Franchise board warns operators vs joining transport strike

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Northern Mindanao warned public transport operators from joining the nationwide strike on March 31.

Alan Guro, LTFRB assistant regional director, said operators may face suspension, or even cancellation of their franchises, if they join the strike.

Avon recalls 2-way LED flashlight

AVON, the leading global company for women, has recalled its two-way rechargeable LED flashlight that was disposed in all its branches nationwide last year.

Faith Aranton, head of Avon’s PR and Communications department, said the product recall was announced on March 15 as they urged all their clients who bought the two-way rechargeable LED flashlight to visit any Avon branches for a refund.

Missing American national hiding: businessman

THE American national who was reported to have been kidnapped may, indeed, be hiding.

Hearing on sex cop case cancelled anew

THE scheduled hearing of fugitive PO3 Lonie Rementizo on Friday did not push through – again.

But this time, the cancellation was due to the non-appearance of both Rementizo and the presiding judge.

Chinese bizman files complaint vs staff

A CHINESE businessman filed a complaint against his saleslady for allegedly stealing five pieces of necklace on Friday morning.

Idu Go, who owns 258 Lucky Shopping Plaza located along Vicente Roa St., said Grace (not her real name) was caught stealing the items worth P1,000 through the store’s hidden camera.

Muslim women appeal to UN on Libya dispute

MARAWI CITY -- More than 250 influential Muslim women in the Philippines led by Bai Zenaida SP Bubong-Jialil appealed to the United Nation (UN) to peacefully intervene and settle the dispute on Moammar Khadafi's government.

Jialil said the appeal came out as a result of their marathon consultation with various leaders of Muslim women organizations, especially in Mindanao.

American missing in Oro

A TOP police official said Thursday that an American national was allegedly missing in Cagayan de Oro City since January this year.

City Police Director Benedicto Lopez said Milton Strowel Taylor failed to return to the hotel where he was staying, forcing the management to report it to the police. Taylor was then declared missing.

Land owners: 'Give back our land'

ALLEGED owners of a 35-hectare land in Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro are calling on top military officials in Camp Evangelista to stop illegal development of the land and demolition of their houses.

Anastacio Mabasog Sr., a retired soldier, said the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army ordered them to vacate the land - Lot 4318 - in November 2010.

March 31 nationwide transport strike set

LEADERS of various transport groups in the city and in Northern Mindanao are set to convene on Saturday to discuss the upcoming nationwide protest slated on March 31.

Sonny Hinosolango, secretary general of the Solidarity of Transport Alliance in Region X-Piston (StareX-Piston), said that leaders of various "motorela" associations and other transport groups already committed to join the nationwide protest.

Cop in sex abuse case makes 'request'

THE counsel of fugitive Police Officer 3 Lonie Rementizo has asked the Regional Trial Court (RTC) not to detain his client at the Lumbia City Jail as he assured to present him in Friday's hearing.

Ex-commissioner supports postponement of Armm polls

MARAWI CITY -- The former Commissioner of the Regional Consultative Commission (RCC) threw his strong support in the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

Military budget reforms expected

TALKS of budget reforms in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are underway as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) vowed to sit down with current military officials anytime soon.

Lawmaker: 'Yes' to Ombud impeachment

CAGAYAN de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez on Wednesday said Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez should be impeached on the ground of "laxity".

Rodriguez was one of the members of the House of Representatives who voted "yes" and approved the justice committee resolution recommending Gutierrez's impeachment for betrayal of public trust.

Transportation exec receives death threats

THE newly-appointed regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Northern Mindanao reportedly received death threats.

Lawyer Esteban M. Baltazar said somebody is out to silence him but he refused to divulge more details.

Oro residents oppose water hike

MAJORITY of residents from Cagayan de Oro City's 80 villages are opposing the Cagayan de Oro Water District's (COWD) plan to increase its water rates by 30 percent.

The residents said during a public hearing Wednesday that the increase is too much considering the financial crisis.

