Fire razes school, sports center

A FIRE broke out at the north wing of Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS), which destroyed the left wing of the Pelaez Sports Center’s grandstand late Tuesday afternoon.

The fire had eaten up at least 22 classrooms of MOGCHS, including an automotive shop.

2 Kagay-anons nabbed for drugs

AT least two Cagayan de Oro residents were allegedly arrested in other countries for possession of illegal drugs, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) office in Northern Mindanao.

Although Owwa Regional Director Leonor Mabagal declined to provide their identities, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro through ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol was able to get the name of one of them, identified as Annalyn del Puerto-Abalde, 33, a resident of Barangay Pagatpat.

Dad favors income tax returns publication

CITY Councilor Edgar Cabanlas supports a measure that aims to publish the income tax returns (ITR) of all elective and appointive government officials.

Cabanlas said with the current situation where corruption is rampant, it is but accurate to resort to all means if only to stop corruption.

High-profile agent: Kidnappers behind ‘missing American'

MYSTERY has shrouded the disappearance of an American national who was found missing in Cagayan de Oro since January 11, even as a high-profile government agent insisted that Milton Strowel Taylor had been kidnapped.

The source, who requested anonymity, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that there is now an ongoing negotiation between the kidnappers and the US Embassy for the immediate release of the victim.

Provincial Board nixes guv's proposed P55-M loan for hospital

“TOO big to swallow,” the majority of the Provincial Board (PB) regarded Governor Oscar Moreno’s projected P55-million loan for the construction of Alubijid hospital in Misamis Oriental.

Board Member Jesus Jardin strongly denied Moreno's request to source out the loan from Landbank in their last regular session at the Capitol's PB Council.

Drug mule from Oro arrested in Indonesia

FRUSTRATINGLY a glooming "harsh reply" to the aggressive appeal of Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez.

The lawmaker's recent call to impose death penalty against foreign drugs smugglers in the country was apparently greeted by shocking news that rocked every Kagay-anon who watched the ABS-CBN's TV Patrol news late afternoon Friday.

Life term for drug traders: PDEA

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Northern Mindanao vowed to enforce the full force of the law to ensure that violators have to spend a lifetime in prison.

Cop chief suggests lights in overpasses

SEEING it as risky to public safety and prone to crimes, the city's new police director suggested that overpass approach in Cagayan de Oro must be illuminated.

"Madilim kasi at hindi safe daanan ang ating mga overpass dahil sa mga malalaking billboards," said city police chief Gerardo Rosales. "In fact, posible itong pagtaguan ng mga suspected criminals."

Transport groups to stage more protests

TRANSPORT groups in Northern Mindanao are renewing their call for a price roll back of petroleum products, saying the P3 per liter subsidy for the transport sector is not enough.

2 gas station robbers nabbed

POLICE arrested Monday two of the four men who robbed a gasoline station in Barangay Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City.

Nabbed were Raul Ocon, 25, a resident of Upper Bontong, Camaman-an; and Edmar G. Mole, a fireman assigned at Medina Fire Station in Misamis Oriental.

Aquino approves P3 per liter fuel subsidy

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Northern Mindanao announced recently President Benigno Aquino III's approval of the P3 per liter subsidy to the transport sector.

LTFRB-Northern Mindanao Director Mandangan Darimbang said last week that public utility jeepney, taxi and motorela units will be given P3 per liter discount on fuel products as one month subsidy to survive the impact on rising fuel prices.

3 drug suspects fall in raids

ELEMENTS of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) recently apprehended at least three drug suspects in separate operations in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City.

RSOG chief Reynante Reyes said one Vedon Recibido alias Ronnie was arrested in Purok 1, Batangan, Valencia City, Bukidnon last March 30.

Guv may slash province's expenses

MISAMIS Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno said he may be forced to slash funds from other provincial expenses to raise the P55 million needed as counterpart fund for the construction of a hospital in Alubijid town.

Councilor tells police to catch vandals

A MEMBER of the Cagayan de Oro City Council is pledging to donate half of his monthly pay to the Cagayan de Oro Police Office's (COCPO) coffers if the newly-installed police leadership is able to apprehend vandals who routinely spray-paint graffiti in almost every corner of the city.

Cops in rape case to face trial in Cebu

THE trial venue for the case against two policemen accused of raping a 14-year-old girl last year inside a police detachment in Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte has been transferred to Cebu City.

Gunmen rob gasoline station, cart away P87,000

ARMED men carted away P87,000 cash after they broke inside a gasoline station in Barangay Camaman-an Sunday afternoon, police reported.

