Guvs agree to stop marine abuses
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 01:10 a.m.FOUR governors of provinces that border the Visayan Sea Marine Triangle have committed to protect the body of water during the first day of the two-day Visayan Sea Summit in Lapu-Lapu City.
Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon and Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete yesterday said it’s time to stop abusing the marine environment.
Local PUJs to continue plying routes despite looming nationwide strike
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 01:08 a.m.MEMBERS of the Alyansa sa Nag-kahiusang Drayber Alang sa Reporma (Andar) yesterday said they will not join the strike their counterparts in Manila will spearhead tomorrow.
Andar chairperson Romeo Armamen-to said they will only stage a strike as a last resort.
Rama wants jail warden ‘to go’
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 01:05 a.m.CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama has lost confidence in Cebu City Jail Warden Felixberto Jagorin and wants the latter replaced.
This was the pronouncement of City Hall security consultant Romeo Cordova, who was tasked to draft a letter to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 7 Director Romeo Salazar Vio.
Complaint against solon wasn’t dropped: Santiago
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 01:04 a.m.ASSISTANT Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago has broken her silence on allegations she ordered the head of the House justice committee to answer a charge that supposedly has been dismissed.
“The information is not complete,” she said in an interview yesterday.
Inmate ‘harassed’ by cop suffering from trauma
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 01:03 a.m.A PSYCHOLOGIST and university professor testified that a girl allegedly molested by a police captain while detained for theft at his station is suffering from “post-traumatic stress disorder.”
“Differential diagnosis includes acute stress disorder, mild depression and dependent personality disorder,” said Emmanuel Hernani in a report submitted to the court during a hearing last week.
2 City Hall workers face graft charges
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 01:01 a.m.THE anti-graft office has indicted two government workers for issuing a fake business permit to an establishment in 2005.
Pio Dargantes, graft investigation and prosecution officer, recommended a charge for falsification of public documents be filed in court against Remberto Cabigon and Sherwin Baguio, data controller III and data controller I, respectively, of the Management Information and Computer Services (MICS) in Cebu City.
New electronic payroll system to help Capitol save on expenses
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 01:00 a.m.PAYMASTERS may soon be a thing of the past in Capitol Once the Provincial Board (PB) authorizes Gov. Gwen Garcia to sign the contract in behalf of the Province, it’s a go signal for an “integra payroll master,” which will make salary computation and recording easier.
Emmanuel Guial, accounting officer-in-charge (OIC), said Capitol employees will just press their fingers on a biometric machine when they come in. The computer will do the rest of the work, from recording total work rendered to computing the necessary deductions.
Taxi driver says Joavan mauled him; mistaken identy, say cops
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 12:59 a.m.POLICE rushed to Waling-Waling St., Cebu City yesterday after a taxi driver claimed Joavan, son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, mauled him.
Fuente Police Station Chief Michael Bastes, in a phone interview, said Edgar Mendoza, driver of Airland Taxi, asked for help from them.
Dole ‘denies’ Veco union leader’s motion
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 12:57 a.m.THE Visayan Electric Company Inc. (Veco) management yesterday said it is happy the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) denied the motion of union president Cas-mero Mahilum to be reinstated in the power utility’s payroll.
Dole Secretary Rosa-linda Baldoz viewed it as a delaying tactic, so Mahilum could continue to get paid even though he was not working, said the press release e-mailed by Ethel Natera, Veco corporate communication department manager. Lack of merit
Human rights groups launch workers’ handbook
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 12:56 a.m.IT’S just a booklet, but it’s everything human rights workers need when dealing with enemies.
Human rights groups, led by European Union (EU)-Philippines Justice Support Program (EPJust), launched yesterday a 34-page booklet titled Human Rights Defenders Handbook, which instructs human rights workers what to do when faced with threats to their freedom and security.
Cebu police office power supply cut off
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 12:23 a.m.CEBU CITY -- For the second time this month, the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) lost its power supply.
Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador, officer-in-charge (OIC) of the CPPO, said the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) cut the power connection around 1:30 p.m. last Monday.
Pedophile syndicate operating in Cebu: officials
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 12:19 a.m.CEBU CITY -- Officials of Barangay Basak San Nicolas in this city are tracking down another suspected pedophile, who picks up girls as young as 12 years old and pays them for sexual favors.
The Cebu City Commission for the Welfare and Protection of Children (CCWPC) called on all victims of motorcycle dealer Romeo Lim-Rañola to come out and testify against him so they can strengthen the case his 13-year-old alleged victim filed last Monday.
Power plant's coal runs low
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 01:09 a.m.CEBU CITY -- Raw coal supply for the power-generating operations of Kepco-Salcon Power Corp. (KSPC) are running low and an executive said the company has only enough coal in its stockyard to last until Wednesday.
But in a separate interview, Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas Director Antonio Labios assured that power supply in Metro Cebu and the rest of the region will not suffer.
Cebu guv: Rico J's beauty joke no big deal
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 01:08 a.m.CEBU CITY -- Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said there's no need to make her beauty enhancement a big issue because these procedures are no longer taboo.
She said she was not offended when singer Rico J. Puno asked her, within earshot of some people, if she had beauty enhancement by celebrity cosmetic treatment specialists Drs. Vicky Belo or Manny Calayan.
Board requests Sanchez for health update
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:54 a.m.HOW is Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr.’s health?
