Teacher probed for hitting pupil
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 01:24 a.m.THE teacher who allegedly wounded her pupil’s head after hitting him with a broom last July 1 is now under investigation.
Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Province sent a team to Manggaco Elementary School in Ginatilan town yesterday to investigate grade one teacher Josefita Lopez.
Mandaue reveals ‘secret garden’ to push natural urban farming
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 01:22 a.m.HIDDEN from public view, a vegetable garden thrives on the rooftop of the old Mandaue City public market.
The 40-square-meter garden was established in support of Mayor Jonas Cortes’s advocacy on backyard gardening, said market administrator Musoline Suliva.
Rama critic shows up in court, posts P10T bail, is released
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 01:21 a.m.ANTI-DRUG crusader James Philip Tiongko surrendered to Regional Trial Court Branch 23 Judge Generosa Labra last Thursday, after it was reported he went into hiding to avoid arrest.
Tiongko was accompanied by his lawyer, Nilo Seno.
Kalunasan cemetery project ‘got go-ahead’ to start construction
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 01:19 a.m.THE Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 has implied the construction of a P20-million cemetery in Cebu City can start after it issued a certificate of non-coverage (CNC) to the project early this year.
The CNC issued to the Evangelical Christian Coalition of Cebu Inc. (ECCC) on Feb. 25 was recommended by Environmental Impact Assessment Division chief William Cu-ñado, with the approval of EMB 7 Director Allan Arranguez.
Man shot by drinking buddy
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 01:17 a.m.THE nephew of Argao Mayor Edcel Galeos was killed when a drinking buddy accidentally shot him last Thursday night.
Junjun Espina, 23, was declared dead on arrival at the South General Hospital in the City of Naga. He had a gunshot wound at the back of the head, said Argao Police Chief Ale-jandro Batobalonos in a phone interview.
Greg’s daughter wants ‘to intervene’ in protest
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 01:16 a.m.THE daughter of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. has filed a motion to intervene in the manual recount slated on Monday at the Commission on Elections in Manila.
The recount involves 20 percent of the total votes that losing vice gubernatorial bet Glenn Soco questioned in the 2010 polls.
Ex-Cebu lawmaker faces malversation charge
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 12:54 a.m.CEBU CITY -- Former Cebu congresswoman Clavel Asas Martinez will face a malversation charge for allegedly keeping money meant for the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) in a private account, the anti-graft office said Friday.
Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro has approved graft charges against Martinez over P10 million released to her from the Priority Development Assistance Fund.
Mayor asks lawyer to review SC ruling on Rallos lot payment
Saturday, July 9, 2011 - 12:47 a.m.CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama plans to ask a private lawyer to help the City Government review the Rallos case, following the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision ordering the City to pay for the expropriated lot.
Rama also wants to inspect the Rallos property and check if its real property tax dues have been paid.
Raffling of Pique’s case set Monday
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 02:12 p.m.CEBU CITY (Updated 1:03 p.m.) -- A local court has set the raffling of the kidnapping with homicide case against Bella Ruby Santos and Ian Charles Griffiths on July 11, Monday.
Judge Meinrado Paredes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 13 said prior to the raffling of the case, a viewing of Santos’s flash drive contents will also take place for the second time.
Carcar plans to allot city IRA for infra work
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 06:59 a.m.WHEN it receives its internal revenue allotment as a city, Carcar plans to use its share of the National Government revenues on the construction of diversion roads and a public utility vehicle terminal, equipped with a public market.
City Mayor Nicepuro Apura said Carcar’s IRA will be about P273 million.
CBCP official urges bishops to return pricey SUVs
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 06:58 a.m.MANILA — An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has suggested that the sports utility vehicles donated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to several bishops be returned.
“Bishops involved should cooperate. They should return the vehicles to government to put a stop to this controversy. If not, it will aggravate and speculations will arise," Caloocan Bishop Deo-gracias Iniguez said in a radio interview over Church-run Radyo Veritas.
SC tells LGU to pay owners of RROW lot
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 06:52 a.m.THE Supreme Court (SC) has ruled with finality on the case involving the Rallos property, leaving Cebu City Hall no choice but pay the heirs of Fr. Vicente Rallos about P224 million.
The case stemmed from the two lots owned by the Rallos family in Barangays Sambag 1 and Sambag II, which the City turned into a public road.
Angry teacher flings broom, hits pupil
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:57 a.m.CEBU CITY -- A grade 1 pupil in Ginatilan town had his head stitched after his teacher hit him with a broom last July 1.
John Ariel Dugaduga, 6, received six stitches to close the wound on his head, radio dyHP reported Thursday.
Suspect in slay of cop nabbed
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:51 a.m.CEBU CITY -- Police arrested Thursday morning in Tangub City a man they suspect to have shot to death a rookie police officer who was responding to a robbery alarm.
Noel Simbajon, 29, was driving a motorcycle when intercepted in a police checkpoint at 9 a.m. in Tangub City in Misamis Oriental.
Guv, father criticize Osmeña for interfering in 93-1 negotiations
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:36 a.m.GOV. Gwen Garcia lashed back at Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) and called him irrelevant in the current 93-1 negotiation between lot occupants the Capitol, with Vice President Jejomar Binay serving as bridge.
