Camp Ruperto K Kangleon, Palo, Leyte  - the incumbent Municipal mayor of Gandara, Samar identified as, Antonieto T Cabuenos, 57 years old, was arrested by the police at one of the all points bulletin checkpoints (APB) by the Samar Police Provincial Office.

Mayor Antonieto T. Cabuenos was arrested infront of the Sta Margarita Police Station at Bgy Cautod, Sta. Margarita, Samar at around 3:30 pm, august 18, 2010 by the elements of Sta Margarita Police Station under PSINSP Angelo Pueblos by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel F Torrevillas of Regional Trial Court Branch 23, Allen, Samar for criminal case number a-2564 in violation of the omnibus election code.

It could be recalled that Mayor Antonieto T Cabuenos was arrested by the police at the checkpoint in Lavesarez, Northern Samar Province on February 2, 2010 at around 2:45pm  with three unauthorized armed escorts identified as PO3 Jonathan Rama, PO3 Edgar Delector, and PO2 Perfecto Merilles of  Gandara Police Station who are now under the custody of the Police Regional Office 8.

Mayor Cabuenos is reportedly the maintainer of the Moloboco Partisan Armed Group responsible for the series of politically motivated killings in Calbayog City and other adjacent municipalities.

The arrested Mayor was immediately turned over on 4:00 p.m of same date to the Chief Of Police of Gandara, Samar identified as INSP Jovie Espinido for appropriate procedural documentation.

Subsequently, Mayor Cabuenos was able to post bail in the amount of php 80,000.00 and was ordered released by Judge Reynaldo Clemens of the Regional Trial Court Br 31 of Calbayog City at around 8:30 pm of August 18, 2010.

It could be recalled that Calbayog City and Gandara, Samar came into prominence due to the series of purported political killings and forced disappearances allegedly under the orders of Mayor Cabuenos and his political allies to the so-called partisan armed groups. These alleged crimes ushered in the Commission of Human Rights and Zenarosa Commission to conduct investigations in Calbayog and Catbalogan cities.

Relatedly, PSSUPT Pancho Adelberto M Hubilla reported that the Samar Police Provincial Office of Police Regional Office 8 under PCSUPT Arnold Revilla is now in the process of documenting all of the alleged political killings and forced disappearances and securing available witnesses for the purposes of filing criminal cases against identified suspects.

PCSUPT Revilla assured the community of Eastern Visayas that the police shall be consistently firm in enforcing the laws to protect the community.

Police Deputy Director General Jefferson Pattaui Soriano, Deputy Chief PNP for Administration, will formally install Police Chief Superintendent Revilla.

PCSUPT Revilla will replace Police Chief Superintendent Lañada, who will be assigned at the Directorate for Comptrollership, PNP National Headquarters.  To witness the said ceremony  are Police Director Abner Dayanan Cabalquinto,  PCSUPT Rommel DF Heredia           , PCSUPT Pedro P Desuasido Jr.          , PCSUPT Rizaldo A Tungala Jr., PCSUPT Reynaldo S Rafal,  PCSUPT Guillermo DC Paguio, PCSUPT Drusillo Clora Bolodo and PCSUPT Edwin I Corvera.

PCSUPT Revilla said that  under his leadership with the help and support of the community  he will continue the relentless anti-criminality campaign in  Region 8 to deter movements of lawless elements and conduct of intensified  information  drive  in order to maintain the peace and  tranquility of Eastern Visayas.

Furthermore,  he will support the implementation of the PNP Integrated Transformation Program

Camp Ruperto K Kangleon,Palo,Lleyte -           Police Deputy Director General Jefferson Pattaui Soriano, Deputy Chief PNP for Administration and Chief Supt Rey Laquihon Lañada, Regional Director, will formally present today bricks of cocaine from Police Regional Office 8.

He said that more than P557, 500, 000.00 worth of cocaine or a total of 111.5 bricks were recovered and/or confiscated by government authorities, particularly the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), members of Regional Intelligence  Division during intensified crack down against the illegal substance.

To recall, concerted retrieval efforts were conducted by the Provincial Directors of Eastern and Northern Samar PPOs, PDEA RO8, 14^th Alpha Coy PA and 52^nd IB Delta Coy PA, K9 units from Philippine Coast Guard, PDEA and concerned local government units  in their respective provinces  to recover said cocaine.

On December 28, 2009, a total of two hundred eighteen (218) bricks of cocaine were recovered along the shorelines of the Municipalities of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar, and it was  turned over by  PCSUPT Mario Rupinta Sandiego, then RD, PRO 8 to Julius R. Navales, Officer-In-Charge, PDEA 8 at the conference room, PRO 8.

Today, another 111.5 of said substance recovered for the period June to July 2010 will be presented by PCSUPT Lañada  for a total of 227 bricks of cocaine worth Php 1,135,000,000.00  recovered during his incumbency.

In summing up, a total of 451.821 kilograms of cocaine were recovered/surrendered amounting to p 2,259,105,000.00 at p5,000,000.00 per kilogram/brick as per the prevailing market value of dangerous drugs (cocaine) provided by Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) and PDEA.

