39 votes save aspiring chief

BARANGAY Calamba in Cebu City has a new captain.

The court yesterday declared Esther Concha as “the winner and duly elected punong barangay” of Calamba during the October 2010 elections.

2 suspects in Talisay ambush identified

TWO of the four suspects in the ambush that killed three people in Talisay City last Wednesday afternoon, possibly over a land dispute, were identified.

A team led by SPO4 Daniel Tarucan went in pursuit of one suspect yesterday, but while no one was arrested yet, authorities assured some progress was made.

Group, Swat shut down Internet cafe, billiard hall

AN Internet café and a billiard hall in Lapu-Lapu City were ordered closed yesterday for failing to secure business permits and for admitting high school students during school hours.

Members of Lapu-Lapu City’s Advocacy for Responsible Enterprise (Care) and operatives of the city’s Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) enforced the closure orders against the two establishments, which are housed inside the residences of Vincent Onahan and Julian Misa in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Bangkal.

Capitol saved P90M in 2011, got over P157M from taxes

CAPITOL earned P2.95 billion in 2011 and spent only P2.86 billion, according to the Statement of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE) of the Cebu Provincial Government at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

THe SRE showed that Capitol had savings of almost P90 million in 2011.

Taxable properties total: P25B

REAL property taxes in Cebu City may double next year once the City Assessor’s Office finishes the tax mapping and revalidation of real property (RPU) units in the city.

City Assessor Eustaquio Cesa said they were able to assess 212,315 RPUs in the city from January to December last year, as well as 12,780 RPUs that are exempted from taxes.

Executive dep’t. ‘need not’ get council nod to buy fuel, oil

THE executive department of Cebu City Hall won’t comply with the condition the City Council has set under the appropriation ordinance for the purchase of gasoline, oil and lubricants for motor vehicles.

The appropriation ordinance of the City for 2012 provides that the lump sum appropriations for gasoline, oil and lubricants amounting to P100 million requires prior authorization of the council before it can be used.

Court disallows use of Balili pond

THE court has disallowed the use of a coal ash landfill owned by Capitol, for environmental reasons.

This, as a Naga City-based power producing company expressed a “very urgent” need to look for alternative disposal sites.

Beer joints near schools threatened with closure

THE Liquor and Licensing Commission (LLC) in Cebu City Hall will recommend the closure of restobars, karaoke bars and other beer joints in the City operating within 100 meters from schools.

This was after the LLC refused to approve the application of some business establishments selling and serving liquor near the academic institutions.

Family of engineers produces topnotcher

THE first call Ruelan Mira received Thursday afternoon informed him he passed the Architects’ Licensure Examinations. He was overjoyed, but more so when he got another call informing him he ranked seventh among the passers.

“I didn’t expect it,” said Mira, a 23-year-old graduate of the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT).

Fire mars Friday night in Cebu

CEBU CITY (Updated) -- At least 28 houses were gutted while three others were damaged Friday night in Sitio Sto. Nino, Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

Fire officials received the alarm at 9:12 p.m. and declared the fire under control after 20 minutes, although narrow and pitch-dark alleys tested them.

Police invite 5 witnesses in Cebu ambush

CEBU CITY -- The Talisay City Police invited Thursday for questioning five persons who were said to have seen the ambush on a lawyer’s wife and her two companions last Wednesday in Cansojong, Talisay City.

Based on the descriptions of the gunmen, a cartographic sketch will be prepared to help the police identify the gunmen.

USC, CIT top exam

A GRADUATE of the University of San Carlos (USC) topped the Architecture Licensure Examination held last month in Manila.

Andrew Mulato Wee got a score of 86.40 percent, sharing the top spot with Sudarshan Khadka Jr. of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman.

‘I’m all alone now’

MARRIED to her for almost 40 years, Raul Sesbreño grieved over the sudden death of Virginia.

“She was with me in all my struggles and my happy moments. Now, ako nalang usa ani,” Sesbreño said in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

Congressman says partnership between LP and BOPK in 2013 no longer clear

AFTER declaring last month that he will run for mayor in Cebu City in 2013, Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City south district) yesterday said he will likely run against a Liberal Party (LP) candidate.

For the 2010 elections, the congressman’s Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) forged an alliance with the LP, but Osmeña said this may not happen in 2013.

Eddiegul eyes son, grandson as successor; Lito orders study

REP. Eduardo Gullas yesterday said his family is likely to field his son, Gerard Anthony “Didi” Gullas, or his grandson, Gerard Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, to run as first congressional district representative in 2013.

Gullas, whose term ends on June 30, 2013, said the Alayon Party wants a Gullas to succeed him in Congress.

