Special operations group nabs murder suspect

A MAN who was suspected to be involved in a murder case was arrested by members of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) on Monday afternoon in a junk shop in Agora, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.

Capitol mulls construction of hospital in Claveria

MISAMIS Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno is mulling to construct the ninth district hospital in Tabuk, Claveria before his term ends.

Dr. Ramon Nery, chief of hospital in Misamis Oriental, said they are now in the planning stage of the primary hospital, which shall be materialized next year.

Farmers want Mindanao university president out

HUNDREDS of peasant supporters in Bukidnon were disgusted over the seeming laxity of the Central Mindanao University (CMU) president in light of the violent commotion involving the school's "hired guards."

In a statement, the supporters demanded for the removal of CMU president Ma. Luisa Soliven for the bloody June 14 dispersal of the farmers' picket lines and for other atrocities committed this year against the farmers even before June 14.

Mayor supports setting up of CCTV cameras

MAYOR Vicente Emano said he is in favor of the City Council's proposal to impose the setting up of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras among high risk establishments in Cagayan de Oro City.

Emano said only high-risk establishments are required to put up the CCTV.

3 armed men rob LBC branch

THREE armed men on board a black single motorcycle held up an LBC branch in Gusa Highway on Sunday morning, carting away a mobile phone from an LBC personnel and P50,000 cash.

Operatives at the Agora Police Station said some LBC employees were inside the office when the suspects barged in around 11:30 a.m.

Council seeks probe on excessive fees in government hospitals

A LOCAL Provincial Board (PB) member questioned the excessive professional fees collected by doctors in provincial hospitals from pregnant patients undergoing Caesarean section.

During the recent regular session of the PB, Board Member Geodeguil Ursal brought up the issue, which he said occurs particularly in the seven hospitals of Misamis Oriental.

Women can now work at night

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Northern Mindanao was glad over the enactment of a law lifting the prohibition for women to work nightshift.

The law, signed by President Benigno Aquino on Tuesday, allows women to work during night time, especially in call centers where clienteles in foreign countries have reverse schedules of days compared to the Philippines.

Bukidnon board's resolution on oil price hike 'impractical'

THE Provincial Board (PB) of Misamis Oriental deferred the request of Malaybalay, Bukidnon to join in their pursuit requesting President Benigno Aquino III to resolve the oil price hike problem.

Board Member Jesus Jardin opposed the "impractical" request of the Malaybalay PB, fearing that oil investors might back out if the said resolution will be imposed.

Rebels refute extortion charge

THE National Democratic Front (NDF), in a letter, belied accusations of extorting P5 million from the German Doctor's Hospital based in Cagayan de Oro City.

In a letter sent to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro recently, Ka Cesar Renerio of the NDF-North Central Mindanao said that "it has never been the policy of the revolutionary movement to impose taxation on non-profit organizations like the German Doctor's Hospital."

Worker nabbed for carrying shotgun

THE Bulua police arrested an employee of an establishment for carrying a firearm on Thursday along Bulua Highway, Cagayan de Oro City.

Senior Insp. Romulo Paza, station commander of Bulua Police Station, identified the suspect as Junrey Dengco, a 20-year-old and stay-in worker of V and V motors located in the same area.

Families of 300 Bukidnon farmers to lose jobs

MORE than 300 hundred contractual and regular workers of Dole Philippines are out to lose their jobs, owing to the "labor dispute" that plagued its banana plantation farm in Guinoyuran, Valencia City, Bukidnon.

In fact, members of the Guinoyuran Labor Union (GLU) were shocked when they were given a notice of termination of their works last June 17 without prior notice.

Lawyer, dentist nabbed for drugs

A PRACTICING lawyer, a registered dentist and five other suspects in drug pushing were arrested on two separate occasions Wednesday in Malaybalay and Valencia cities in Bukidnon.

In a report submitted to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr., the PDEA-Northern Mindanao identified two of the suspects as lawyer Winston Intong, 43, a practicing lawyer and a resident of 602 Corner Moreno-Mampaalong Street, Malaybalay City; and Lingling Garcia Deiparine, 44, a registered dentist, and a resident of 29 Sayre Hi-way, Poblacion, Valencia City.

Threat prompts closure of German hospital in Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The German Doctors Hospital temporarily stopped its operations here Saturday after an alleged rebel group threatened atrocities if the management fails to pay P5 million in revolutionary taxes.

Dietmar Schug, the hospitals country director, received on May 16 a demand letter from one Ka Aimee Malingkawas, demanding payment of revolutionary tax.

Rebels not behind threats on hospital management

MISAMIS Oriental Provincial Governor Oscar Moreno is urging the public not to tag the New People's Army (NPA) in alleged threats received by the German Doctors Hospital management.