With this, PCSUPT Lañada stressed that continuous coordination by this office with the AIDSOTF and PDEA 8 is being made for the recovery of other bricks of cocaine that may be possibly still in the possession of local folks in Eastern and Northern Samar. Thus, he is encouraging the people to report any hoarding of these bricks  immediately to the authorities.    In fact, the PNP AIDSOTF is offering one thousand pesos, and PDEA 8 is offering one (1) sack of rice in exchange for each brick being returned to the hands of the law.  Furthermore, he urge everyone to do his or her part so this cocaine that reached our shores may destroy the lives and future of our constituents.

Presently, surveillance and monitoring of those who are in the watch list and target list is being implemented.  The local populace are constantly being reminded of the consequences of dealing with these unscrupulous individuals.

Camp Ruperto K Kangleon, Palo, Leyte  - a total of  103 bricks of cocaine valued at Php  515,000,000.00 were recovered by the combined efforts of various law enforcement agencies of the government: the members of Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force Team, Regional Intelligence Division, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 8,  K9 Team of Philippine Coast Guard, Borongan  City Police  Station among others, under the strict supervision of Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Rey Laquihon Lañada. 

Lañada said that we are firmly implementing “Oplan Coke”, intensifying our campaign  against illegal drugs .  In fact, I am encouraging the concerned citizens in Samar through meetings and local media interviews to surrender, to report or give information about the cocaine that were washed ashore in the coast of Eastern Samar; least they will be arrested if they will be caught selling any illegal drugs they have recovered and the case that would be filed against them is non-bailable, he added.

Moreover, he assures the public that the PNP will be giving a monetary reward and a sack of rice from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 8 for every brick of cocaine turned over to PNP.

A brick of cocaine is estimated to be one kilo and cost P5 million each.

Camp Ruperto K Kangleon, Palo, Leyte  - After two days of ongoing monitoring and search operation and its drive against illegal drugs conducted by the members of Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force Team, Regional Intelligence Division, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 8, K9 team of Philippine Coast Guard, Borongan  City Police  Station and Salcedo Municipal Police Station, this led to the recovery  of Eighteen (18) more bricks of cocaine.  Hence,   PCSUPT REY LAQUIHON LAÑADA, Regional Director, is very much thankful to the all-out support of the local residents in informing and surrendering to the police  of the said items.

With this Eighteen more bricks of cocaine were recovered today.

At around 8:30 in the  morning of July 21, 2010 at Brgy Divinubo, Borongan City,  Sixteen (16) more suspected cocaine were voluntary surrendered at Borongan Police Station: Fourteen (14) bricks by Edwin Doculan, 37 yrs old and two (2) bricks by Edgar Beros, 50 yrs old thru joint element of ESPPO, Borongan Station, AIDSOTF, RSOG and RID 8.

Meanwhile, at around 11:00 in the morning of the same day, two (2) bricks of cocaine were surrendered by Victor Gana of legal age, of Brgy Burak and Antonio Basilides Labay of  Brgy San Roque both of Salcedo ESamar.  Suspected cocaine was surrendered thru the joint effort of Salcedo Municipal Police Station led by PI GILBERTO BOLIA COLIMA,  AIDSOTF, RID-

PRO8, K9 unit of Philippine Coast Guard and PDEA 8 under supervision of PSSUPT FELXBERTO M CASTILLO, PD ESPPO.  Said cocaine is now in the custody of Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office for subsequent turn over to PNP Crime Laboratory 8 for chemical analysis.

Relative to this, PCSUPT LAÑADA urged again the local residents not to sell any illegal drugs they might recover because if they are arrested, the case that would be filed against them is non-bailable, he added.

          The newly-installed Director, Directorate  for Integrated Police Operations-VISAYAS made a short but productive visit  recently.  On July 13, 2010 at around 6:45 o’clock in the morning, PCSUPT JAIME D CALUNGSUD JR, Acting Director, DIPO-Visayas and party arrived at DZR Airport, Tacloban City on board PAL flight and was met by PCSUPT REY L LAÑADA, RD PRO8 together with other officers.  After the warm reception at Airport VIP lounge, the group motored to PRO8.

          With the theme “Matatag na Pagkakaisa ng Pambansang Pulisya at Mamamayan tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kaunlaran” Police Regional Office 8 headed by PCSUPT REY LAQUIHON LAÑADA, Regional Director spearheaded a blood letting activity in coordination with the Regional Health Service8 personnel and Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Tacloban City Blood Bank staff on July 12, 2010 at around 9:00 o’clock in the morning at Pro8  Grandstand, Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo, leyte. .

          Camp Ruperto K Kangleon, Palo, Leyte  - The chief of the Philippine National Police, Director General Jesus A Verzosa  is set to conduct and grace the C,PNP’s Legacy Run & Transformation Roadmap 2016 on June 9, 2010 at Zumarraga, Samar .  This has been disclosed by Police Regional Director Rey Laquihon Lañada. He said that this has been initiated due to the fact that the Chief PNP has been inspired by the success of the 2nd round of the PNP Transformation Caravan that culminated on March 29, 2010 and the successful conduct of the 2010 National and Local Elections.