Members of the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) raised yesterday the need for an official update, as they considered the possibility of having an acting vice governor designated.
Barangay execs discuss ways to manage wastes amid risk of losing cash aid
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:47 a.m.THREE days prior to the closure of the Inayawan landfill, barangay officials discussed solutions to Cebu City’s garbage problem.
Officials of the city’s 80 barangays agreed yesterday to implement waste segregation, composting of biodegradable matter and recycling or re-using of non-biodegradable materials.
Olango town bid ‘to affect’ Lapu
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:38 a.m.EVEN if she supports the bid of 11 barangays to declare Olango Island as a separate town, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza fears the proposal could affect the lone district status of the city, as well as its share of the internal revenue allotment.
Lapu-Lapu’s loss could be Mandaue City’s gain, as Mayor Jonas Cortes said yesterday that Olango’s proposal to become a town could help his city in its bid to become a lone district.
Girl files cases for child porn, trafficking vs. businessman
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:35 a.m.THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) filed a complaint for child pornography and human trafficking against a businessman who allegedly abducted a 13-year-old girl last Saturday.
The minor was accompanied by personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Services and city police officers in filing the charges against Romeo Lim-Rañola, a motorcycle dealer.
8 CH employees ‘regularly visit’ drug den: Cosap
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:33 a.m.THE Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap) received reports that there are some City Hall employees who are taking illegal drugs.
Cosap chairman Joey Herrera disclosed that eight employees of a City Hall department allegedly have been visiting a drug den in the city.
PAL strike looms in April
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:31 a.m.THE Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (Palea), together with other labor groups in Cebu, held an indignation rally at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to condemn President Benigno Aquino III for allowing the local carrier to push through with its outsourcing plans.
Nicanor Labrado, director of the Palea Mactan board, said if PAL pushes through with labor contractualization and outsourcing, some 400 employees based in Cebu will also lose their jobs.
Lapu coastal council galvanized to address selling of rare corals
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:28 a.m.LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza will call the attention of the City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC) to address the spate of incidents involving the illegal collection of marine life, such as shells and rare corals.
In an interview yesterday, Radaza told Sun.Star Cebu she was shocked by recent reports that some barangays in the city were involved in the illegal business of selling rare corals and shells.
Joavan’s claim remains unsupported
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:28 a.m.WITH no witnesses to testify for him, Joavan Fernandez’s claim that he was harassed by four unidentified men remains uncorroborated.
As of yesterday, acting Talisay City Police Station Chief Errol Francis Deveyra said no one came forward to identify the four men who allegedly harassed Joavan.
Festival to feature caves, falls, forest in city’s mountain brgys.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:26 a.m.THREE waterfalls, a forest and a few caves in Cebu City are just some of the attractions the 8th Visayas Mountain Festival will feature.
For the first time, the festival will be held in Cebu City, with the City Government taking the lead in promoting the activity as part of its program to make Cebu City an “Event City.”
City signs deal for new office of Fuente cops
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:25 a.m.A THREE-story concrete building will be the new home of the Fuente Police Station in midtown Cebu City.
The new police station will be constructed in front of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 headquarters along Osmeña Blvd.
Bohol fisherman adrift at sea for 4 days rescued
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:24 a.m.A FISHERMAN from Bohol, who drifted for days in the sea, was rescued on the shore of Barangay Pasil, Santander, Cebu last Saturday morning.
Pablo Consun, 68, a native of Inabanga, Bohol, was found at 10 a.m., said PO2 Gery Tayad in a phone interview yesterday.
City to send Japan P3M, shirts as aid
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 12:21 a.m.THE Cebu City Government will give financial assistance to Japan and in some parts of the Visayas that were severely affected by recent catastrophes.
Mayor Michael Rama said the City Government will give P5 million to show their concern to the calamity-stricken country and nearby provinces in the city.
Joavan reports Tabunok shooting, seeks help from cops
Monday, March 28, 2011 - 12:58 a.m.JOAVAN Fernandez appeared in a police report again. But this time, he’s the victim.
The adopted son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez reported to police Saturday night that while he was buying lechon manok in Barangay Tabunok, four unidentified men harassed him by kicking his red SUV. One of them fired a gun to threaten him.
Go beyond Earth Hour, DOE appeals
Monday, March 28, 2011 - 12:55 a.m.THE total amount of power saved during Earth Hour last Saturday was higher than the amount saved last year, based on the load drop monitoring results of the Visayan Electric Company (Veco).
The hour-long activity was also a time to reflect on energy conservation and to pray for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which is still working to contain the damage on its nuclear power plant in Fukushima.
Judges to get 20% pay hike
Monday, March 28, 2011 - 12:55 a.m.A DEAL was forged recently between the Supreme Court (SC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of the first tranche of pay increases for judges.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) entered into by the DBM and the SC in Manila was “in recognition of the present plight of judges and to partially address the clamor” for an increase.
More doctors, nurses needed in Guba hospital
Monday, March 28, 2011 - 12:53 a.m.GUBA Community Hospital in the mountain village of Guba, Cebu City has stopped accepting patients for admission late last year when it lost its license to admit patients, owing largely to its dilapidated facilities.
But by June this year, a fully equipped primary hospital will be ready to provide health care to residents of mountain villages in the city’s north district.
