Woman duped by fake CTO worker

A 47-YEAR-OLD woman was duped by an unidentified man, who introduced himself as an employee of the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) last Tuesday afternoon.

Fe Bontilao, who resides in Barangay Talamban, went to the CTO supposedly to pay her real property tax.

Houseboy kills general’s bro

CEBU CITY -- A businessman and brother of a retired police general was stabbed to death and robbed by his own houseboy inside his house in Mandaue City last Tuesday night.

Using an improvised ice pick, Jimmy Ruiz allegedly stabbed Henry Quiñanola several times, and took his cellular phone and P5,570 before leaving his employer’s house in Doña Rosario Village in Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City.

Raps vs van driver readied

CEBU CITY (Updated 12:57 p.m.) -- Authorities are now ready to file charges against the driver and owner of the van that fell into a ravine in Barangay Babag II.

A radio report said the Cebu City Traffic Division will file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple injuries against Rustom Tundag, 35, of Talamban town, the driver and owner of the van.

Couple in Cebu cybersex pleads innocent

CEBU CITY (Updated 12:31 p.m.) -- The couple who were arrested for using their own children and a niece in cybersex transactions pleaded innocent to charges filed against them Wednesday.

During the arraignment at the Lapu-Lapu City-based Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 27 presided by Judge Toribio Quiwag on Wednesday morning, the couple entered not guilty plea to child abuse, three counts of child pornography and qualified human trafficking charges lodged against them.

Couple in kidnap-slay of kid 'should undergo trial'

CEBU CITY -- Bella Ruby Santos and her British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths are likely to face trial for the abduction and murder of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique last February 8.

Tanodbayan-applicant hits own agency for blocking his anti-corruption drive

ON THE eve of his interview with the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), Pelagio Apostol, incumbent de-puty ombudsman for the Visayas and applicant for the post of Tanodbayan, criticized the office he wants to one day lead.

“Unless we recognize the problem, we cannot solve the problem,” he said to justify the criticism expressed during book launching attended by co-workers, fellow government executives, judges, lawyers, and representatives from civil society organizations.

Cebuano engineer ran barefoot to get away from his kidnappers

“THIS is the end of my life.”

This was the thought running through Cebuano engineer Virgilio Fernandez’s head when four Abu Sayyaf group members abducted him last June 3 in Basilan.

Province, Mandaue signed pact on CICC

CAPITOL and the Mandaue City Government had agreed to jointly manage the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), and put up P5 million each to defray the operational expenses of the facility.

These are among the provisions of a joint venture agreement that Capitol, represented by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, and Mandaue City Government, represented by then mayor Thadeo Ouano, signed in 2006.

15 hurt as van falls off Cebu highway

CEBU CITY -- A packed passenger van heading downtown nose-dived in a ravine in Sitio Tugop, Barangay Babag II, Cebu City past 2 p.m. Tuesday, wounding 15 people, including the driver.

The van narrowly missed Ian Patalinghug, 32, who was resting under a mango tree together with his companions when the vehicle skidded, almost hitting a parked multicab.

Young: Allow firm to make chair delivery

DESPITE the late delivery of P4.5 million worth of armchairs, Cebu City officials will not move to blacklist Gala Industries Corp. and will give it a chance to finish the project instead.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young of the Local School Board said he is not happy with the outcome of the supply contract awarded to Gala, but he is willing to give the supplier another chance.

Archbishop tells new priests to help oppressed

CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma yesterday urged 11 new priests to “act truly” as priests and help the poor.

But as Palma reminded the new priests to obey the tenets of the Catholic church, he said priests are only human.

Rama to deliver Soca on July 1

“WE don’t move forward if we don’t look back and learn from the past,” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said of his State of the City Address (Soca) on July 1.

Rama is set to deliver his Soca on that day, even if there is no formal invitation yet from the Cebu City Council.

Transfer of market from Tabunok to Lagtang to proceed on June 28

THE planned transfer of the old Tabunok Public Market in Talisay City to the new Talisay City Public Market in Barangay Lagtang will proceed on June 28.

Judge Douglas Marigomen denied for lack of merit the petition of 48 stall owners of the Tabunok Public Market seeking a stop to the closure of the old market.

Days of illegal settlers around CTU numbered

THIRTY-FIVE families have been asked to voluntarily demolish their homes that sit on top of a drainage system.

The illegal structures surround the Cebu Technological University (CTU) on Palma St., Barangay San Roque, Cebu City.

Only 7 projects in Cebu City implemented

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Cebu City Engineering District has less than P10 million allocated for drainage and flood-control projects this year.

District Engineer Nico-medes Leonor Jr. said they have several requests for more funds but he has no information yet whether their central office in Manila has approved these.

Dad recommends closure of factory

TALISAY City Councilor Bernard Joseph Odilao yesterday said he will recommend the closure of a plastics-crushing plant in Barangay San Isidro.