Election protest ‘nears resolution’

A YEAR and seven months without any local official to manage their town because of an electoral protest, residents of the Municipality of Compostela can now hope for a resolution as the Commission on Election (Comelec) will start re-canvassing election returns on Feb. 15.

Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale made the announcement last Wednesday, while Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 7 Director Ananias Villacorta confirmed DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo’s promise to push through with the re-canvassing.

Batuhan wants law ‘granting public’ access to SALN

A VOLUNTEER prosecution lawyer in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona urged Congress yesterday to enact legislation that compels government officials and employees to disclose their statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) to the public.

Blaze destroys 10 houses in San Roque, Talisay City

TEN houses were razed when a fire struck a family compound in Sitio Kabayo-an Uno, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City before noon yesterday.

No one was reported injured, but the blaze reportedly gutted “P300,000” worth of properties.

Elect right leaders, students told

WITH school elections approaching, Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Director Recaredo Borgonia gave students tips on how to choose their leaders.

“Students should elect the right people to lead them. These people should have the competence and dedication to serve the position to which they are elected,” he said in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu.

Mandaue, Lapu officers apprehend 500 jeepneys, arrest 30 dispatchers

SOME 30 dispatchers were apprehended by policemen in the Cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu for violating anti-dispatching ordinances.

Traffic officers in Mandaue City also apprehended close to 400 public utility vehicles for allegedly stopping for passengers in illegal “terminals” manned by dispatchers.

Victim’s family seeks CIDG’s help

THE family of a fisherman, who died after allegedly mauled by five policemen in Madridejos, Cebu, sought the assistance of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 to conduct a separate investigation.

“Mas maayo ni kay maklaro nato nga wala’y bias (This is better to avoid suspicion of being bias),” said Cerela Escalitas, the 63-year-old mother of Redentor Escalitas.

Cenro worker faces graft case in court for asking money from a lot owner

AN employee of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Cenro-DENR) in Cebu City is facing a graft case in court for allegedly demanding money from a woman and her son who wanted their lot titled in Talisay City in 2006.

Edwin Atentar, a special land investigator of Cenro was indicted by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for alleged violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

2 men killed in the cities of Cebu, Naga

A 27-YEAR-OLD man was gunned down by unidentified motorcycle-riding men on P. Lopez St., Cebu City at dawn yesterday.

Police identified the victim as Russel del Rosario, who resided in Barangay Kamagayan.

Cebu ambush kills lawyer’s wife, 2 others

CEBU CITY (Updated) – Two men on a red motorcycle shot and killed three people in Sitio Rabaya, Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City Wednesday afternoon, a day after illegal structures on the vehicle owner’s property were demolished.

Police have yet to identify the killers of Virginia Sesbreño, 65; Joshua Young, 30; and Soledad Epanto, 51.

Minor setback: Davide on loss of Sonny’s support

LAWYER Hilario Davide III described yesterday as a minor setback former senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña’s decision not to support his gubernatorial bid in 2013.

He said the possibility of an alliance with other local parties, like that of Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, remains because “politics is addition.”

Health officer tells council she didn’t say budget cuts would cause a ‘crisis’

ITS budget was cut but it is not going to result in a health crisis.

Cebu City Health Department (CHD) Chief Stella Ygoña denied before the City Council that she used the term “health crisis” in describing the effect of the cuts in the CHD’s budget for this year, contrary to what was published in a newspaper (not Sun.Star Cebu).

Barangay chiefs in Lapu want DPWH officials investigate

BARANGAY officials in Lapu-Lapu City are urging the anti-graft office to not only investigate local officials, but also National Government officials in the lamppost controversy.

The Lapu-Lapu City Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), led by Pajo Barangay Captain Leo Mercado, adopted a resolution urging the Office of the Ombudsman to also investigate National Government officials, particularly those of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), who were involved in the purchase of overpriced lampposts for 2007 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

LTFRB seeks to curb taxi abuse on V-Day

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 will launch “Oplan I Love You” on Feb. 14 against unscrupulous taxi drivers preying on couples who want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in motels, hotels, plazas and other areas.

LTFRB 7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said they will deploy personnel to conduct surveillance against taxi overcharging.

Peace council forms task force to defuse bombs

A BOMB disposal task force was formed yesterday by the Cebu City Peace and Order Council along with the Cebu City Police Office and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Bureau of Fire Protection and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation will be among the support groups of the task force.

Oguto’s drug case is closed, says NBI

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Central Visayas considered “closed” the case of Kenyan tourist Asha Atieno Oguto, who was convicted on Monday by a trial court in Lapu-Lapu City for transporting illegal drugs into the country in September last year.

NBI 7 Deputy Director Lauro Reyes said Oguto was keeping a tight lip throughout the trial until Judge Toribio Quiwag handed down her conviction for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.