Davao flood death toll rises to 29

DAVAO CITY -- The death toll on the flash flood that hit five villages here rose to 29 as local officials scramble to provide relief assistance to at least 12,000 families affected by the inundation.

The City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) identified the 29 fatalities as: Rowena Valderoza, 7; Catherine Valderoza, 4; Lydia Valderoza; John Carlo Alvarez, 3; Jason Saturos Male, 3; Chzareha Saturos, 33; John Michael Alvarez, 7; John Cris Alvarez, 8; Kenneth Ian Ayag, 4; Angelita E. Paches, 65; Melchin Soreño, 2; Alexis Baricuatro, 4; Alexandria Baricuatro, 8; Adora Baricuatro, 26; Tito Servedad, 53; Beth Amatos, 7; Carl Andre Oliveros, 9; Dominic Onde, 30; Cassandra Supa, 2; Jaime Bawo, 41; Conchita Bawo, 43; Rachel Ayag, 5; Jovito Munsad, 60; Vicente Ladaga, 58; Antonio Inciso, 77; Keizle Tano, 16; Kent Aneglo Tano, 9; Cherry Saturo, 4; and Rogelio Valderoza III, 2.

Victims recount harrowing experience

GRIEVING families of flashflood victims from Arroyo Compound, Matina Pangi shared their horrific experiences at the Collado Funeral Homes on Thursday.

Alexander Baricuatro, who lost five members of his family, including his two children Alexandra and Alexis, wife Adora, and his in-laws Conchita and Jaime Bawo, said they were separated during the flashfloods as they were struggling to cling on a tree.

11 Davao public schools won't be open until Monday

SOME 11 public schools affected by Wednesday's flashfloods in Davao City will remain closed until Monday, a Department of Education (DepEd) official said.

Eva Antipuesto, administrative office of DepEd-Davao, said of the 11 schools, three are still under water. These include Escoda Elementary School in Ma-a, Matina Central Elementary School, and Matina Pangi Elementary School.

Social Welfare office donates food packs

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Davao has released a total of P380,000 worth of donations to families affected by the June 29 flashfloods.

"We immediately provided...food packs and hot meals to the affected households even as we requested P5.3 million from DSWD National Office for the purchase of additional relief goods," said DSWD-Davao Assistant Director Priscilla Razon.

Kidapawan radioman gets death threats

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A hard-hitting radio commentator of an FM station here received threatening messages from a caller who identified herself as the mother of a murder suspect the authorities seized inside a karaoke bar four days ago.

2 relocation sites for victims identified

THE City Government of Davao has identified two relocation sites where families affected by the recent flashfloods, especially the indigents, will be relocated.

Roberto P. Alabado III, acting chief of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), told reporters Thursday that a 22-hectare land in Los Amigos and a 20-hectare lot in Lasang have been eyed to be the relocation sites of indigent families affected by the flashfloods that hit five barangays in the southern part of the city.

Davao flood death toll now 27

DAVAO CITY (Updated 12:39 p.m.) -- The number of fatalities in this city's flash floods triggered by torrential rain has risen to 27 with more than 12,000 families affected as of Thursday.

The latest bodies recovered were identified as Keizle Taño, 16, of Barangay Matina Aplayaa and a certain "Rogelio".

Ombud orders dismissal of 6 Kidapawan workers

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Six government employees of Kidapawan City Government, including the head of the accounting office, were ordered dismissed from public service for dishonesty, misconduct, and acts prejudicial to public service.

5 Davao City villages under state of calamity

DAVAO CITY (Updated) -- Five villages here have been placed under state of calamity after flash floods triggered by torrential rain swept away dozens of houses and killed at least 26 people, mostly children, officials said.

Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday afternoon called for a special session for the declaration.

2 men face raps for illegal drugs

TWO men are facing charges before the City Prosecutor's Office (CPO) for allegedly possessing suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Charged with violation of Sections 11 and 12 of Republic Act (RA) 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002, are Jeric Amor, 18, a resident of Tibungco relocation; and Raul Rasay, 22, a resident of Panacan.

New group to submit proposal to peace panels

TO DEVELOP and strengthen a broad grassroots peace constituency in monitoring the development of the Government of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (GPH-MILF) negotiations, peace groups formed the Change for Peace (C4P).

