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.

(HALLEBERT FRANCIS S. HIPE, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

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.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– A robbery at the Grandtours Terminal in Catbalogan City on Saturday evening, March 28, escalated into a violent shootout, leaving two suspects dead, one injured, authorities reported.

The incident occurred around 7:35 p.m. in Barangay 3, just meters from the Catbalogan City Police Station. Police, who were nearby preparing for a checkpoint operation, immediately responded after hearing gunfire.

Initial investigation showed that three armed men entered the terminal’s cashier room, held up employees, and took cash and mobile phones. Terminal owners, identified as Jan, 39, and Mik, 34, monitored the situation via CCTV and pursued the suspects while armed, prompting an exchange of gunfire.

Two suspects, identified as Jer and Rob, were shot during the confrontation and rushed to Samar Provincial Hospital. Jer was declared dead on arrival, with a .45-caliber firearm, P15,480 in cash, and a mobile phone recovered.

Rob sustained gunshot wounds and remains hospitalized; authorities recovered a bladed weapon and clothing used in the crime.

The third suspect, alias “Ado,” initially escaped but was tracked down early Sunday, March 29, along the national highway near Barangay Lagundi in Calbiga.

When confronted, he allegedly fired at police, resulting in a shootout that left him dead upon arrival at the hospital. Ado is reportedly a resident of Pangasinan, according to Rob.
Police confirmed that officers were already in the area for a separate operation, allowing them to respond quickly. A Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team processed the site, and authorities are investigating the suspects’ possible links to other crimes in the region.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)