DOJ warned vs. special plates abuse
DON'T abuse the privilege of using commemorative plates.
This was the reminder given to personnel and officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the proper use of the commemorative plates in their vehicles.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima recently issued a department circular...
Ombudsman suspends town’s traffic official
THE anti-graft office has suspended for a month without pay a traffic official from San Remegio town, Cebu for his refusal to renew the franchise application of a tricycle driver in 2010.
Alfred Yann Oguis, graft investigation and prosecution officer, found Cornelio Saberon, officer-in-...
3,852 cases filed vs. local officials: Ombud
LOCAL government units (LGUs) topped the list of state agencies with the most number of cases filed with the Office of the Ombudsman last year.
The ombudsman’s Finance and Management Information Office reported that about 3,852 cases were filed against local government officials...
Show up, or else
CHIEF Justice Renato Corona will have one last chance to answer accusations against him today.
If he fails to show up for cross-examination, Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile warned that the Senate will strike from the records the three-hour opening statement that the chief justice...
Police file charges vs. boxing promoter
A PERJURY charge was filed against Cebuano boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud for allegedly making an untruthful statement when he registered as a voter of Cordova town, Cebu.
Chief Insp. Alvin Balio, Cordova Police Station officer-in-charge, filed the complaint before the Municipal...
10 persons charged in Carcar murder
THE Office of the Carcar City Prosecutor has filed a murder case against 10 people in connection with the shooting of the son of Carcar City Mayor Nicerio Apura.
At least four witnesses have executed their affidavits pointing to Jaybhoy Lauron as the one who shot Carl Vinson in the head...
Ombud indicts councilor for ‘mauling’ teenager
THE anti-graft office has indicted a village councilor from Minglanilla for allegedly mauling a teenager who picked mangoes inside the public school premises in 2005.
Portia Pacquiao-Suson, graft investigation and prosecution officer, found evidence to hold, Eleno Ong, Linao, Minglanilla...
Court gives Luz fire victims time
CONCERNED about how residents are coping after a fire last May 11, a judge postponed the demolition of 32 families’ houses in Barangay Luz, Cebu City for least 15 days.
Judge Ramon Daomilas also told court sheriff Joseph Olmedo to consult officials of Barangay Luz and the homeowners’...
Ass’t fiscal Acosta appointed new judge of RTC Branch 9
THE Regional Trial Court Branch 9 in Cebu City will have a new judge.
More than two years after the post was left vacant, Cebu City Assistant Prosecutor Alexander Acosta was appointed presiding judge of the RTC Branch 9.
Acosta, who is the resident prosecutor of RTC Branch 58, said...
Fiscals dabble in food, resorts, SALNs reveal
ALTHOUGH his net worth dropped by about P19 million last year, Cebu Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Ferdinand Collantes remained the wealthiest among 49 prosecutors in the city and province.
Collantes reported P61.3 million as his net worth in his statement of assets, liabilities and net...
Plea to stop release of pork barrel to lawmakers junked
THE Supreme Court (SC) struck down an attempt by a lawyers’ group that sought to stop the release of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), widely known as “pork barrel,” to lawmakers.
In its petition, the group cited alleged misuse of allocations via kickbacks given by favored...
‘82 dollar accounts’ ramp up pressure on CJ to testify
THE allegation that Chief Justice Renato Corona moved millions of dollars across 82 accounts in the last eight years can be “very damaging” and heightens pressure on him to testify.
“Like most of us, I am hoping that he will testify because he has a lot to explain and he owes it to the...
Guard killed lawyer: court
CEBU CITY -- He stood, head bowed, in front of the judge for almost an hour. But when the interpreter announced the court has found him guilty of the murder of lawyer Richard Sison, former security guard Nemuel Sumabong dropped to his knees and wept.
“Inosente intawon ko judge, oy (Judge...
Order to get Ecleo stands
EFFORTS to stop the arrest of Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. failed, after his parricide conviction became final. Now it’s just a matter of finding him.
Judge Soliver Peras of the Cebu Regional Trial Court Branch 10 denied the notice of appeal filed by Ecleo’s lawyers, after the...
Recantations, pleadings delay cases: lawyer
THE country has been criticized for its alleged failure to investigate and prosecute cases of unexplained killings and enforced disappearances.
But for a government prosecutor, who handles two cases of extrajudicial killings (EJK) in the country, the delay in the resolution of cases is...
Can judge’s move help serve justice?
IF HE inhibits himself, are the ends of justice served?
The lawyer of lot claimant Mariano Godinez posed this question in a pleading he filed in court asking Judge Soliver Peras to continue handling the petition involving the destruction of 168 houses in Barangay Apas, Cebu City.
“...
More cases disposed of in Cebu City
THE disposal of cases by the 22 trial courts in Cebu City went up 12 percent, from 5,134 cases in 2010 to 5,780 cases in 2011.
The records section of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) showed that pending cases also went up by 326, from 10,025 cases at the end of 2010 to 10,351 cases in 2011...
9 of 10 Pinoys ‘don’t bribe their officials’
ABOUT nine of 10 Filipinos do not pay bribes or grease money when transacting business with government agencies, the Office of the Ombudsman said.
Citing its own survey commissioned nationwide on the Filipinos’ experience of bureaucracy in government, the anti-graft body said only 10...
Court junks Ecleo’s appeal, cites his absence, failure to surrender
JUDGE Soliver Peras denied the appeal of Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. to reverse his conviction of parricide, the prosecution lawyers confirmed yesterday.
Kit Enriquez and Fritz Quiñanola said that Peras, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 10, struck down Ecleo’s...
SC fines, suspends clerk of court of Bogo for 6 months without pay
THE Supreme Court (SC) suspended for six months an employee of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in Bogo City over the delayed remittance of fiduciary fund collections in 1995.
The high court found Estrella Nini, MTCC clerk of court, guilty of gross neglect of duty.
Change in judges delays relief for owner: lawyer
THE inhibition of Judge Soliver Peras Jr. from hearing the case on the disputed lot involving 168 houses in Barangay Apas, Cebu City puts claimant Mariano Godinez at a disadvantage, his lawyer said yesterday.
“This latest development puts the other party at an advantage and we are at the...
Judge lets go of Apas dispute
JUDGE Soliver Peras Jr. inhibited himself yesterday from hearing the case of about 168 families from Barangay Apas, Cebu City whose houses stand to be demolished.
Peras, the pairing judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 9, cited “personal reasons” for wanting to be released from...
Judge won’t budge on decision
JUDGE Manuel Patalinghug yesterday stood by his decision not to hear the petition filed by a mother whose daughter was barred from attending her graduation for posting “obscene” photos on Facebook.
“My order on that matter remains as is. It’s up to another court to hear the motion for...
Apas gets a break
THERE will be no destruction of about 168 houses in Barangay Apas, Cebu City, at least for the next three days. Judge Soliver Peras ordered two police officials to comment on the court sheriff’s request for police assistance in enforcing a writ of demolition. This also gave the residents a brief...
Volunteer prosecutors oppose appeal: ‘Ecleo has lost right’
FOR failing to appear during his promulgation last April 13, parricide convict Ruben Ecleo Jr. has lost his right to appeal his conviction, the volunteer prosecutors said.
In their notice of opposition to the notice of appeal, prosecution lawyers Kit Enriquez, Alfredo Sipalay, Fritz Quiñ...