Bapa Jose Akmad, C4P convenor, said that through the formation of the group, they could urge the government to submit their counter-proposal to the (GPH-MILF) peace negotiations.

Bizman introduces indigenous construction materials

THE MyShelter Foundation founder Illac Diaz was in Davao Tuesday to promote sustainable solutions and alternative construction as an answer to poverty and calamity devastations.

Using the minimax strategy -- minimum resources with maximum gain, Diaz, during a seminar sponsored by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII), asked, "Why do we have to look for expensive construction materials when we can use a middle ground technology that is four to five times stronger?"

Davao flood death toll now 25

DAVAO CITY (5th Update, 5:35 p.m.) -- Twenty-five people were confirmed dead while 3,000 families were displaced by the flooding that hit this city Tuesday evening.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, 19 of the confirmed fatalities were identified as Angelita Paches, 65 years old; Alexander Baricuatro, 4; Jason Ataros, 3; John Michel Alvarez, 7; Rowena Balderosa, 7; Melchin Roseno, 2; John Carlo Alvarez, 3; Tito Servidad, 53; Dennis Ayag, 4; Pastor Jimmy Bao; Conchita Bao; Isadora Baricuatro; Antonio Inciso, 77; infant Chris Alvarez; Alexandria Baricuatro, 7; Beth Amatos, 7; Catherine Balderosa; Kassandra Supa, 2; and Carl Andrei Olivares, nine months old.

22 dead in Davao flashfloods

DAVAO CITY (4th update, 4:05 p.m.) -- Twenty-two people were confirmed dead in the flooding incident caused by heavy rains last Tuesday night here.

Thirteen of the fatalities were children. They were identified as infant Chris Alvarez; Carl Andrei Olivares, nine months old; Melchin Roseno, 2; Kassandra Supa, 2; Jason Ataros, 3; John Carlo Alvarez, 3; Jason Aturos, 3; Dennis Ayag, 4; Alexander Baricuatro, 4; Alexandria Baricuatro, 7; John Michel Alvarez, 7; Rowena Balderosa, 7; and Beth Amatos, 7.

15 dead in Davao flashfloods

DAVAO CITY (3rd update, 12:16 p.m.) -- The death toll from the flooding incident caused by heavy rains late Tuesday night here has risen to 15.

A television report said seven of the fatalities are children living beside the Matina river, which overflowed.

Death toll from Davao floods now at 14

DAVAO CITY (2nd update, 10:14 a.m.) -- Fatalities in the flooding incident caused by heavy rains in this city late Tuesday night has risen to 14.

A television report said majority of the fatalities are children living beside the Matina river, which overflowed.

4 die, 15 missing in Davao flashfloods

DAVAO CITY (Updated 8:26 a.m.) -- Four people died, 15 others went missing and thousands were affected after a flooding incident caused by heavy rains in this city late Tuesday night.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, in a television interview Wednesday, confirmed the four fatalities include a girl aged three to four, a six-year-old boy, a man and a woman aged more than 50.

Wealthy kids in Davao harass councilor outside bar

DAVAO -- Sons of rich and prominent families in Davao City have allegedly harassed a city councilor following an altercation between two groups of youngsters at a bar in the city early morning Sunday, the police said.

Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre reported to police Tuesday that he was harassed by a group of three teenagers whom he pacified following an earlier altercation with another group at Starr Resto Bar in Barrio Obrero, Davao City.

Customs seizes 2 trucks donated for Digos

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized two right-hand drive trucks reportedly sent over as donations by a Japanese company to the Digos City Government at Pacinter Wharf in Panabo City last week.

The confiscation came after Edmundo Magdaraog, acting district collector of the BOC-Davao, confirmed the information relayed by Senior Superintendent Elmer Duyo, chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao's Regional Mobile Group, and Senior Superintendent Pedro Cabatingan of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) regarding the unloading of two units of right-hand drive trucks from M/V Vega V-223 on June 2.

Man sued for taking video inside hotel's ladies restroom

A MAN has been charged for allegedly taking a video footage of a woman inside a restroom of a hotel.

