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).

Pregnant woman, 35, dies in bus accident in Barili

A PREGNANT woman died while two others were injured after they were hit by a multicab driven by a barangay captain in Barangay Mantalongon, Barili, Cebu yesterday.

This, as a three-year-old child died when a Ceres bus crashed into a barbecue stall along the national highway of Barangay Talisay, Santander, Cebu last Saturday evening.

City files case vs Bato folks

THE Cebu City Government filed a criminal case against 21 residents in Sitio Bato in Barangay Ermita, for allegedly blocking the City’s efforts to clear an area that fire struck last month.

The case was filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor last Friday, three days after the proclamation of Michael Rama as the reelected mayor of Cebu City.

P580-M loan for port dredging still on hold

FOR three years now, government has been trying to get a P580-million loan to dredge and deepen the sea near Cebu City’s port, so that larger cargo vessels and cruise ships can dock there.

But the loan application of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) remains on hold, said General Manager Dennis Villamor.

2 nabbed for violating gun ban, in effect ‘til June 12

A ROBBERY suspect from Masbate was collared by the police in Mandaue City yesterday dawn, one of two men caught in the city during the weekend for allegedly violating the gun ban.

Helario Sollano, alias Ondo, 43, a native of Placer, Masbate was arrested for alleged illegal possession of a firearm and violation of the election gun ban past 1 a.m. in Barangay Labogon.

Memorial tries to cast light on HIV

HE CRIED for days when he tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) last December.

“I felt hopeless,” said 19-year-old RG (real name withheld). “It’s like I’m one step closer to death.”

Davide in dept heads’ meeting

GOVERNOR-ELECT Hilario Davide III was invited to attend the regular Monday meeting of the Cebu Provincial Government’s department heads to help him prepare for his term, which begins at noon on June 30.

Davide said it was Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale who invited him to today’s meeting, which will give him a chance to begin consultations with different groups, including Capitol’s executives.

Plans, MOA needed for Bantayan, Camotes airports

TWO agencies will have to sign an agreement with the Cebu Provincial Government before the construction of airports in San Francisco, Camotes Island and Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island can proceed, an official said.

These agencies are the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Public schools reminded vs enrollment fees

THE Cebu City Council appealed to the public schools in the city to avoid collecting “unreasonable” or “unauthorized” contributions from students.

“With the ongoing enrollment for public schools in the city, every Filipino family is now faced with financial challenges with the demand of school fees and other miscellaneous expenses,” said Councilor Edgardo Labella in a resolution.

9 ‘illegal recruiters’ hauled to court

NINE persons will face trial after the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office charged them with large-scale illegal recruitment and estafa.

The accused allegedly offered five victims with non-existent work in the United States in exchange of P224,000.

3 men to face trial for cutting trees in Cebu forest reserve

THREE persons will face trial for allegedly cutting several mahogany trees in the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve.

Cebu City Prosecutor Dixon Fuentes found enough evidence to indict Dondon Maluya, Juvy Pintor and Vicky Pintor with violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree (PD) 705, or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines.