Talisay City mayor’s son arrested

CEBU CITY -- After more than three weeks since his last brush with the law, Joavan Fernandez was arrested Monday night.

Police said they served the bench warrant for slight physical injuries on Joavan inside his father’s house in Barangay Bulacao around 7 p.m.

Council looks into water project status

THE Danao City Council yesterday passed a resolution authorizing Councilor Oscar “Boying” Durano Rodriguez to conduct inquiries on the status of the bulk water project that’s been mothballed since 2011.

Security chief also facing P5M civil suit

ASIDE from his alleged involvement in the death of shopper Mario Alfie Ducayag, Metro Gaisano Colon chief security officer Mauricio Doblados Jr. was also charged last year for his refusal to reveal the names of the persons who allegedly discriminated against an African-American national.

The P5-million civil lawsuit was filed before a court in Mandaue City by Colbert Bellevue and his wife, Emelita, against Doblados, Vicsal Development Corp., Jonas Jica, Lady Vhee Calderon, Myrna Onahan, and Rovelyn Pia Gaviola.

Shopper’s death came in less than a minute: NBI

WHILE the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 is investigating the death of shopper Mario Alfie Ducayag, a woman surfaced yesterday and claimed that her husband also died after he was mauled by the Metro Gaisano Colon’s security personnel.

Raisa Belciña said her husband Daniel, 49, died in a public hospital three days after he was allegedly caught stealing a set of underwear on May 6 last year.

Agencies ‘101 percent ready’ for poll day

WITH the elections just around the corner, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) 7, Department of Education (Deped) 7, the police and military assured the voting public they have a “complete, concise and intact preparation” for this year’s midterm automated polls.

People will come like waterfalls: Rama

WITH the campaign period about to end, Team Rama of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has scheduled six miting de avance for the May 13 elections.

In his regular news conference yesterday, the mayor disclosed that three miting de avance will be conducted in the north district and another three in the south. They are scheduled on May 9 and 10, respectively.

Man, 45, deranged, holds 4-year-old hostage

A MENTALLY-ILL man held captive an 11-year-old girl for almost three hours in Daanbantayan, Cebu yesterday and was shot by police for refusing to surrender.

Church group reveals picks

CEBU CITY -- Three incumbent congressmen and five members of Cebu’s prominent political families have won the endorsement of a church-based group organized for the May 13 elections.

The Lay Initiatives for Elections (Life) 2013 also endorsed 12 candidates, six of them from the main opposition group United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Highways among local aspirants' pledges

NEW roads that will connect Cebu's eastern and western seaboards, or go from north to south, are among the promises some local candidates have made in the run-up to May 13.

Casiño wants clear-cut industrial plan

A COMPREHENSIVE industrial plan, a genuine agrarian reform and a law protecting the Visayan Sea are among the legislations senatorial candidate Teodoro "Teddy" Casiño will pursue if he gets elected.

The Bayan Muna representative said the legislations will benefit the Cebuanos.

Cebu City Hall acquires 10 brand new dump trucks

TO SPEED up its garbage collection, the Cebu City Government's Department of Public Services (DPS) recently acquired 10 brand new dump trucks worth P18.6 million.

Of the 10 units, eight are big trucks that cost at least P2.1 million each, while two are medium-sized trucks worth P900,000 each.

Teachers in BEIs get support

THE Department of Education (DepEd) in Central Visayas is prepared to provide legal assistance and technical support to all the teachers who will be on duty during the elections.

Abaca members deny reports it backs Team Rama

THE Alliance of Barangay Apas Community Association Inc. (Abaca) yesterday denied that they are supporting Team Rama.

For several years now, it said, they have been supporting Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) led by Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district).

Access road to IT Park opens this May

AFTER being delayed for almost a month, the access road in a Capitol-owned lot in Barangay Apas, Cebu City will be opened to motorists this month.

City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) Executive Director Rafael Yap said they will be opening the road at the Ciudad project site next week, after their final meeting this Friday with the Asiatown IT Park Management.

Kin agree to lie-detector test

WITH the mixed statements of the Metro Gaisano Colon's security personnel on the nature of alleged shoplifter Mario Alfie Ducayag's death, the 23-year-old housekeeping student's family is open to the possibility of letting them undergo a lie-detection test.

But it is up to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 to decide, said Ducayag's sister, Marie Shantylle.

Officials seek City's help for fire victims

COUNCILORS of Barangay Subangdaku yesterday passed a resolution requesting the Mandaue City Government to extend financial aid or any assistance to the fire victims in Sitio Sapa-Sapa Dos.

Captain Ernie Manatad said the resolution will be endorsed to the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council today.