Charged with violation of Republic Act 9995, otherwise known as Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009, was Neil Mark Romero after Prosecutor Gaye Magdagasang found probable cause to hold him for court trial based on the affidavit/complaint filed by the victim, Roliza Patenia, a category development executive of Nestle Philippines Inc. and a resident of Taguig City.

Extrajudicial killings a sole focus of rally

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Davao has set guidelines for the conduct of an indignation rally against extrajudicial killings (EJKs) or summary killings on July 1.

Lawyer Alberto Sipaco Jr., CHR-Davao director, said placards with messages that are not relevant to EJKs will not be allowed to be displayed or carried during the entire duration of the indignation rally.

Duterte backs Rabat's move to give sanctuary to rebels

DAVAO City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte supported Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat's move to make Mati a sanctuary for all rebels and policemen and military alike.

Chamber helps scrap buyers earn, protects environment

THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) initiated Tuesday the 11th Recyclable Collection Event, which aims to help scrap buyers earn and protect the environment.

Three of the six members of the Basureros De Davao (BDD), an organization of scrap buyers in Davao City participated in the event, which they described as an opportunity for them to help Dabawenyos get rid of their household junk.

Solid waste ordinance to be strictly followed

THE City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) is all set for the implementation of the City Ecological Solid Waste Ordinance of 2009 starting July 1.

"Nahuman nami sa among information dissemination campaign ug ready na ang mga personnel na nahuman na ug seminar ug maoy mo monitor sa implementasyon maong ordinansa (We are done with information dissemination. Our personnel had already undergone seminar to monitor the implementation of the ordinance)," said lawyer Joseph Dominic Felizarta, Cenro officer-in-charge.

Village showcases unique recycled innovation

AN AWARD-winning barangay showcased an innovative way of using recyclable materials for gardening containers at the Davao City Chamber of Commerce 11th Recyclable Collection event.

Barangay Bago Aplaya won second place in the Gulayan sa Barangay (GSB) last year and also bagged the award for the "Distinct Innovation and Uniqueness" award in 2008.

Vice mayor sees nothing wrong with safehouses

THERE is nothing wrong if the military and police maintain "secret safehouses" since there are certain operations that have to be kept under cover, said Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

In the live television program "Ato ni Bay", Duterte said all fighting forces, whether Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), New People's Army (NPA), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and other similar groups, have their own safehouses.

Council okays resort re-classification

THE City Council on Tuesday passed an ordinance re-classifying the controversial Eagle's Ridge Resort owned by a local businesswoman who has been operating the resort for more than two years without necessary permits from the government.

Twenty-one members of the City Council voted in favor of the ordinance, except for Councilors April Marie Dayap, Paolo Duterte, and Leah Librado who were on official business and domestic emergency leave.

Army: No benefits for kin of 2 soldiers in shootout

THE families of the two soldiers who shot each other inside the 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB) detachment in Barangay Kolonsabak, Matanao, Davao del Sur on Saturday night will not be entitled to any benefits.

Lieutenant Colonel Lyndon Paniza, chief of the 72nd IB, said Sergeant Donald Penafiel, detachment commander of the Echo Company of the 72nd IB, violated the rules and regulations when he allowed Private First Class Bernie Penafiel, resident of Marawi City, assigned with the Army's 6th Infantry Division in Bicol Region, to bring liquor inside the camp.

3 killed in shooting incident

TWO Army soldiers and a member of the Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) were killed after they figured in a shooting incident inside a detachment in Barangay Kolonsabak, Matanao, Davao del Sur, Saturday night.

The victims were identified as Sergeant Donald Penafiel, detachment commander of the Echo Company of the Army's 72nd Infantry Battalion; Private first class (Pfc) Bernie Penafiel, a member of the 65th IB-9th ID based in Marawi City; and Cafgu member Mac-mac Lasib, 20, who was declared dead on arrival at the Southern Philippine Medical Center in Davao City.

Peace groups to put up countdown billboards

THE Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), together with other peace groups, set up a 365 Days Countdown to Peace billboard at the Cotabato City Plaza around 7 a.m. Monday.

"This would monitor the development of the ongoing peace negotiations since the MILF has already given its proposal," said Abdul Malik Cleofe, MPC advocacy officer, during Monday's launching of Change for Peace (C4P) Peace Talks Watch.