Police sue man who shot toddler

A CASE of frustrated homicide has been filed against a 25-year-old man who shot a four-year-old boy in Tibungco, Davao City on Sunday.

The suspect identified as Ricky Jusain Bangot, 25, tried to shoot the victim's father following an argument, but the father was able to duck in time and the child was hit, said barangay captain Joseph Calvo.

BFP steps up fire prevention campaign

THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Tuesday vowed to intensify its fire prevention campaign as it called on the public to be extra careful to prevent fire incidents.

The agency is celebrating the 35th Fire Prevention Month, which started Tuesday.

Militant farmers accuse Davao mayor of abuse

BOSTON, Davao Oriental -- Militant farmers accused the mayor of this town of abuse of authority for failing to approve their request to hold their general assembly at the municipal gym here Sunday.

More than a hundred coconut farmers of the Nigkahiusa koy Mag-uuma tu Boston (United Farmers of Boston) or NIGKOMB staged a march rally at the Municipal Hall of Boston to protest Boston Mayor Rebico Rosit's denial of their request to hold a farmers general assembly.

Woman who sold fake gold bars charged

A WOMAN has been charged before a local court in Davao City for selling fake gold bars and a golden Buddha to her nephew.

Raps vs Ampatuan wife junked

KORONADAL CITY -- The Maguindanao Provincial Board (PB) dismissed an administrative complaint filed against the wife of Andal Ampatuan Jr., principal suspect in the massacre of 57 people in 2009.

Call center raided for pirated software

MORE than 50 computer units were seized from a call center in Lanang, Davao City on Saturday afternoon after it was found that the computers use unlicensed software.

Senior Inspector Pedro Cabatingan Jr., chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Davao, said they will file cases against Global Connect E-Solutions for violating the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act 8792).

Davao trader nabbed for 'selling shabu'

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's (PDEA) Special Enforcement Group (SEG) arrested a businessman for allegedly selling illegal drugs inside an inn in Davao City last February 26.

The suspect, identified as Frankie Wong, 55, of Palma Gil st., was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by SEG-PDEA agents.

Marilog lumads get clothes, food

AROUND 150 persons from indigenous tribes in Marilog District received clothes and brand new shoes, while 600 pupils benefited from a feeding program at the Marilog Central Elementary School, Monday morning.

The feeding program and donation distribution was set up by the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), with the 5th Civil Relationship Group (CRG), Civil Affairs Team (CAT), Task Force Mindanao (TFM), the Regional Emergency Assistant Communication Team (React) of Panabo City, and Operations Blessing Foundation Inc. (OBFI).

Court yet to issue arrest warrant vs rape suspects

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) has yet to issue a warrant of arrest against two members of the Mangudadatu clan who allegedly raped a nursing student on Padre Faura St. in Davao City last year.

No official list of 'field rat' victims yet

THE Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) has still not come up with a final list of who stand to receive financial and livelihood assistance from the government three weeks after a rat infestation of Paquibato District's farmlands.

100 Pinoys aren't all in Christchurch

THE Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (Owwa) clarified Monday that the 100 Dabawenyos it has reported to be safe are not all in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Nursing student did not commit suicide: boyfriend

THE businessman lover of a nursing student who was found dead inside her residence at GSIS Heights in Matina Crossing, Davao City last week clarified that the victim did not take her own life.

Cities league slammed over 'secret letter' claim

MATI CITY – A top official of this city slammed the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) for alleging that "secret letters" were sent to the Supreme Court (SC) to press for the cityhood of 16 municipalities.

The LCP earlier urged the High Court to make public the letters, which they claimed prompted the SC justices to flip-flop their earlier decision rejecting the creation of new 16 cities.

Vice mayor hits city traffic system

DAVAO City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday expressed dismay over the dismal performance of the traffic signalization system here, which costs the City Government some P720 million to implement.

The former mayor called on the project contractor -- A and A Traffic Engineering Phils. Inc. -- to immediately solve the glitch, saying the system is "out of order".