His committee on environment protection gave a report to the City Council on the reported re-opening of Green Earth Plastic Crusher Service in Sitio Pang-pang.

Korean firm: Coal plant eco-friendly

SEOUL, Korea—As the inauguration of the coal-fired power plant in the City of Naga nears, the Korea East-West Power (EWP), a subsidiary of Korean Electric Power Corp. (Kepco), assured Cebu officials that coal is safe.

"We are operating eco-friendly power plants," said Young Han Kim, managing director of the management planning office of Dangjin Coal-Fired Power Complex.

Ship that damaged reef to face charges

THE Talisay City Government has decided to pursue a civil case against a foreign cargo ship that destroyed a protected marine sanctuary off Barangay Poblacion two years ago.

In its regular session yesterday, the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Socrates Fernandez to file a civil complaint against the owner, ship captain and local agent of mv United.

Dengue cases fewer this year; DOH 7 starts ‘4-S’ campaign

A DENGUE update released by the Department of Health (DOH) 7 said there were 1,749 dengue cases with 15 deaths from Jan. 1 to June 4 this year.

The figure is lower by 59.34 percent compared to that of the same period last year, with 2,787 cases and 25 deaths.

American's rescuers to get commendations

CEBU CITY (Updated 3:33 p.m.) -- The rescuers of an American national, who tried to jump from the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, will receive special commendations after their successful operation.

Mandaue City Police Office Director Noel Gillamac said Opao Police Station chief Wilson Abot, Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Deputy Director for Operations James Goforth and other policemen will receive special commendations on June 27 for their successful rescue of the American national.

American tries 'bridge suicide'

CEBU CITY -- Despondent about his resto-bar closing down and not being able to renew his six-month expired immigration papers, a 50-year-old American on Monday climbed a tower of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge with the goal of jumping into the Mactan Channel.

Atop the 50-foot tower, he chickened out.

3,770 chairs undelivered to Cebu City schools

CEBU CITY -- At least P4.5 million worth of armchairs purchased by the Cebu City Government last year remains undelivered, which explains why some students in the city’s public elementary and high schools bring their own chair to school.

The city, through the Local School Board, awarded to Gala Industries Corp. the contract to supply and deliver 7,550 armchairs—2,800 for elementary schools and 4,750 for secondary schools—worth P9.6 million. But to date, Gala has delivered only 3,780.

Family 'loses' case over ownership of 3 properties

THE Supreme Court has reversed a ruling that favored a prominent Cebu City family in the case they lodged against a bank over the ownership of three parcels of land they recovered from a defunct insurance firm.

Instead of remanding the case to the lower court for evidentiary hearing, the High Court decided, “in the interest of justice,” to dismiss the Aznar family’s claims against the Philippine National Bank (PNB).

Fiscals dismiss libel complaint ‘public figure’ Cris filed vs. guv

GOVERNMENT prosecutors have junked the libel charge businessman Crisologo Saavedra filed against Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for saying he tried to bribe her and for calling him a “creature.”

In a three-page resolution, City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon said the libel complaint ought to be dismissed for lack of evidence to haul the governor to court.

Kidnapped eng’r comes home

CEBUANO engineer Virgilio Fernandez will return to Cebu today.

Kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf abducted Fernandez in Sitio Libi, Barangay Bulanting, La-mitan City on June 3. The engineer worked in a construction project in the area.

City allocates P5M to convert mausoleum into public park

TO preserve the historical importance of the Osmeña Mausoleum, the Cebu City Government wants to develop the property into a people’s park.

During its regular session last week, the City Council approved a resolution that sought to annotate in the title of the donated property the preservation and enhancement of the cultural and historical significance of the Osmeña Mausoleum, once it is transferred to the name of the City.

Cab driver shot; another lauded for honest act

A TAXI driver was shot by an unidentified man on a motorcycle along Sa-bellano St., Barangay Quiot, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Edigardo Artajo, 49, is in critical condition at Chong Hua Hospital. He suffered a gunshot wound in the face.

Tax collection decreases in ‘10

CEBU City’s income for 2010 increased by P.5 billion even if collections for business and real property taxes went down.

According to the statement of income and expenses of the City of Cebu, business taxes collected for 2010 was P642 million compared to the P684.57 in 2009.

Compostela treasurer suspended

IT’S not enough that Compostela has no mayor, vice mayor and town councilors, its treasurer of Compostela, Cebu was suspended for six months for his failure to submit the town’s statement of receipts and expenditures report.

But almost a year before the town started experiencing its present political crisis, its financial situation was already critical, its financial records revealed.

90 % of dads to get executive functions

CEBU City Mayor Mi-chael Rama announced yesterday he will continue to give executive functions to members of the City Council.

Even if he is no longer part of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, the mayor said he can still work with the councilors.