City employees file motion vs Emano for indirect contempt

A LAWYER of three City Hall employees filed a motion to cite Cagayan deo Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano for defiance on the final decision of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to reinstate them back to their original designations.

In a five-page motion filed before the CSC, City Government workers Ricardo Valerio, Dennis Naive, and Melchor Luna asked the Commission to cite Emano for indirect contempt for his continued refusal to implement the CSC resolution.

Troops deployed in Caraga to help secure polls

BUTUAN CITY -- About 400 troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 (MBLT-3) have arrived here to help the Army’s 4thInfantry Division (4th ID) secure the May 13, 2013 national midterm and local elections.

Major General Nestor Añonuevo, 4th ID commander, said the Marines have set up their headquarters at Camp Bancasi here.

Summer Peace Festival 2013 kicks off today

THE Mindanao Summer Peace Festival 2013 (SPF13) is all set to kick off its Luna Musikalawaig Festival leg at Ki Bathala Gardens, Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro city, beginning today, April 26 and ends on 28.

With the objective to promote in Mindanao peace, art, local culture and eco tourism, the SPF13 will showcase in the mornings various art and musical workshops, and in the evenings, musical jam and concert with performances from local, national and international bands.

Guingonas receive threats anew

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Gingoog City mayoral candidate Marie Guingona said she received reports of renewed threats against her family for their defiance to adhere to election policies set by communist rebels.

Guingona’s mother, incumbent mayor Ruthie Guingona, survived an assault by the New People’s Army (NPA) on Saturday night in a hinterland barangay in Gingoog. Two of Ruthie’s bodyguard, Nestor and Bartolome Velasco, died protecting her. Two other escorts were wounded and are recovering in a hospital.

NDFP deplores Guingona incident

The negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and its consultants deplore the incident in which a unit of New People's Army (NPA) ambushed the convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie de Lara Guingona.

The NDFP negotiating panel, through its chairperson Luis Jalandoni, expressed its sympathy for Mayor Guingona and her entire family and wishes her the quickest recovery from her wounds and shock.

Camiguin's Pedro Romualdo dies

FLAGS have been flown at half-mast in Camiguin Island as its congressman and 1971 constitutional convention member Pedro Palarca Romualdo died on Wednesday morning at St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City. He was 77 years old.

The veteran lawmaker succumbed to pneumonia at 2:35 a.m., Camiguin provincial police commander Senior Superintendent Wilfredo Cayat said.

NPA renews threats vs multinational corporations

ILIGAN CITY -- Communist rebels have renewed threats of punitive strikes on multinational corporations (MNCs) in Mindanao as an expression of their “commitment in defending the environment.”

Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Mindanao, said the rebels will be “taking decisive action to thwart the wanton destruction caused by big foreign agribusiness and mining operations.”

Emano lashes at Moreno

REELECTIONIST Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano countered the verbal attacks of his political opponent in his campaign rally in Barangay 26 on Tuesday evening.

Emano slammed Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno who is running against him for mayor in the city by calling him a “bakbak” (frog), and “panuway” (devil).

Group urges Rufus to back Moreno

A CIVIL society group, Managsilingan Ta, convinced Representative Rufus Rodriguez (second district) to openly support Governor Oscar Moreno’s candidacy as mayor in the city in an open forum on Tuesday.

Members of the group expressed their sentiments and the need to change the leadership in Cagayan de Oro.

Police score drug pushers anew

CAGAYAN de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) Director Graciano Mijares announced Tuesday that they scored again in its bid to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city.

Mijares said Cocpo personnel apprehended two suspected drug pushers in Barangay Bayabas and confiscated six sachets of suspected shabu during Cocpo’s anti-illegal drugs campaign operation on Monday night.

Laguindingan Airport ready for operations in June

A BOEING 747 can even land in the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental when it starts operation on June 15, 2013.

Captain Harry Lero of the Asian Aerospace Inc. landed at the Laguindingan airport on Tuesday in a test flight and dry run of the airport’s facilities in preparation for the June opening.

NDFP urged to probe Gingoog city mayor shooting

SOWING the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao, a multi-sectoral group composed of all peace advocates in the island, reiterates the call of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. demanding for an investigation from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) on the armed confrontation that involved his wife Mayor Ruthie Guingona on April 20.

The incident resulted to the death of the mayor’s driver and bodyguard, wounding the mayor and two others onboard her vehicle.

Comelec: Gingoog City, area of immediate concern

AFTER the ambush of the convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona by the New People’s Army rebels, which injured her and killed two others, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Northern Mindanao declared Gingoog City “under immediate concern.”

Lawyer Noli Pipo, Comelec regional director, said additional police and military personnel will be deployed in the area to ensure the safe conduct of the May 2013 elections.

Army deployed to go after NPAs in MisOr

FOLLOWING the order of President Benigno Aquino III to go after the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who are setting up checkpoints in remote areas of Misamis Oriental, the military have started to deploy their forces to go after those responsible of the strafing of the vehicle of Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona on Saturday night.

Aquino, during the campaign sortie of the Liberal Party (LP) in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, said that the government will bring to justice the perpetrators of the open-fire clash.

Muslim, lumad throw support to Moreno

DISMAYED by the recent developments on the three public markets in the city particularly Cogon Market, the city’s Muslim and lumad communities on April 19 threw their support to mayoralty bet and incumbent Misamis Oriental governor Oscar Moreno with the signing of the “Covenant for Partnership” with local candidates of the Liberal Party.

