and joint disaster response training, underscoring the broad scope of cooperation between our forces.”
Preparations are already underway.
Last week, several U.S. military aircraft landed at Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport in Tacloban in advance of the exercises scheduled from April to May.
The 2026 Balikatan marks a return to the Eastern Visayas for some activities.
In 2017, soldiers involved in the exercises conducted humanitarian projects in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and Ormoc City, repairing schools and infrastructure damaged by typhoons.
According to Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr., this year’s Balikatan will be the largest to date, reflecting both an increase in participating troops and a broader array of activities. The drills will cover disaster response, noncombatant evacuation, cyber defense, and even space-related operations.
A notable development this year is the active participation of Japan Self-Defense Forces’ combat-capable units, marking the first time they will take part as full participants rather than observers. Brawner said this trilateral cooperation represents a “significant shift in regional dynamics,” as former adversaries work together amid growing geopolitical tensions.
The inclusion of humanitarian, cyber, and space-focused exercises highlights Balikatan’s evolution from a purely military drill into a comprehensive platform for regional security, disaster preparedness, and multilateral collaboration.
