Bt talong decision elates green groups

JUBILATION met the appellate court’s decision to stop further experimental propagation of Bacillus thuringiensis eggplant (Bt talong) among environmental organizations.

The Special 13th Division of the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of environmental groups and the Davao City Government represented by erstwhile City Agriculture Office officer-in-charge Leonardo R. Avila III ordering the propagators of Bt talong to “permanently cease and desist from conducing Bt talong field trials.”

Classes to open June 3

THE Department of Education in Davao Region (DepEd) will open classes on June 3 even in areas hit by Super Typhoon “Pablo” like Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte.

DepEd spokesperson Jenielito Atillo, speaking in last Friday's Kapehan sa PIA at VIPnoy in Abreeza Mall, said government has installed temporary learning spaces such as tents in areas ravaged by the calamity.

DepEd holds teacher’s seminar

THE Department of Education in Davao Region (DepEd) conducted a five-day training, assessment and evaluation seminar for Grade 8 teachers at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina campus.

The seminar, which started last May 22, was participated by various teachers from Davao del Norte and Compostella Valley.

Estafa raps vs car dealer dismissed

THE City Prosecutor's Office (CPO) recommended the dismissal of the estafa complaints filed by a private employee against a car dealer in Davao City.

Charged with estafa through fraudulent misrepresentation was Allan Pete De Castro, of Topaz Street at Sto. Nino Village in Matina, Davao City.

Drug bureau files raps vs 2 pushers

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Davao Region (PDEA) filed charges before the City Prosecution Office (CPO) against two suspected illegal drug pushers.

PDEA Davao Director Emerson R. Rosales identified the suspects as Krap Mamonalas Buisan, 20, a resident of Barangay Malagapas in Cotabato City, and Yasser Alip Nandang, 61, resident of Barangay Tukananas in Cotabato City. The suspects were arrested during a buy-bust operation Wednesday.

DCPO posts high crime solution efficiency

THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-11) posted a 32.30 percent and 38.26 percent in crime solution efficiency (CSE) and crime clearance efficiency (CCE), respectively, for the first quarter of 2013.

PRO 11 public information office deputy chief Senior Inspector Gretchin Cinco said CSE is derived by dividing the total crimes solved by the total crime incidents and multiplying it by 100.

Gun ban nets 260 violators

THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-11) has arrested a total of 260 violators since the Commission on Elections (Comelec) imposed the gun ban in January 13.

Based on the latest data from the PRO 11, 134 violators were charged, while a total of 157 firearms were confiscated and 158 deadly weapons were seized.

Plane crash delays flights

TWO departures and one arrival of commercial flights were delayed after airport officials suspended its operations following the crash landing of a single-seater Agcat plane owned by Mactan Aviation takeoff on Friday around 8 a.m.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) said three flights with around 700 passengers were affected because they had to remove debris on the runway.

Davao reefs in ‘dismal state’

DAVAO CITY -- Silt coming from the deforested upland slopes along Davao’s watershed areas is putting the coastal biodiversity in peril, according to a watershed profile study commissioned by the Interface Development Interventions (Idis).

In a statement emailed to Sun.Star Davao, Idis said siltation, previous blast fishing, and wave action have been identified as the reasons why the reefs of the seven coastal barangays belonging to the Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan watershed system are in a “dismal state.”

Smoke-belchers face P1,000 fine

FROM now on, motor vehicles plying within the territorial jurisdiction of the city have to conform to the emission standards or face penalties.

This after Mayor Sara Duterte inked the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance of Davao City.

5,136 crime incidents in Davao Region in Q1

THE Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 has recorded a total of 5,136 crime incidents in Davao Region during the first quarter of 2013.

The figure includes crime incidents reported 1,162 barangays in the entire region.

Man shot dead

A 22-year-old man was shot dead by an unidentified gunman outside his house at Roseville Subdivision, Lanang around 2:35 p.m., Thursday.

Buhangin police identified the victim as Jose Almer Denaga Barao, 22, single, unemployed and a resident of the same place.

2 more drug pushers nabbed

TWO suspected drug pushers were arrested in two separate buy-bust operations conducted by police authorities in Davao City Thursday.

The most recent operation was launched by Sta. Ana police led by station commander Superintendent Caezar Cabuhat at corner Juan Luna and Jacinto St. around 11:30 p.m. which resulted to the arrest of one Ramil Sema Ramos, a 34-year-old pedicab driver and a resident of Barangay 22-C Poblacion.

P12M smuggled rice seized at Sasa port

BUREAU of Customs (BOC) led by Commissioner Ruffy Biazon inspected on Thursday P12-million worth of smuggled rice seized by authorities at Sasa Port in Davao City in March.

Joint operatives of the Customs Intelligence Group in Manila and Davao port seized the illegal rice shipment that were placed in 23 misdeclared 20-footer container vans consigned to two different Davao traders.

Cigarette distributors told: Remove signages

AN OFFICIAL of the Anti-Smoking Task Force of Davao City told distributors of cigarettes in the city on Thursday to remove its big signages placed atop some stores in the metropolis.

