PALO, Leyte: At least 28 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) were released from detention in Leyte jail facilities on Wednesday in time for the New Year.   These PDLs were detained in the provincial jail in Kauswagan village of this town and sub-provincial jails in Baybay City and Hilongos town.   Provincial jail warden Lt. Col. Joselito Villas said all PDLs released from prison passed the criteria as reviewed by members of the Leyte management, screening and evaluation committee.   “They are ready to return to the community, spend the New Year with the loved ones, and become productive after

CEBU CITY: Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Tuesday underscored the commitment of Cebu law enforcers in implementing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s more holistic campaign against illegal drugs.   Abalos, who spoke during a command visit at the Regional Police Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. here, urged the members of the local police to publicly emphasize the adherence to the rule of law and the five pillars of justice as bases of the government in the fight against drugs.   Allowing drug personalities to thrive in communities will have deplorable consequences on children who,

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga: Governor Dennis Pineda on Tuesday ordered local chief executives in the province to ban “e-sabong” or online cockfighting operations, particularly the unlicensed and illegal ones.   In his memorandum, Pineda directed the local government unit (LGU) officials to strictly implement the banning of e-sabong, which, he said, has victimized and corrupted some “cabalen” or residents of the province.   “It has come to the attention of this office that despite the suspension by the national government of online/e-sabong operations, unlicensed and illegal online cockfighting operations are still being conducted by some unscrupulous individuals/groups and that

MANILA: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday reported the arrest of a South Korean fugitive wanted by authorities in Seoul for supposedly engaging in telecommunications fraud.   Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the foreigner as Byun Jonghyun, 40, who was arrested by operatives from the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City on Dec. 18.   The Korean will be deported immediately as an order for his summary deportation was issued by the BI board of commissioners last September.   He was placed on the immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the Philippines for being an undesirable

MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said no indiscriminate firing was reported among police officers but an investigation is ongoing on three related incidents purportedly by civilians.   PNP spokesperson, Col. Jean Fajardo, said while there were no immediate reports of any indiscriminate firing during the eve and on Christmas day itself, they are investigating those that occurred days before the said events.   “Sa ngayon, walang report na nagpaputok (from PNP officers). Although may report ng illegal discharge and accidental firing na tatlo na sibilyan. Sila ang na-report na illegal discharge of firearms bago mag-bisperas at mismong

MANILA: The Senate has found more ways to promote the indigenous sector with the ultimate aim to promote equal rights.   Senator Francis Tolentino wants military and police academies to appropriate at least 10 percent of their slots to indigenous peoples’ (IP) under Senate Bill (SB) No. 1586 or the “Katutubong Tagapagtanggol” Act.   The bill recognizes and promotes the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of indigenous cultural communities and IPs and ensure that they are afforded their rights, protections and privileges with regard to recruitment and employment.   It mandates the Philippine Military Academy and Philippine National