Congress terminates Reyes's investigations

CONGRESS has terminated its inquiry into former Armed Forces chief of staff Angelo Reyes Tuesday night and is now leaving it to the Senate to continue investigations against military generals allegedly involved in the military fund mess.

Municipal 'econ enterprise' eyed

ABOUT P3.5 million has been set aside for various livelihood projects in the municipal towns of Lagonglong and Sugbongcogon, all in Misamis Oriental, this year, Representative Pedro Unabia said on Tuesday.

243 nurses to be deployed in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

SOME 243 nurses will be deployed to rural and far-flung areas in 28 identified municipalities and cities in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro on Monday.

Reyes's death saddens Misamis Oriental

LOCAL government and military officials in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro were shocked and saddened by the death of former Defense secretary Angelo Reyes Tuesday morning.

The Army's 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City, through its commander Major General Victor Felix, expressed sadness over Reyes's death and extended its condolences to the ex-general's family.

Bill to establish institute of good governance filed

TWO Cagayan de Oro lawmakers filed House Bill 3350 seeking to establish the Northern Mindanao Institute for Good Governance as training center for regional directors and managers of various government agencies.

The institute aims to produce a new breed of dynamic and proactive leaders and managers of government-owned and controlled corporations, as well as heads of financial and educational institutions.

'Ilaw ng Kapayapaan' for peace in Mindanao

ILIGAN CITY -- Dubbed as "Ilaw sa Kapayapaan" (Light for Peace), thousands of candles were simultaneously lighted in various military camps in Lanao provinces on Tuesday evening.

House set on fire in honor of dead woman's wish

A 31-YEAR-OLD man set a house on fire along Gumamela Extension in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, Monday afternoon, allegedly to grant a dead woman's wish.

"The dead old woman whispered to me to burn the house to show people around on what it takes to be in hell," Pedro Aranas, of Bakusanon, Pangantukan, Bukidnon, told fire investigators.

'Peace time' at Misamis Oriental Provincial Council

THE storm was weathered during the fifth regular session Provincial Council Monday when legislators passed two resolutions leading to the implementation of the approved P1.3 billion Appropriation Ordinance for Misamis Oriental.

The first resolution was for the enacted 2011 Annual Appropriation Ordinance of Misamis Oriental to be forwarded and transmitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-Northern Mindanao for mandatory review.

Oro annual income at P1.8 billion

CAGAYAN de Oro City continues to enjoy the stability of its robust economy and vibrant business climate, with its 2010 annual income having reached P1.81 billion, up by P149.4 million from 2009's P1.65 billion.

Armed men burn cargo truck in Bukidnon

AROUND 20 armed men in combat uniforms torched a company cargo truck in Barangay Palacapao, Quezon, Bukidnon, Sunday morning, reports reaching Sun.Star said Monday.

107 admin plaints vs cops recorded

THE People's Law Enforcement Board (Pleb) chaired by Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya has handled, to date, a total of 107 administrative complaints filed by residents against local policemen.

Senator pushes kindergarten law

IN THE coming school year, elementary schools may no longer accept Grade I enrollees who have not finished pre-schooling, as Representative Edgardo Sonny Angara (lone district Aurora) pushes for a mandatory kindergarten in the country.

Energy commission slams power firm’s rates petition

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) slammed the petition for power rates hike of the Cagayan de Oro Power and Light Company (Cepalco) during the initial public hearing held in Cagayan de Oro City Friday.   Cepalco has filed a P0.15 per kilowatt-hour increase with the ERC saying the power company needs power rates adjustment to buy more generators in order to render better services to its consumers here.

Rebel leader, wife surrender in Bukidnon

A REBEL couple surrendered Saturday to the military in South Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon, officials said.

The military identified the rebel leader as Arman Nanolan Banhan, who claimed to be a deputy secretary of the South Eastern Command 89 and a platoon leader of Sangay sa Partido sa Platoon based in Bukidnon. His wife Hayna Hinlayan Andao was the medical officer of the same command.

Army denies 'loyalty check'

CAMP EVANGELISTA -- A top military official denied Friday reports of an alleged "loyalty check" in the Armed Forces due to demoralization among the rank-and-file in light of the exposé of a multi-million "send-off gift" for retiring Generals.

Major General Victor A. Felix, commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said soldiers at the local level are not affected with the alleged controversy involving multi-million peso send-offs to retiring high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

City fire department lacks personnel, fire trucks

THE Cagayan de Oro City Fire Department needs at least 200 personnel and 24 fire trucks to effectively and efficiently respond to fire incidents.

