Security agency loses P200,000 to a cat burglar

SOMEONE broke into the Archangel Security & Investigative Agency Inc. in Capitol Site, Cebu City yesterday and allegedly took P200,000 in cash.

The burglary was discovered around 6:45 a.m. by employee Liezl Saragana Kitang.

PCOS, CF cards glitch delays bets proclamation

CEBU CITY -- Proclamation of winners in the local elections in several areas in the country have been delayed due to compounding problems starting with glitches on the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and corrupted compact flash (CF) cards.

4 poll workers survive ambush

FOUR election inspectors asked for help from the police after two armed men stopped them a kilometer away from their assigned precinct in Carcar City.

They were told to drop to the ground, but were left unharmed. Their attackers also fled without taking any of the boxes of ballots the workers were transporting.

Upsets brewing?

LEADING by some 11,200 votes after midnight, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama seemed ready to hand Rep. Tomas Osmeña his first loss in an election.

The partial but official canvass, with 87 percent of election returns received, showed the reelectionist mayor ahead of his former ally and most vocal critic.

Gwen denies One Cebu maintains goons

ONE Cebu’s gubernatorial candidate Pablo John Garcia appealed yesterday to leaders of the Philippine National Police to tell their officers in Cebu not to get involved in partisan political activities.

Congressman Garcia (Cebu Province, third district) made the call a few days after the police reported that they arrested armed men in Alegria town and heard about similar groups in Tuburan.

After polls, no rest yet for cleaners

YESTERDAY’S elections left garbage, such as sample ballots and leaflets, scattered all over public schools and streets of Cebu City.

The City Government’s Department of Public Services (DPS) deployed street cleaners and garbage trucks in public schools used as polling places.

PH elections akin to US: poll observer

FOREIGN poll observer Jason Fox said elections in the Philippines are similar to those in the United States in terms of equipment and pace.

Although some areas in the US have been modernized, there are still areas where election proceedings are snail-paced, said Fox, a Namfrel-accredited observer.

Differing views on ‘13 polls

REELECTIONIST Mayor Michael Rama and his rival Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) cast their ballots almost at the same time at the Guadalupe Elementary School yesterday morning.

Rama arrived at 7:34 a.m. with his son Atty. Mikel and ex-wife Aracelli Francisco.

PWDs brave roads to take part in polls

NO AMOUNT of physical disability deterred Diomedes Den, 49, from exercising his right to vote.

Den was born with polio that was made worse when he, at one year and eight months, fell off the stairs when his brother opened the door.

SUV crashes into island in SRP

ON ELECTION day, an SUV rammed into an island at the South Road Properties.

According to the initial report, the car skidded before it hit the center island as evidenced by a long scratch on the road.

Elderly enjoy privileges in polling areas

SENIOR citizens in Cebu City said they are thankful for the express lanes the Commission on Elections (Comelec) provided them during yesterday’s elections.

But they said the privileges given them during elections can still be improved.

8 mauled over Bogo City grenade

CEBU CITY -- The discovery of hand grenades and reports of strafing and mauling incidents kept the police in Bogo City on the edge since Friday until the eve of the elections on Sunday.

“This is alarming,” said Superintendent Anthony Bagarinao, the city police chief adding, “these are all politically-related.”

Voters urged: Prepare for rain, long lines

BRING your list of candidates, an ID and umbrella. Be patient.

This was the advice of officials from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cebu City and the weather bureau.

PNP asked to stop intimidating some candidates

DEPUTY House Speaker Pablo Garcia denied yesterday the allegations that a candidate for councilor of One Cebu hired the six suspected goons the police caught in Alegria town.

Instead, the congressman said he has heard reports from at least two mayors that the police were escorting their rival candidates and giving away sample ballots from the Liberal Party (LP).

Comelec asked: Rein in ‘partisan’ cops

ONE Cebu Party filed yesterday a complaint accusing the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) and Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) of illegal and partisan acts to harass their candidates and supporters.

People want change, principle

REYNALDO Luna wants a corruption-free government, so he will vote for a religious leader for senator in today’s elections.

His favorite senatorial candidate, founder of a big Charismatic movement, will not likely squander public money, the 50-year-old banana cue vendor said.

Citizens, voters set; vote-buying caught

THE Cebu-Citizens Movement for Peaceful Elections (C-Cimpel) yesterday said that as representative of the Parish Pastoral Community Response Volunteers (PPCRV) and the National Movement for Free Election (Namfrel), they will receive a copy of the election returns in today’s midterm election.