"We encourage them to remove it and transfer it to a city which is not implementing an anti-smoking ordinance. So do not dare us na lang to remove the ads," Dr. Domilyn C. Villareiz, chair for Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force, said during the I-Speak Forum on Thursday.

Low turnout of PTC payment during polls

THE New People's Army (NPA) rebels were only able to get a measly P26 million from their permit-to-campaign collections in the recently concluded midterm elections. Not a huge amount considering their target of P500 million PTC fee from candidates, according to the military.

Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Public Affairs Office chief Major Ramon Zagala said the figure came from documents the military recovered from various armed engagements with the rebel group.

Duterte apologizes to Taiwan

DAVAO City mayor-elect Rodrigo Duterte apologized to Taiwanese government on Monday over the killing of a fisherman in a shooting incident last May 9, a Taiwan-based national daily reported.

In an online report published by The China Post dated May 21, 2013, it said that Duterte called Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin to ask for apology for the slain fisherman, Hung Shih-Cheng, 65, who was killed during an anti-illegal fishing patrol by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) off Philippine waters.

Couple killed in Kidapawan

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A hardware store owner and her live-in partner were killed while two of their workers were seriously wounded when unidentified gunmen attacked them while inside their house at a subdivision here around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

City police director Supt. Chino Mamburam identified the slain victims as Gina Bayhon, wife of a former military officer and owner of Donamae Hardware, and his live-in partner, Kenneth Gelloriza.

Student sued for gun ban violation

A FOURTH year high school student is facing charges before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) for keeping a seven-inch ice pick.

Charged with violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Gun Ban was Jebson Alayao Bansag, 19, of Calinan District in Davao City.

Colleagues want speedy probe on Pops' death

HUNDREDS of colleagues and supporters of Fr. Fausto "Pops" Tentorio are asking the Aquino administration to initiate a speedy investigation into the death of the priest.

In a post outside a hotel on Porras Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City on Thursday around 4 p.m. the colleagues and supporters of Tentorio held a liturgy and candle lighting, hoping that the probe of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will have a positive result.

2 ‘big-time’ drug pushers nabbed

JOINT personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Davao region and Philippine Air Force (PAF) arrested two big time drug pushers in a buy-bust operation in Tulip Drive, Barangay 76-A on Wednesday.

Man shot dead in Agdao

A 26-YEAR-OLD man was shot dead Wednesday in Gotamco, Barangay Leon Garcia, Agdao, Davao City.

The shooting took place around 1 a.m., killing one Ronald Villabas, 26, a resident of the said place.

2 more houses robbed

TWO houses were robbed in separate incidents in Davao City on Wednesday, victimizing an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) and an employee of a gasoline station.

The first incident happened around 7 a.m. at Purok San Lorenzo, Buhangin. The victim was identified as Joan Maquiling del Mondo, a 26-year-old OFW and a renter of #0407 Sto. Niño St.

Sun.Star photographer harassed

DAVAO - Journalists covering the fire at the Department of Psychiatry of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), more commonly referred to as the Mental Hospital in Davao City, had their attentions turned when hospital personnel grabbed Sun.Star Davao photojournalist, took his camera by force, and erased the photos taken of the fire.

King Rodriguez was but one of many mediamen covering the fire.

Guv denies claims she won in 2 towns

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Cotabato Governor-elect Lala Talino-Mendoza denied claims by her rival gubernatorial candidate Manny Piño, that she only won in two towns in the province last May 2013 elections.

Data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed that Mendoza garnered 254,121 votes over Piñol's 203,657 or a difference of 50,464 votes.

Fire hits Davao mental hospital

A FIRE razed the Department of Psychiatry of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) along J. P. Laurel Avenue Wednesday morning.

The fire displaced 197 patients while the damage was placed at P2 million.

Laborer faces raps for grave threat

POLICE filed charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday against a suspect who threatened a driver.

Charged with grave threat under the Revised Penal Code and violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban was Jose Angkay Paraguya, 55, a laborer, resident of Baliok, Talomo District.

Manhunt on for 3 suspects in slay

POLICE launched a manhunt against three suspects who were believed to be responsible for the slaying of a 26-year-old man in Barangay Leon Garcia, Agdao last Wednesday morning.

Superintendent Caezar Cabuhat, chief of the Sta. Ana police station, identified the victim as Ronald Oliveros, 26, of Gotamco in Barangay Leon Garcia, Agdao.

No replacement yet for Sara

AN OFFICIAL of the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod said the local administration party has yet to discuss on who will succeed Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as their president.

Councilor-elect Melchor Quitain said members of the party are still busy assessing the recent midterm elections, which was dominated by Hugpong candidates.

Dads want liquor ban proposal discussed at SP

TWO city councilors wanted the proposal of Mayor-elect Rodrigo Duterte to make the liquor ban one hour earlier be tackled in the City Council.

In a text message, Councilor-elect Joanne Bonguyan said she saw the importance of putting the issue on the table as it may create an impact to the tourism industry of the city.