Creation of 'Bantay turista' mulled

THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) is looking into creating a special unit tasked to ensure the safety of tourists coming to the City of Golden Friendship.

City Police Director Benedicto Lopez said "Bantay Turista" (Tourist Watch) is necessary as the city's tourist attractions are booming.

Two suspected pushers nabbed

POLICE arrested a widow and a jobless person on Thursday as law enforcers stepped up their campaign against suspected drug pushers in Cagayan de Oro City.

Police identified the suspects as Akino Itomama Kandedato, 30, jobless, of Kauswagan and a native of Lanao del Sur, and Emon Daturomampat, 40, a widow residing in Barangay 13, Sto. Niño, both in Cagayan de Oro City.

Health measures adopted to reduce maternal risks

HEALTH officials in Cagayan de Oro City are now adopting programs to reduce the maternal mortality rate in the city.

Dr. Delia Ranilla, city health officer II, said the Philippines is one of the countries in Southeast Asia having the highest maternal mortality rate at 165 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

Disaster body reorganized

WITH the intermittent rains caused by the weather disturbance affecting the entire country, Cagayan de Oro City's disaster management officials have strengthened the city's response capabilities by reorganizing the local disaster body.

This developed after the newly organized Cagayan de Oro City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), headed by City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano as chairman, held its first meeting Friday at the Conference Room in the City Mayor's Office.

Gawad Kalinga distributes 17 houses

TRUE to their mission of leaving no one behind, the Couples for Christ Gawad Kalinga Misamis Oriental-Cagayan de Oro has turned over 17 units of houses to 17 families in La Paz 1 Seaside Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.

The 17 houses is the initial of the 35-unit community constructed with the assistance of the Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF) of Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District) Cagayan de Oro.

People living in disaster prone areas told to be vigilant

THE Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in Misamis Oriental on Thursday warned people living in disaster prone areas to be vigilant.

“Be vigilant. Watch the rivers and sea tides,” provincial vice Governor Norris Babiera, PDRRMC chair said, in the wake of almost every day rains expected to continue in the next two months.

Lawmaker urged students to watch ‘pork’ funds

SENATOR Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero exhorted students to account local Congressmen on their pork barrel.

Escudero was in Cagayan de Oro City recently as speaker of a student forum on leadership at downtown university here.

Gov’t hiring of nurses ends today

HIRING of unemployed registered nurses under the Registered Nurse for Health Enhancement and Local Service (RNHeals) ends Friday, the regional health department said.

RNHeals started recruitment of nurses last January 17, 2011 for deployment for various government hospitals and rural health centers in the various regions in the country.

Cagayan de Oro welcomes Chinese New Year

MEMBERS of the Misamis Oriental Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (MOFCCCII) welcomes the year of the metal rabbit with thanksgiving through their centuries old traditions on Thursday at a downtown mall here. The celebration started with a grand motorcade at 9 a.m. until participants reached the mall where dragon dance and throwing of candies and coins to shoppers became the central attraction.

PUJs can now collect additional P1.00 fare

PUBLIC utility jeep operators who applied for a P7.50 fare hike two years ago can now collect the new fare hike, the Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) regional office here said on Thursday.

LTFRB assistant regional director Allan D. Guro said LTFRB approved the P7.50 fare hike two years ago but the fare was roll back after fuel prices then went down.

Urban poor slams power rates hike

THE city’s committee on urban poor criticized organizers of Friday’s public hearing on power rate increase for choosing a restrictive venue.

City Councilor President Elipe, chair of the city council’s ad hoc committee, said Thursday that the public hearing will be at Searsolin along Masterson Avenue in Upper Carmen at 2 p.m. Friday.

P2.50 LPG price rollback implemented

A ROLLBACK in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pegged at P2.50 per kilogram was implemented Thursday.

Councilor Juan Sia, one of the oldest suppliers of LPG in the city, said a 14-kg tank of LPG now sells at P748, down from its previous price of P807 per tank.

Hearing on P0.50 power rates hike set

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in Cagayan de Oro will conduct a hearing on the application of the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company (Cepalco) to increase its power rates here by P0.50 per kilowatt hour.

The hearing, called by members of the City Council, is open to the public. It will take place tomorrow at the South-East Asia Rural Social Leadership (Searsolin), Father Mastersons Road in Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

2 wanted murder suspects collared

CITY police operatives arrested two suspects in separate occasions in Bukidnon and in Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental, for two separate killings.

City Police Director Benedicto Lopez identified the suspects as Ferdinand Sorre, 46, of Sitio Kolambugan, Barangay Danatag, Baungon, Bukidnon, and Rowe Sorre, Ferdinand's nephew.