Senior Police Officer (SPO) 1 Elizabeth Corvera of Cogon Police Station said the robbers were armed with caliber .45 and .38 revolver when they stormed the Juan Fuel Gasoline Station and Grocery along J.R. Borja Extension in Cagayan de Oro City around 4:30 p.m.

Lawmaker: Foreign violators must be meted with death

A CAGAYAN de Oro lawmaker said Monday that it's high time now to amend Republic Act (RA) 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act law of 2002.

Bothered by the execution of three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking in China last March 30, second district Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez said the Philippine government must now act with dispatch "if only to put more teeth in our law against foreign violators."

Local daily wins case of 'unfair competition'

BENTA Birada News, a local daily "bisaya tabloid" circulating throughout Cagayan de Oro City, recently won a case against its so-called imitator.

Philan A. Taylaran, publisher of Benta Birada News, said that Brigada News Philippines owned by Elmer V. Catulpos could no longer imitate the same trademark that they used since the tabloid's emergence in 2009.

Anti-corruption workshop held

CLOSE to 20 members of the Cagayan de Oro media underwent a one-day anti-corruption workshop on Saturday here.

Sponsored by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), members of the press were refreshed with the transparency and anti-corruption duties of the fourth-estate.

Suspected drug pusher falls

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Northern Mindanao arrested another suspected drug pusher in a buy-bust operation on Friday at Purok 4, Saray, Iligan City.

PDEA Director Edwin F. Layese said Dominador Dytioco, 31, was arrested during a joint operation by the PDEA, Iligan City police and soldiers from the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion.

Old man hacks young toughie

A 69-YEAR-OLD man is facing a frustrated murder charges after he hacked the man who bullied him in Barangay Canitoan in Cagayan de Oro City.

Bulua Police Station chief Romulo Paza identified the suspect as Emmanuel Juarez, a resident of Phase I, Relocation site in Sitio Calaanan, Barangay Canitoan.

Flashfloods hit Misamis Oriental

FLASHFLOODS occurred in the town of Balingoan in Misamis Oriental on Thursday evening, displacing at least 100 residents and destroying P1 million worth of properties.

Teddy Sabugaa, executive director of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said some families evacuated to the municipal gym.

2 men arrested in drug bust

ANTI-ILLEGAL drugs operatives arrested Thursday two suspected pushers in a drug bust in a remote area in Malaybalay City.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Northern Mindanao identified the suspects as Rey Cabigquez, 19, and Kith Cabigquez, 28, both residents of Malaybalay City.

Misamis Oriental aims to adopt 5-year human resource plan

THE Provincial Board (PB) of Misamis Oriental recently adopted a resolution aiming for a five-year Human Resource Management and Development Plan (HRMDP).

Vice Governor Norris Babiera said the passage of the resolution is in pursuit for institutional reforms consistent with the goal of the Provincial Government in delivering quality public service to the people.

Palay production in Northern Mindanao up in 4th quarter

A REMARKABLE increase in rice production was noted during the last quarter of 2010, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in Northern Mindanao.

90% of transport paralyzed in Oro

TRANSPORT groups claimed to have paralyzed 90 percent of public transportation in Cagayan de Oro City and some parts of Misamis Oriental province during Thursday's nationwide strike.

However, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) refuted this, saying many public utility vehicles were still seen running in the streets.

Better livelihood other than mining sought

A TRIBAL leader in one of the hinterland barangays in Cagayan de Oro City asked for other means of livelihood aside from mining.

"Give us livelihood and we'll stop mining," Datu Sandigan of Barangay Pigsag-an said during a forum held Wednesday at Xavier University.

Provincial Board supports repeal of oil deregulation law

THE nationwide transport strike on Thursday has gained support from the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental after the Provincial Board (PB) passed a resolution supporting the move of Congress to repeal Republic Act (RA) 8479, or the Downstream Oil Deregulation Act of 1998.

The resolution also proposes to re-establish the Oil Price Stabilization Fund (OPSF) to subsidize oil products.

Week-long competency training ended

AT LEAST 1,190 drivers from Northern Mindanao are set to finish the first run of the week-long synchronized National TVET Competency Assessment and Certification (Natcac) initiated by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in Northern Mindanao.

Road development plan gets boost from board

THE Provincial Board (PB) of Misamis Oriental adopted a resolution pushing for the second edition of the 2011-2015 Misamis Oriental Provincial Road Network Development Plan (PRNDP).