Aquino warns use of 4Ps to get votes

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Monday warned politicians against using the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program to get voters’ support for the May elections.

Speaking before the Kagay-anon crowd at the Pelaez Sports Center during the proclamation rally of Governor Oscar Moreno and his running mates, Aquino urged voters to junk candidates who use the multi-billion cash dole-out program as a means to buy votes in the local level.

Acosta: Politics behind his warrant of arrest

FORMER Bukidnon representative Nereus Acosta (first district) believed that political harassment and vested interests were behind the revival of the perjury case issue against him and his mother Socorro.

Acosta is currently the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager, while Socorro is the town mayor of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Ex-VP Guingona to NPA: Sanction those behind the attack

DESPITE an apology coming from the communist rebels, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona said those responsible for the ambush of his wife, Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Gingona, on Saturday night should be held responsible and sanctioned by the revolutionary movement.

Guingona said he will wait for the outcome of the investigation that will be made by the New People’s Army (NPA) of the ambush that resulted to the death of two bodyguards of Mayor Guingona.

Senator: Resume peace talks

THE Guingona family urged for the resumption of peace talk between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to achieve a genuine and lasting peace.

Senator Teofisto ‘TG’ Guingona III said that to solve the country’s problems is to go back to the negotiating table with the government and exhaust ways on working together in attaining peace.

No forgiveness yet – Guingonas

“We are not ready to forgive,” these are the words of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr. after the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked his wife, Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona on Saturday night killing two of her bodyguards and wounding two other aides.

Green groups celebrate Earth Day

THOUSANDS of green activists, survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong, and indigenous people (IP) in Northern Mindanao joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 43rd Earth Day celebration.

The activity started with a lumad ritual performed by around 30 datus from Northern Mindanao who gathered around the freedom monument at De Lara Park to seek help from “Magbabaya” (God) to enlighten the present administration on the alleged “anti-lumad” and “anti-environment” policies.

‘Aides swore to protect Gingoog City mayor’

GINGOOG CITY – The widow of the slain driver of Gingoog Mayor Ruthie Guingona cries for justice over the untimely death of her husband in an encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Saturday night.

Cristy, wife of Bartholome Velasco, 43 waited for the arrival of her husband’s remains after being recovered from barangay Capitulangan in Gingoog City where Mayor Guingona and convoy were attacked by NPAs.

PNoy hits Emano in CDO rally; endorses Oca

PRESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III criticized the present Mayor Vicente Emano’s administration in the proclamation rally of Team Oca here in Cagayan de Oro on Monday.

Aquino reminded Kagay-anons on the case of Isla de Oro where people were prohibited to build their houses in the area during the stints of former Mayors Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Pablo Magtajas.

PNoy woos MisOr voters to choose LP leaders

BALINGASAG, Misamis Oriental -- Thousands of people from the 23 municipalities of Misamis Oriental trooped to the town plaza of Balingasag on Monday afternoon as President Benigno S. Aquino III officially proclaimed the gubernatorial bet and incumbent Vice Gov. Norris Babiera’s line-up, Team Manong Norris, for the May 2013 elections.

Aquino, calling the people as his bosses, urged them to continue to rally behind his efforts in “daang matuwid” (straight path) by supporting candidates from the Liberal Party (LP).

Senator Guingona’s mom now safe; NPA apologizes

GINGOOG City Mayor Ruthie de Lara Guingona is now safe after a five-hour ordeal, as she laid trapped in her vehicle when communist rebels ambushed her convoy in a remote village Saturday that left two of her aides dead and two others wounded.

Dr. Jesus Jardin, medical director of the Capitol University Medical City, said the mayor is in good and stable condition though her emotions are still high.

Poll bets criticize rebels over Guingona’s fate

THE New People’s Army’s (NPA) ambush over Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie de Lara Guingona in a remote barangay in Gingoog City on Saturday earned criticisms from political candidates.

Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Norris Babiera condemned the incident and urged the Commission on Elections to act on this.

Cop killed, MILF commander hurt in Munai ambush

MUNAI, Lanao del Norte -- A police officer belonging to Marawi City police was killed while a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander was seriously injured in an early morning ambush in Sitio Matampay 1, Old Poblacion, Munai in Lanao del Norte on Sunday.

Colonel Ricardo Jalad, commanding officer of 2nd Mechanize Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that the victims were on board a black pickup truck and on their way to attend a "kanduri," a thanks giving celebration, in Barangay Tambo.

Crime suspects can decline media interviews

FOLLOWING the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) new regulation released in March, criminal suspects will be afforded their rights to decline media interviews.

Senior Superintendent Graciano Mijares, Cagayan de Oro Police office chief, said this new regulation will be observed in the city police office.

Decrease in commercial flights recorded

DUE to Philippine Airlines’ withdrawal of servicing direct flights at the Lumbia Airport last year, a 4.9 percent decrease in commercial flights in the 4th quarter of 2012 was recorded by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in Northern Mindanao.

PAL’s subsidiary, Airphil has been operating PAL’s flights in the city.

Poll bet appeals for removal of Cafgus in Camiguin

A CONGRESSIONAL candidate in the province of Camiguin is appealing to the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) to stop the deployment of Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) in the island.

Lawyer Homobono Adaza said around 50 Cafgu members were deployed in Camiguin, and, in fact, 40 of them are in Mambajao.