2 men go for a swim after drinking, drown

CONSUMING alcohol while swimming proved dangerous to two men, who drowned in separate incidents in Cebu Province over the weekend.

The first incident happened in Barangay Colase, Samboan where Aquiles Pega, 24, was found floating in the sea.

Capsized boat jeopardizes operations of Looc wharf

MORE than two months after it capsized, the mv Maria Angelica Grace remains submerged at the Cabahug private wharf in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City.

Philippine Coast Guard Cebu Commander Weniel Azcuna said the wharf's shallow waters have hampered the operations of the Uni Orient Pearl Venture Inc., the firm hired to salvage the ill-fated ship.

2 federations choose Rama

TWO federations that claim to have 60,000 members in Cebu City endorsed yesterday the slate of Mayor Michael Rama’s Team Rama for the May 13 elections.

The Urban Poor Solidarity Federation said they are supporting Team Rama because they believe the group will help uplift the lives of the urban poor.

Pray for wise choices, voters urged

WITH the elections just a week away, leaders of the Cebuano community appealed to voters to pray and study what candidates stand for.

“Your vote is sacred, ayaw padala sa gusto mopalit sa inyong boto (Do not be influenced by those who want to buy your vote),” Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma told reporters after presiding over the command conference last Friday of the Cebu Citizens Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation (C-Cimpel).

Casiño: Government should support social enterprises

BAYAN Muna Party-list Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Casiño yesterday stressed the need to pass a law strengthening and promoting social enterprises.

The senatorial candidate said social enterprises--businesses with a social mission such as improving the lives of the marginalized and caring for the environment--can help reduce poverty.

CFI official explains coop mechanics

THE Cebu CFI (Court of First Instance) Community Cooperative gives back up to 30-percent dividends to its members.

According to Lito Astillero, a member of its board of directors, the cooperative’s total earnings for the year is shared by all its members in the form of dividends and patronage refund, or “annual payment to depositors,” as provided in the Cooperative Code of the Philippines.

10-year-old boy killed in cave-in

A BOY died and his uncle was injured after they were buried when the riverbank collapsed while they were hauling sand in San Fernando, Cebu late Friday afternoon.

SPO4 Victor Cuyno of San Fernando Police Station identified the fatality as 10-year-old Jecan Geraldiza.

Senatorial candidate gets on board submarine issue

LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza has given the operators of Cebu Yellow Submarine until Monday to reply to the cease-and-desist order she issued last Monday.

If the submarine hit the coral reef, Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Casiño said the management should pay damages.

Raid vs. rob group yields negative

ACTING on a tip from a concerned citizen, police raided a pension house on V. Gullas St., Barangay Sto. Niño, Cebu City last Friday night where an Ozamiz-based robbery group reportedly stayed.

But when the intelligence operatives and members of the Special Weapons and Tactics of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) arrived at Hope Pension House at 6 p.m., the group had already left.

Carmen fire hits 5 houses

FIVE houses were razed when a fire broke out in Barangay Fuente, Carmen town, Cebu last Friday afternoon.

SFO1 Romeo Pono of the Carmen Fire Station said they received the alarm in Sitio Suba at 3:20 p.m., and declared it under control after four minutes.

Junie accuses Ramirez of drug use

BOGO City, Cebu Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. and Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez threw accusations yesterday, with Martinez claiming that Ramirez owed an explanation to his constituents for alleged used of illegal drugs and immorality.

Ramirez, however, said Martinez has resorted to black propaganda to promote the candidacy of his son, Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, who is challenging the candidacy of reelectionist Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, fourth district) and Junie’s son-in-law, Robbie Herrera, who is running for mayor against Ramirez.

No peace pact reached between Tuburan bets

THERE was no peace covenant signed between the opposing political parties in Tuburan town yesterday, as both groups traded accusations of harassment and of harboring private armies.

While the entire slate of Dr. Rose Suezo of One Cebu was present, Mayor Democrito “Aljun” Diamante and his team of the Liberal Party, however, failed to attend the meeting, citing the scheduled pulong-pulong in the town’s mountain barangays.

Admin rap junked

THE anti-graft body dismissed the administrative charge filed against two village officials from Babag, Lapu-Lapu City, who were accused of moonlighting as brokers and pressured a landowner to sell his property at a lower price in 2011.

Vivien Leigh Lumangtad, graft investigation and prosecution officer, dismissed for lack of evidence the misconduct complaint against Babag Barangay Capt. Elias Berdin and Councilor Jun Ybañez.

Inspection shows resort violated ECC conditions

AN ENVIRONMENTAL Management Bureau (EMB) 7 inspector has recommended issuing a notice of violation to the Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City in relation to its environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

Imperial Palace, in a statement, said it has informed the agency of the changes and that it has received the EMB 7’s letter that contains advice on the revisions.