Aquino opens road project

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III led the inauguration of the 9.1-kilometer road project in Misamis Oriental on Wednesday.

The President also expressed hope that the Phase I Opol-Basak-Tingalan project will bring jobs and help improve the lives of farmers in the area.

13 XU Law grads pass Bar exam

THIRTEEN graduates from the College of Law of Xavier University (XU) successfully passed the 2010 Bar Examinations, seven of whom are first-time takers earning XU a passing rate of 26 percent.

Church pastor, wife killed in Cagayan de Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A church pastor and his common-law-wife were stabbed to death early Tuesday by a man who was allegedly possessed by his "evil friend," police said.

Sixty-two-year-old Teodoro A. Badilla, a church minister, and his live-in partner, Margarita M. Chan, 68, were both sleeping when the suspect entered their house on Justo Ramonal-Daomar Sts. in Barangay 32, this city.

Vendors hold rally

AT LEAST 40 sidewalk vendors held a picket in front of City Hall Tuesday morning calling for Mayor Vicente Emano to allow them to sell again in their respective areas on JR Borja Extension in Cagayan de Oro City.

The vendors said they were restricted from selling near the vicinity of Maria Reyna Xavier University Hospital where they have been relocated from their previous area in Cogon.

Aquino visits Cagayan de Oro

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will arrive in Cagayan de Oro Wednesday for a short visit, his first after he assumed office in June last year.

Aquino, together with Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and company, will proceed to Opol town in Misamis Oriental province at 9 a.m.

Aquino: Water for all by 2016

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has committed to find ways to address the insufficiency of potable water supply in the country.

Speaking from Manila via a teleconference, Aquino assured that by 2016, all municipalities in the country will be provided with a potable water system.

Farmers out to claim lands

FARMERS groups in Northern Mindanao came out with a united declaration and signed a pact on Monday pushing for the implementation of a genuine land reform.

In a manifesto released by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Northern Mindanao, the farmers said they support the Mindanao People’s Agenda, most specifically the talks on a real agrarian reform as part of the government’s effort to address peace and order in Mindanao.

Measles campaign to kick off April 4

THE Department of Health (DOH) is once again embarking on a nationwide door-to-door measles-rubella supplemental immunization campaign from April 4 to May 4.

Women groups condemn UN attack on Libya

BUBONG, Lanao del Sur -- Some influential Bangsamoro women organizations in the Philippines condemned the United Nations' (UN) approved air strikes against forces-loyalist of Libya strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

Drivers to take skills assessment

DRIVERS are now required to undergo competency assessment following an increase in accidents involving public utility buses.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will conduct the National TVET Competency Assessment and Certification (NatCAC).

Lawmaker calls for VAT limitation on fuel

A CAGAYAN de Oro lawmaker is calling the government to limit the imposition of the 12-percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products with the successive increase in the prices of fuel products.

Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez (second district) said limiting the VAT on fuel products would definitely help ease the burden of the Filipino people.

Inmate stabs fellow prisoner

DUE to a broken plate, an inmate at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail was stabbed by a fellow inmate Monday afternoon.

Dominador G. Tagarda, acting jail warden, identified the victim as Ariel Abucayan, 22, from Barangay Lingawngaw, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.

Teenager shot

A 15-YEAR-OLD minor sustained two gunshot wounds after he was shot by three motorcycle-riding gunmen in Gaston Park early morning on Sunday.

Police identified the victim as Nicole Suclatan, a resident of Seriña St. in Barangay Carmen. He suffered two gunshot wounds in her stomach and was rushed to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

Education department's campaign gains grounds

THE Department of Education's (DepEd) campaign on K plus 12, a new policy that introduces another two years for students in high school, is slowly taking grounds during its region-wide consultations.

Magnitude-3.3 quake hits Oro

CAGAYAN de Oro was rocked by a 3.3-magnitude earthquake early dawn Friday.

Marcial Labininay, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said the tremor, recorded at 3:07 a.m., also rocked some towns in the eastern part of Misamis Oriental but was only recorded at intensity 2 in the Richter scale.