Customs to resolve row at Davao port

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it will resolve the row at the Port of Davao over the closure of the designated examination area operation inside the Acquarius Container Yard (ACY).

Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez through an emissary said that he will soon issue a resolution on the issue.

100 Dabawenyos in New Zealand are safe: Owwa

THE office of the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (Owwa) in Davao Region on Sunday reported that Dabawenyos working in Christchurch, New Zealand, recently hit by a strong earthquake, are safe.

Owwa said a total of 100 Dabawenyos are working in the quake-hit city.

Rat infestation hits anew Cotabato rice, corn farms

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Severe rat infestation has destroyed another 1,100 hectares of rice and corn fields, including coconut and palm oil trees in Kabacan town in North Cotabato, reports from the Municipal Agriculture Office said.

Gov’t monitors sale of food with poppy seeds

THE Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) urged local government officials to monitor business establishments selling food products that may contain opium poppy seeds.

Prescription for condoms inappropriate, councilor says

DAVAO City Councilor Bernard Al-ag called on his colleagues to set aside religious beliefs in drafting ordinances as these may not benefit majority of Davao City constituents.

Another dugong caught dead in fisher net 

ANOTHER sea cow was caught in a fisherman's net in the shore of the picturesque Dahican beach in Mati City Saturday morning.

The latest incident brings the total number of sea cows caught in a net and have died to three.

Contact center in cyber porno raided

OWNERS and agents of a call center in Davao City are facing charges for allegedly engaging in cyber pornography after a raid on their office in Carmelite Road, Lanang, Davao City, Friday afternoon.

A joint team from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Manila and Davao Region conducted the raid in Global Connect E-Solutions, based on a search warrant issued by a Manila court.

Fire bureau to probe Ampatuan's caretakers

THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Davao Region is set to investigate the caretakers of Alibai Sakal Ampatuan's house on Ruby Street, Marfori Heights Subdivision in Davao City.

Ting Macalimbang, his wife Aileen Macalimbang, and a certain Budsal Tato will be invited for questioning on the events before the fire at the house of Alibai, who is said to be one of the wives of Datu Andal Ampatuan.

Ex-cop faces rape charges

RAPE charges have been filed against a retired policeman before the Regional Trial Court in Davao City for allegedly molesting his live-in partner's 11-year-old daughter in several occasions.

JCI: Green is the color of love

THE Junior Chamber International (JCI) planted 200 new trees along Diversion road in Matina Pangi, Davao City Friday.

Nursing student commits suicide

A NURSING student took her own life inside their house at GSIS Heights, Barangay Matina Crossing, Davao City on Thursday.

5 slain suspects involved in kidnap of Chinese bizman

COTABATO police confirmed that the five suspected kidnappers arrested and killed in Midsayap, North Cotabato were involved in the abduction of Eulogio Yu, a Chinese businessman in Cotabato.

Moro group joins opposition vs Tampakan mining project

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A militant Moro organization has joined the opposition voices against the massive Tampakan copper-gold project of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines Inc.

Customs bureau exec to expose anomalies at Davao port

A RANKING official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to divulge details of the alleged corruption inside the agency, specifically those committed at the Port of Davao, the People's Action Against Corruption (Paac) said on Wednesday.

In a press conference at the Ateneo de Davao University, Paac convenor Mussolini Lidasan said they are now coordinating with the BOC official who agreed to turn state witness once the Senate conducts its inquiry on the alleged anomalies at the BOC in Davao City.

DepEd partners with LGUs, media on free education

THE Department of Education (Deped) has strengthened linkages with government and private sectors to promote free education through their Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Merly Jayagan, ALS chief, said aside from established linkages with local government units, leaders of different cities, provincial and municipalities, and private sectors, they are partnering with the media to help in promoting free education through various DepEd programs like ALS and Basic Literacy.

Mining firm halts work as tribal leader, wife killed

KORONADAL CITY -- A tribal chieftain who staunchly supported the Tampakan copper-gold project of foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines Inc. was killed Tuesday night by still unidentified gunmen, prompting the company to temporarily suspend operations in parts of the mines development site due to security concerns.