Speaking before the press conference jointly held by C-Cimpel, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 and Dilaab Foundation, Marilu Chiongbian said that in terms of poll watching, C-Cimpel can cover 90 percent of Cebu City and Cebu Province.

Minor quake jolts Cebu towns

AN EARLY morning mild temblor shook the cities of Cebu and Toledo and other parts of Cebu Province yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Robinson Jorgio, seismic observer of the Phivolcs Seismic Monitoring Station in Lapu-Lapu City, said the quake hit at 9:38 a.m. with the epicenter located 9 kms. north and 86 degrees east of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.

Voter turnout highest in 2010

THE voter turnout in the Archdiocese of Cebu during the 2010 elections was the highest in the last three polls, according to the church’s election watchdog.

The average turnout was 76.97 percent of the total number of voters, said the Cebu-Citizen’s Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel).

Fire hits apartment in Tisa, damages P200K in property

FIRE hit an apartment in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City at dawn yesterday, leaving P200,000 worth of damage.

The fire was placed at second alarm. The alarm was received by the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) 7 at 1:34 a.m. and firefighters declared it under control at 1:46 a.m.

Rift among Duranos since 80s continues

TWENTY-FIVE years after it started, the rift among the Duranos in Danao City continues with more members of the clan joining politics and taking sides.

Today’s election sees a Durano running against his brother in the mayoral race, a Durano running against his uncle in the vice mayoral race, and a Durano running against a cousin, uncle or aunt for other positions.

Police escorting LP candidates, harassing rivals -- PJ’s lawyers

A SHOOTING in Tuburan, the arrest of 10 men in Alegria and Santander, and allegations the police are escorting Liberal Party (LP) candidates were among the highlights in this final weekend before Election Day.

A supporter of Tuburan mayoral candidate Rosemarie Suezo was shot in his left leg, reportedly while escorting the delivery of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines yesterday. She survived.

Teban’s wife, 87 others risk losing jobs

AT LEAST 88 casual workers in the Capitol, including the wife of Acting Vice Gov. Julian “Teban” Daan, may lose their jobs after the Civil Service Commission (CSC) invalidated their appointment papers.

The CSC said these workers failed to comply with the mandated title of their positions. Some of these workers have served the Provincial Government for 15 years.

Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV : I'm fine

FOR the first time since the local campaign period started on March 29, One Cebu vice gubernatorial candidate Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV presented himself to the public and answered all the allegations surrounding his health.

During the party’s rally in Danao City last Friday, Boboy told the crowd that he wasn’t able to attend their sorties because he suffered a heat stroke.

‘All set’ for tomorrow’s polls

CEBU CITY -- Parish workers and public school teachers are ready to serve, safeguard, facilitate and ensure orderly and peaceful elections tomorrow, May 13.

Some 12,000 volunteers of the Cebu-Citizens’ Involvement and Maturation in People Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel), the political arm of the Archdiocese of Cebu, will be deployed in more than 3,000 precincts.

Mayoral bet ‘gives out’ freebies

A DISQUALIFICATION case was filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Manila against Alegria town councilor and mayoralty candidate Raul Guisadio for allegedly giving fertilizers and providing free power supply to his supporters.

Six allies of his political rival filed the petition for disqualification, accusing Guisadio of violating Sec. 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Young voters believe polls bring change

FOR a 19-year-old marketing assistant, voting is not just a right but a power that she should exercise tomorrow.

“It is our choice to use it in the right way,” said Rowella Mae Yurag in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu through Facebook. She said joining fellow voters in what she expected to be a long queue outside polling precinct is special because it will be her first time.

Teacher takes vitamins, prays to prepare for polls

DOROTHY Seno started taking vitamins last week. She can’t afford to get sick, especially tomorrow.

For the past few weeks, she has been busy preparing for the elections, attending trainings and getting her classroom ready, among other tasks.

9 cops bag awards for arrests

NINE policemen received the Medalya ng Kagalingan Awards for the arrest of suspected robbers and illegal drug dealers in two separate operations in Consolacion town and Mandaue City.

PNP Director Allan Purisima handed the awards to the police officers during his visit in the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 yesterday.

Mandaue eyes high-rise bldg. to house local gov’t. offices

THE Mandaue City Government plans to build a modern and high-rise City Hall that will bring all 36 departments together in one building.

Principles of green architecture will be applied to the 23-story building, which will replace the old market, said City Administrator James Abadia.