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.

Kin denies man tied up nephew for 2 days

THE family of a man who was earlier accused of tying and handcuffing his nephew clarified that his action was not meant to cause pain but to teach the nephew a lesson.

“We tied him not to make him suffer but instead to let him tell us where he sold the ice bucket and let him feel what he was doing to us,” the family of Matias Tabasa said in a press statement to Sun.Star Cebu.

Free summertime service helps boys undergo rite of passage

HE IS only nine years old, but John Carl Pelare is already facing a dilemma.

Pelare of Barangay Calajoan, Minglanilla, Cebu was bothered that his friends would often tease him for being uncircumcised.

Ex-commissioner to review Cebu poll results

CEBU CITY -- Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Gregorio Larazabal will review and analyze records on the May 13 elections to help determine what next step Representative Pablo John Garcia will take.

Garcia, outgoing congressman of Cebu Province’s third district, lost by 163,906 votes to lawyer and former Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III.

‘Life’ claims victory

THE outcome from last Monday’s election shows there is a Catholic vote, said one of the most vocal campaigners against the Reproductive Health (RH) law.

Of the candidates endorsed and campaigned for by the Lay Initiative for Elections 2013 (Life), six out of 12 made it to the Senate and seven out of eight in Cebu will be joining the Lower House.

Most CCMC nurses hired between July and Dec not interviewed

THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) 7 has ordered an investigation on the hiring of 17 nurses for the Cebu City Medical Center who were not interviewed by the Personnel Selection Board.

The Human Resource and Development Office, through acting head Evangeline Abatayo, confirmed that only three of the nurses were interviewed.

Argao politician talks about waking the ‘sleeping giant’

PROVINCIAL Board Member Wilfredo Caminero attributed his recent victory in the second district congressional race to the farmers and fisherfolk in the province.

“Kay kining mga tawhana sleeping giant, nga maoy makatampo pag-irog ug pagdasig sa economiya sa lungsod (They are the sleeping giant who can move and stimulate a town’s economy),” he said.

Rama off to a ‘secret’ holiday

FRESH off a reelection victory, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will leave for a 22-day vacation today. However, he’s not saying where he’s going.

For his equally successful runningmate, Vice Mayor-elect Edgardo Labella, he will hold a victory party tonight and a thanksgiving mass.

Job fair attracts hundreds

IRINE Cantal dressed up and went to the Benedicto College carrying a brown envelope filled with copies of her resume.

She has been looking for work for the past six weeks, handing out copies of her resume and taking tests in one hotel after another.

Thai journalists briefed on CCPC’s objectives

A GROUP of journalists from Thailand met with the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) yesterday. They’re here because they want to write something good about the Philippines.

Anucha Charoenpo, vice president of the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), said members of their media organizations were divided into groups.

CA reverses ruling on drug suspect

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has saved a man from Cebu City from spending his entire life in prison for an illegal drugs sale.

The appellate court’s Special 12th Division reversed the lower court’s decision finding Solomon Dequitos guilty of violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Cabahug wharf resumes operation after capsized cargo vessel towed

THE MV Maria Angelica Grace was removed from the Cabahug private wharf in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City last week, allowing the facility to operate again more than two months after the vessel capsized.

Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Station Commander Weniel Azcuna said the Uni Orient Pearl Venture Inc., the firm hired to salvage the vessel, was able to tow the vessel some 200 meters away, after a failed attempt last month.

Family figures in mishap after southern beach trip

A FAMILY of 14 from Cebu City was injured after the sports utility vehicle they were riding fell into a ditch in Barangay Poblacion West in the southern town of Moalboal last Saturday night.

PO2 Romeo Legaspi Jr. of the Moalboal Police Station said the accident happened at 7 p.m. when the white Galloper (MDX-554) driven by Edwardo Badayos lost control.

3 men caught for cop’s death

THE police arrested last Friday night three men who were allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of a policeman in Barangay Looc, Danao City.

Supt. Resty Santos, Danao City police chief, identified the suspects as Ronstel Casas, 27; Rollie Capin, 31; and Brave Alvaro, 19.

Police probe shooting of Kalunasan woman, stabbing of tire salesman

AN unknown man shot and killed a woman in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City last Friday night.

Jovelyn Pepito Casida, 28, died after being shot in the eye allegedly by the driver of a motorcycle she was riding at 6:30 p.m.

Danao policeman shot 7 times, dies

A POLICE officer died after five men repeatedly shot him near an illegal cockfight arena in Barangay Looc, Danao City late yesterday afternoon.

SPO3 Jose Relampagos, who was assigned to the Tuburan Police Station, was shot seven times in his head and body.

Mayoralty candidate in Tuburan won’t face raps

DEFEATED Tuburan, Cebu mayoralty candidate Rose Marie Suezo and her running mate Daphne Lagon will not face trial for allegedly employing six armed men as bodyguards.

Cebu got most poll problems

CEBU Province has the most number of defective Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in the entire Central Visayas.

Of the total 215 defective PCOS machines in Region 7, Cebu has 134.

Radaza wants separate province for Mactan

NEWLY elected Rep. Aileen Radaza (Lapu-Lapu City, lone district) announced she will file a bill creating Mactan Province, saying this will hasten economic growth in the island.

Young to protest poll defeat

LIKE Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district), Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young won’t concede defeat to Councilor Edgardo Labella who was proclaimed vice mayor in last Monday’s elections last Thursday night.

Young said the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) will file a protest before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against the results for both the mayoral and vice mayoral races.

Call center official ‘tries to bribe’ police, arrested

THE vice president for external affairs of a call center company that was raided on suspicion of being involved in an online scam was arrested late Thursday afternoon for allegedly trying to bribe police.

Mayor’s executive asst. denies certifying funds are available

THE executive assistant of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama denied she was certifying the availability of funds when she signed a document for the clearing of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) route at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, the chairperson of the committee on budget and finance, questioned the authority of executive assistant Nenita Fernandez to sign the document.