ORMOC CITY-Five large blue plastic barrels containing medicine were temporarily placed at the local police station in Babatngon, Leyte after they were recovered and turned over by residents to authorities in Sitio Monbon, Barangay District-1 of said town.
According to police, alias “Niño,” a married official of Brgy. District-1, reported that residents of the barangay informed them of the discovery of the large blue barrels floating in the area.
At around 9:30 am on December 12, alias “Niño” appeared at the Babatngon Municipal Police Station (MPS) to report the discovery of the barrels by one of his constituents at Sitio Monbon, Brgy. District-1.
The local police immediately proceeded to the location to verify the report and conduct an investigation. Upon arrival, responding officers confirmed the presence of the blue barrels.
Initial investigations revealed that, according to residents, the barrels were seen floating in the sea around 8:00 pm on December 11, during the flood.
The residents, driven by curiosity, retrieved the barrels. Upon inspection, the barrels were found to contain medicines labeled as ascorbic acid zinc plus, with a paper description attached to the containers. The blue drums were placed under the custody of Barangay District-1 officials, who immediately informed the Rural Health Unit (RHU) for proper disposition.
The following day, Dec.13, at about 8:00 am, the RHU requested security assistance from Babatngon MPS personnel, accompanied by the Babatngon LGU, to temporarily transfer the barrels to the police station for inventory and safekeeping prior to their disposal.
The barrels are still at the Babatngon police while authorities await the owners to come forward.
(ROBERT DEJON)
