Joavan transferred to CPDRC

CEBU CITY -- Two days after his arrest in Moalboal, Cebu early this week, Joavan Fernandez was transferred to the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) Wednesday noon.

Inmates from the nearby Cebu City Jail applauded when they saw the Talisay City mayor’s adopted son’s arrival at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Target: 602 rooms

THE good news is that public school classrooms in Cebu City and Province need no major repairs. The bad news is that there still won’t be enough for all classes.

This year, government agencies set a target of 602 new classrooms for Central Visayas. So far, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has built 80.

OWWA hasn’t received any request for help from Taiwan

NONE of the almost 3,000 Cebuanos who are working in Taiwan have reported being harassed by the Taiwanese, according to the Office of the Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Some Filipinos were reportedly harassed in Taiwan after the Philippine Coast Guard shot a Taiwanese fisherman on board a vessel that encroached in Philippine territorial waters early this month.

School, with only 3 classrooms, mulls using gym for classes

BARELY two weeks before the opening of classes on June 3, the Candulawan Elementary School in Talisay City still lacks classrooms, tables, chairs and other equipment.

Its 10 classroom were destroyed by fire last March.

Gwen has 11 days to resume post

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia will have a few days left to serve as governor after serving her six-month suspension.

Garcia was suspended last Dec. 19 for a grave abuse of authority case that was filed by the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez in 2010.

‘Electrical sparks’ start compound blaze

AN EARLY afternoon fire hit a residential compound in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City yesterday.

While fire officials have yet to determine the cause, residents of Sitio ESCO (Englis-V. Rama Social Circle Organization) believed it may have started from the electrical wirings.

BEI honorarium in the banks for distribution

THE honorarium of some teachers in Central Visayas who served as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) were already distributed, said an education department official.

Family holds rally for justice

AS THE filing of the complaints against the two persons involved in the death of shopper Mario Alfie Ducayag did not push through yesterday, the 23-year-old housekeeping student’s family led a prayer rally outside Metro Gaisano on Colon St., Cebu City.

City lawyer resigns ‘to rest’

CEBU City Atty. Joseph Bernaldez resigned immediately after the proclamation of Mayor Michael Rama.

Bernaldez submitted his resignation letter on May 15, just a day after Rama was formally proclaimed as mayor of the city, beating outgoing Rep. Tomas Osmeña by more than 6,000 votes.

Young suspends clearing operation, sets consultation with homeowners

ACTING Cebu City Mayor Joy Augustus Young has ordered to stop any clearing operation in Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita.

“As acting mayor of the City of Cebu, I am directing you not to conduct or implement any clearing operation in the burnt area in Barangay Ermita until further notice,” the memorandum signed by Young read.

Winners seek mayors’ help

ACTING Cebu Gov. Agnes Magpale called on all city and town mayors to work with the incoming provincial administration, while Governor-elect Hilario Davide III said that Rep. Tomas Osmeña may advise him, without intervening in Capitol affairs.

In yesterday’s 888 News Forum, Magpale said that of the 51 town and city mayors, at least 21 are allied with the Liberal Party (LP), where she and Davide belong.

DENR inquiry confirms damage to corals

DIVERS from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 found some damaged corals in an area where a tourist submarine briefly operated in Lapu-Lapu City.

The initial findings DENR released also showed that in Kontiki Wall, a popular dive site, only about 31 percent of its corals can be classified as in good or fair condition.

Prosecutor files cases of illegal possession of firearm, bullets vs Joavan

JOAVAN Fernandez is facing more criminal cases as he was carrying a gun and bullets when law enforcers caught him on a beach in Moalboal, Cebu last Monday.

Prosecutor Jerome Abarca of the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office filed charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition (Republic Act 8294), and violation of the election gun ban against Fernandez before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 60 in Barili.

Team Rama’s fears ‘baseless’

POLL watchers need to watch carefully in the next elections.

This was the advice of Cebu City south district election officer Ferdinand Gujilde after Team Rama complained about the ballot box from a clustered precinct in Barangay Mambaling that was in the custody of the City Treasurer’s Office and two other ballot boxes from Barangays Luz and Cambinocot that were stored inside the canvassing center.