The German Doctors Hospital, situated within the Dr. Jose Rizal School of Medicine of Xavier University, will reportedly pull out in the city after receiving threats from extortionists demanding P5 million in exchange for the safety of the foreign nationals operating the hospital.

Lawmakers file bill vs delisting of rural banks

TWO lawmakers passed a House resolution calling for an inquiry on the removal of rural banks from dealing pension remittances to war veterans.

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez (second district) and Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. of Abante Mindanao (Abamin) party-list passed a resolution directing the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries and the committee on veterans affairs and welfare to conduct an inquiry and serve notice to all concerned to shed light and resolve the issue.

Councilors hit road asphalt overlay

CITY Councilor Alden Bacal lambasted the asphalt overlay system of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Northern Mindanao that has caused heavy flow of traffic in Cagayan de Oro City.

In a special report, Bacal questioned the ongoing work done by the DPWH and its contractor in Barangay Bulua, especially since they did it during rush hour.

Army belittles terror threat

THE Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) based in Camp Evangelista called a reported terror threat that can generally affect the whole Mindanao region as "nothing".

Major Eugene Osias, 4ID spokesperson, said the public need not worry about terror attacks since the Army has monitored no plans of terrorist activities.

Carmen fire damages P200,000

A FIRE razed a residential house in Barangay Carmen on Tuesday, damaging properties worth P200,000.

Misamis Oriental board to probe private schools

A MEMBER of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Board (PB) filed a resolution urging the legislative body to study all private schools operating in Northern Mindanao.

In her resolution, PB member Oliver Actub called on the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to publish in regional newspapers the list of accredited educational institutions in the region.

Former Oro councilor dies at 63

FORMER Cagayan de Oro City Councilor Reynaldo "Nanding" Advincula died on Sunday morning from cardiac arrest. He was 63 years old.

Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, Advincula's, his son-in-law, said the former councilor died at the Capitol University Medical City (CUMC).

4 Oro cops 'penalized'

FOUR Cagayan de Oro policemen were administratively "penalized" for allegedly bungling a case they handled as discovered and relentlessly pursued by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Superintendent Michael John Deloso, chief administrative of the Human Resource and Doctrine Division (HRDD) of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said that he personally served the order to at least three of the four policemen involved.

'Our Lady of Fatima' devotees mourn Mother Royo's death

DEVOTEES of Our Lady of Fatima in Barangay Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City, mourned the death of the revered Consuelo Nalagan Royo.

"Mother Royo", as she was widely known, was a highly-regarded devotee of Our Lady of Fatima. She died on June 14 at the age of 83.

New police building to rise in Oro

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Director General Raul Bacalzo on Friday led the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed new buildings of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo).

He led the laying of the time capsule, which marked the start of the construction of the P20 million new Cocpo building on Fernandez street, Barangay 40, Cagayan de Oro City.

Bill bars officials from holding more than one post

A BILL seeking to ban government officials from holding more than one post has gained support from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said the practice of holding concurrent positions in two or more institutions should be banned as it affects the discharge of functions of a certain official especially on decision making.

Lawmaker leads turnover of more infra projects

GROUNDBREAKING and series of turnover ceremonies of a multi-million various projects in different barangays in the Cagayan de Oro City were conducted recently.

Public urged to name gambling protectors

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has urged the public to report policemen acting as protectors or operators of illegal gambling.

Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said it would be helpful if the public would provide them with the names of the policemen and their corresponding illegal activities.

Government to sue execs ignoring disclosure policy

SECRETARY Jessie Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) vowed to sue governors and mayors who fail to implement the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP).

FDP is a government policy that requires all local chief executives to publish on newspapers, government websites and posting at conspicuous places its transactions especially on the discharge of government funds.

Police: No lead yet on carpenter's death

POLICE investigators have to find leads in the killing of carpenter in front of a mall in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday night.

Rommel Alaman Jr., 30, a resident of Barangay Lapasan was shot dead around 9 p.m. on Thursday in front of Limketkai Center. He sustained six gunshot wounds in the body.

Exec wants surprise inspections in prisons

LOCAL Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has urged all provincial, city and municipal directors of the agency to conduct surprise inspections on all jail facilities at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

The inspections, he said, will be done to end special treatments and illegal activities behind bars, similar to what happened at the Bureau of Corrections in Manila.

Hearings of smuggling case vs bizman transferred

THE House of Representatives inquiry on smuggling case vs businessman Lynard Allan Bigcas will be heard in Cagayan de Oro City.

"The House sub-committee on customs, tariff and other related taxes chaired by Representative Rodolfo Fariñas has approved the transfer of the hearing," said Representative Rufus Rodriguez (second district, Cagayan de Oro).