Osmeña, during a meeting with Binay, again blamed Mayor Michael Rama for the aborted plan for the City and the Province to exchange lots five years ago.
No one admits instructing secretary to write the council
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:34 a.m.IN A letter dated June 27, the Office of the Mayor asked the Cebu City Council to adopt a resolution authorizing Mayor Michael Rama to sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA), creating the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB).
The letter written by Belinda Navascues, the mayor’s secretary, was addressed to City Councilor Edgardo Labella.
Release of seniors’ aid hits snag
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:33 a.m.SENIOR citizens in Cebu City might not receive this month half of their P4,000 cash assistance, contrary to what the City Government promised.
This after the City’s liquidation of the P20-million cash advance used as financial aid to the senior citizens last year was questioned by the Commission on Audit (COA).
Bella Ruby, Griffiths ask DOJ to review prosecutors’ ruling
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:32 a.m.THE Department of Justice (DOJ) was asked to review the resolution of investigating prosecutors who indicted Bella Ruby Santos and Ian Charles Griffiths for the gruesome death of Ellah Joy Pique.
Defense counsels Rameses Villagonzalo and Roberto Rublico filed yesterday a petition for review with the DOJ, through the Office of the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor, and asked the Justice Department to re-evaluate the government prosecutors’ ruling on the case.
Schools ban smoking, to dismiss violators
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:29 a.m.SMOKING will never be tolerated in schools, and those who violate the policy can be suspended or dismissed, an education official warned.
Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Director Recaredo Borgonia cited R.A. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, which prohibits smoking in schools and other public places.
Officials urged to answer perjury charge
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:27 a.m.THE Office of the Ombudsman (Visayas) ordered Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. and City Administrator Jesus “Don” Durano to file their counter-affidavit to the complaint for perjury and dishonesty against them.
The charges were filed by their brother, Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and the members of the Danao City Council.
DENR repeats reminder to City on pollutants
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:26 a.m.CEBU City Hall was given a second reminder to answer a complaint on water pollution allegedly caused by wastewater from jail facilities in Barangay Kalunasan.
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB 7) Director Alan Arranguez sent to Mayor Michael Rama’s office early this week the second notice for a technical conference on July 14.
P800T marijuana seized from Danao plantation
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:25 a.m.OPERATIVES seized nearly P800T worth of marijuana during a raid in a mountain barangay of Danao City yesterday morning.
But the person who allegedly planted the marijuana, Dan Hermita, escaped during the operation.
Palace asks Rama to submit plans for Malacañang sa Sugbu
Friday, July 8, 2011 - 01:24 a.m.PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III wants to know what the Cebu City Government intends to do with the Malacañang sa Sugbu, following the latter’s request to take over the property.
In a letter dated June 2, 2011, lawyer Herminio Bagro, Aquino’s chief of staff, requested Mayor Michael Rama to submit the City’s development plan for the Malacañang sa Sugbu.
Justice department's review on Pique's case sought
Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 01:18 p.m.CEBU CITY (Updated 12:27 p.m.) -- The defense team of suspects Bella Ruby Santos and Ian Charles Griffiths filed Thursday a petition for review at the Department of Justice (DOJ) over Ellah Joy Pique's death.
Government prosecutors earlier junked the respondents motion for reconsideration on the kidnapping with homicide charges against them.
Binay intervenes in Cebu lot row
Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 01:33 a.m.CEBU CITY -- Vice President Jejomar Binay stepped into two disputes involving the Cebu Provincial Government and occupants of its properties in Cebu City, then said he is optimistic a solution remains within reach.
But one of his meetings briefly hit a sour note, when Representative Tomas Osmeña again blamed Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for an aborted plan for the city and province to exchange lots five years ago.
P3M worth of ‘chop-chop’ vehicles seized
Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 01:24 a.m.THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu yesterday seized parts of used vehicles from South Korea, which were allegedly misdeclared and imported illegally.
Port of Cebu District Collector Ronnie Silvestre issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) immediately after the 40-foot van containing an estimated P3 million worth of prohibited goods was opened.
Mayor’s office sought council’s nod on MCDCB pact
Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 01:23 a.m.IS IT a matter of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing?
Mayor Michael Rama had said he does not need the City Council’s authorization to sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the creation of the Metro Cebu Development Coordination Board (MCDCB).
Saavedra wants anti-graft body to pursue rap against Capitol
Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 01:19 a.m.BUSINESSMAN Crisologo Saavedra has asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to file graft cases against Provincial Capitol officials over the allegedly anomalous purchase of the Balili property in Naga, Cebu.
Saavedra filed a comment, opposing the counter-affidavit Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia had filed seeking the dismissal of the graft complaint.
Citizens laud Consolacion mayor
Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 01:03 a.m.CONSOLACION Mayor Teresa Alegado reported on improvements and ongoing projects, highlighting an efficient tax collection and improvement in education facilities in her first State of the Town Address yesterday afternoon.
Her speech at the covered court, located just below the town hall, lasted for one hour and 11 minutes that included more than 20 breaks for applause. The audience was composed of government employees, with the 21 barangays represented. and school administrators.
JBC pares list of Tanodbayan choices to 4
Thursday, July 7, 2011 - 12:59 a.m.THE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has trimmed down to four the nominees for the next Tanodbayan.
Although he was excluded from the shortlist submitted by the Bar Council to President Aquino, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol accepted his fate.