2 suspects in shopper’s death will be charged today: NBI 7

CRIMINAL complaints will be filed today against two suspects in the death of shopper Mario Alfie Ducayag inside the Metro Gaisano Colon last month.

They will be charged with murder and obstruction of justice before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, said National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 supervising agent Bernard dela Cruz.

Talisay policeman faces dismissal

A TALISAY City policeman is facing dismissal from service for allegedly failing to attend court hearings that resulted to the dismissal of a drug-related case.

The Cebu Provincial Police Office’s Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) has recommended to charge PO2 Roy Lofranco for serious neglect of duty over his non-appearance as a prosecution witness.

Police, teachers prepare for class opening

THE Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) and the Cebu City Police Office are now preparing for the opening of classes in June.

All Cebu City Station Chiefs are instructed to coordinate with school principals.

Alcover’s car set on fire

THE hummer truck used by Anad Partylist Rep. Jun Alcover was set aflame at the roadside in Barangay Loong, Tabogon, Cebu last Monday evening.

The hummer was parked along the provincial road when it exploded. The incident happened 100 meters away from Alcover’s residence.

All candidates have to file statement of expenditures

EVERYONE who ran in this year’s elections is required to file a statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Eddie Aba reminded the candidates that they have 30 days from May 13 to do this.

New officials want team to prepare for smooth transition in Talisay

WITH their term starting in July yet, officials under the administration of Talisay City mayor-elect Johnny de los Reyes plan to set up a transition team that will oversee the formal turnover of the incumbent city administration to the new one.

Talisay City vice mayor-elect Romeo Villarante, in an interview yesterday, said the transition team will help smooth some administrative matters and review the City’s current financial status.

Joavan in CPDRC?

TO ENSURE Joavan Fernandez will not escape again, the police are mulling the idea of detaining him in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) instead of Talisay City Jail.

Joavan may be detained in Cebu City jail

CEBU CITY -- To ensure Joavan Fernandez will not escape again, the police are mulling the idea of detaining him in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) instead of Talisay City Jail.

Fernandez, 30, and two companions were arrested outside a beach resort in Moalboal town Monday morning, 12 days after the Talisay City mayor’s son escaped from detention in Talisay.

Schools get ready for classes

THE Department of Education (DepEd) has started training teachers for the opening of classes next month.

Emiliano Elnar, DepEd training and curriculum development head, said more than 800 teachers will undergo training in mathematics and another 900 will get training on handling grade 2 classes.

More Cebuano voters cast votes last week

MORE voters cast their votes last May 13 in Cebu Province than on May 10, 2010, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). An increase in voter turnout was also observed in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

But in Lapu-Lapu City, only 74.36 percent of registered voters—128,898 out of 173,341—cast their votes in 199 clustered precincts, compared to 80.5 percent in 2010.

2 drug suspects arrested

TWO brothers were arrested for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade by a team from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

They are Michael, 35, and Arman Cavan, 42

Tumulak’s victory in race to council his ‘destiny’

HAVING been elected councilor was something Tumulak did not expect. Nor did he expect to get the third most number of votes among the candidates for the Cebu City Council in the south district.

The barangay captain of Basak Pardo described his success as destiny.

Get Palace involved, Davide told

GET Malacañang to help pay off the Province’s debts.

That was the advice Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale gave governor-elect Hilario Davide III during a meeting with the Capitol’s department heads yesterday.

Cortes to build P800M city hall

THE Mandaue City Government may have to spend P800 million to build a high-rise City Hall, which is one of the priority projects of reelected Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Lawyer Jamaal James Calipayan, executive secretary of Cortes, said the amount is an initial estimate of architects consulted by the City.

NBI to close probe on ‘mauling’ of student with mom’s affidavit

“ALMOST done.”

This was how National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 Director Antonio Pagatpat described their investigation on the death of shopper Mario Alfie Ducayag inside Metro Gaisano Colon.

Court junks petition of nurses vs. VSMMC

THE Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) has junked the civil suit filed by a group of nurses in Cebu City, which sought to stop a state-run hospital from padlocking a property.

Judge Edgemelo Rosales dismissed for want of action the civil case for ejectment with damages and temporary restraining order (TRO) filed against Dr. Gerardo M. Aquino, chief of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC).