Cebu blaze kills woman
CEBU CITY – Fire struck a household in the Holy Family Subdivision, Banilad, Cebu City, leaving a 50-year-old house helper dead after she was stranded in her room.
Before the day ended, the police arrested a newly-hired co-worker of the victim, after she admitted stealing some valuables from the family of retired Army Colonel Mariano Parcon Sr. She said she didn’t plan on starting the fire.
City Treasurer’s Office says only 66 out of 244 real estate firms paid dues
AFTER examining the books of 244 real estate developers and dealers last year, the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) found that only 66 companies have paid taxes.
CTO examination division chief Julieta Cuenca said the total tax assessment of the 244 real estate developers and dealers reached P101.7 million.
Council bestows legislative award on assistant treasurer
THE Cebu City Council decided to release its Legislative Award yesterday, two days ahead of the celebration of the city’s 75th Charter Day.
After its regular session, the legislative body handed to Assistant City Treasurer for Operations Tessie Camarillo her Legislative Award “for upholding her duties and responsibilities” during the deliberation of the City’s 2012 budget.
Farmer climbs post, lands in police cell
A MAN climbed a 10-meter lamp post along the national highway in Mandaue City yesterday morning.
Last Tuesday, a man jumped off a sea vessel bound for Cebu from Manila and died.
Mother thanks God for girl’s heart surgery
HERS is a story of an unwavering faith in God and the unconditional love of parents.
Catalina Boybanting, 40, did not leave Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) since her daughter, 13-year-old Crystabel, underwent a successful open-heart surgery last Tuesday.
Cebuanos welcome St. Clare’s relic
CEBU CITY (Updated) -- For the first time in more than 800 years, the relic of St. Clare of Assisi was shown to the public, with the Philippines as its first destination.
Over a hundred years since her death and canonization, the relic of the saintly nun — a bone fragment from the saint’s cranium — was flown in from Manila to Cebu in its first tour outside of Italy.
Solon, fisherfolk back Cordova recla project
DESPITE opposition from environmental groups, Rep. Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing (Cebu, sixth district) expressed support for the ongoing reclamation project in Cordova town.
Quisumbing told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that the reclamation project in Sitio Camonilas, Barangay Poblacion was backed by studies and went through legal processes with concerned government agencies to secure permits.
No $400M ADB loan: MCWD
CONTRARY to the claims of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) assured there is no $400-million or P17-billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
MCWD general manager Armando Paredes said they are not capable of getting such a loan from any financial institution.
Paredes told the City Council yesterday that MCWD’S equity is only P1.7 billion, which already includes their retained earnings and valuation of assets.
“So how can we borrow 10 times our equity with any bank? That is impossible,” he said.
Compostela election impasse ‘to be resolved’ on Monday
COMPOSTELA town may finally have duly elected officials this Monday, when the Municipal Board of Canvassers (MBOC) convenes and holds the canvassing of election returns from 15 contested clustered precincts.
Rightful winners of the May 2010 elections will be declared immediately after the canvassing, said mayoral candidate Joel Quiño.
Quiño said that pursuant to the order of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc dated Dec. 7, 2011, a new MBOC was formed to convene and canvass the election returns, and proclaim the rightful winners.
City approves P85.8M for 1st SB
IN JUST one day, the Cebu City Council heard and passed the first supplemental budget of the year worth P85.8 million, assuring City Hall employees that they will be receiving their anniversary bonus within the month.
City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva encouraged department heads to submit the payrolls of their employees so that the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) can immediately process the P10,000 anniversary bonus, P7,000 of which was carried in the supplemental budget (SB), while the remaining P3,000 will be taken from the annual budget.
Capitol’s health insurance program to include habal-habal, tricycle drivers
THE Cebu Provincial Government announced it will expand the coverage of its health insurance program under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth).
This time, it will include the health premiums of informal sectors like habal-habal and tricycle drivers.
Whale sharks ‘seen’ in SRP waters
FOR him to believe its existence, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama asked for the photographs of two whale sharks that were reportedly spotted in the waters of the South Road Properties (SRP).
“Give me pictures,” said Rama when told about the report.
Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission Executive Director Ranulfo Sebusa told reporters last Tuesday that some fishermen have seen two whale sharks between late night and dawn.
Sebusa, however, admitted he has not seen the whale sharks but was only told about it. Rama said that “to see is to believe.”
Enrile: They can ask me to inhibit
THE House prosecution panel can ask Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to stay away from proceedings if it feels offended at being lectured at, the senate leader said Wednesday.
"They can ask for my exclusion. I’d gladly give it to them. I’ll gladly give it to somebody that will handle it. They do not want to appear before me, they can tell the Senate to withdraw me as presiding officer," he told reporters.
Rejection of PAL officer's testimony 'unfortunate'
THE Senate rejection of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) executive's testimony at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona is unfortunate, Malacañang said Wednesday.
"It's unfortunate that the Senate President (Juan Ponce Enrile) has decided to disallow the reception for evidence with respect to Article 3," Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a news briefing.
Iqbal denies Aquino nods on MILF autonomy
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III never agreed to a Muslim autonomy that was reportedly proposed by the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a rebel official said on Wednesday.
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal denied a news report that the Chief Executive already gave his nod on the supposed parliamentary form of government similar to that of Malaysia, which the Muslim rebels reportedly proposed in the peace talks.
Government frowns on media killings: Palace
MALACAÑANG assured Wednesday that the Aquino government has been trying its best to protect journalists in the country amid report by a New York-based watchdog that the Philippines was considered as the second deadliest place for mediamen.
2 lawmakers may face ethics probe over 'leaked' bank documents
TWO members of the House of Representatives may face separate ethics investigation for possible violation of the Bank Secrecy Law, a minority bloc lawmaker said.
It was learned during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona that Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo Umali, a public prosecutor, and Quezon City Representative Jorge "Bolet" Banal, a member of the prosecution's secretariat, had copies of documents pertaining to the bank accounts of the Supreme Court (SC) official.
Palace hails Philippines' creditor status
MALACAÑANG said Wednesday that the Philippines' becoming a creditor country, from being a debtor, was recognition of the reforms being implemented by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda was referring on the country's entry on the International Monetary Board's (IMF) list of creditors.
"That's a big jump and we're certainly proud of the recognition by the international financial community of the significant steps that we have taken in improving our financial system," Lacierda said in a news briefing.
NBI deputy chief links slay try to case of Japanese woman
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official who survived a slay attempt Tuesday night said the attack on his life may be link to kidnapping and extortion case filed by a Japanese woman against some bureau officials.
Interviewed on television Tuesday, NBI Deputy Director Reynaldo Esmeralda confirmed receiving information some two weeks ago that a certain group is out to silence him other officials of the bureau.
Farmers urge SC not to reverse ruling on Hacienda Luisita
OVER 100 farmers trooped to the Supreme Court on Wednesday urging the justices not to bow down to pressure, if any, to reverse the decision favoring the distribution of the sprawling Hacienda Luisita, which is owned by relatives of President Benigno Aquino III.
For an hour, the farmers and their supporters maintained that Aquino is not committed to distribute the land even if he had given up his share in the Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI), the company that manages the nearly 5,000-hectare estate in Tarlac.
Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia alarmed over 'sexy' photo on internet
A PHOTO of scantily-clad female "model" posted by a member of the Filipino community in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on social media has alarmed Philippine Embassy officials in the Arab nation.
In an advisory posted in its website, the Philippine Embassy said it is inappropriate for such and similar photos to be posted in the social media network knowing that it is from the Filipino community based in the Arab nation.
Bill typecasting lawmakers as crooks hit
TWO lawyers on Thursday branded as unconstitutional a resolution authored by Pampanga Representative Aurelio Gonzales prohibiting the depiction of lawmakers as villains in movies or television series.
At Wednesday's Fernandina Forum in San Juan, lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Allan Paguia said the resolution violates the freedom of speech and expression, which is guaranteed under the 1987 Constitution.
Labor chief calls for review of national holidays
THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) called Wednesday for a review of the current and proposed holidays in the country saying the balance in the workers' life and the economy should be strongly considered.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz noted how the country has one of the highest number of holidays declared at 18 with more being proposed and are pending in Congress.
Health department awaits 'instant' dengue test kits
THE Department of Health (DOH) welcomed Wednesday the report of a dengue testing kit being developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the University of the Philippines (UP) that will give faster results for suspected cases.
In a phone interview, DOH–National Epidemiology Center (NEC) head Dr. Eric Tayag said the health department is keenly awaiting for the commercial launching of the isothermal technology called Biotek-M.
"It will definitely be a big help to our patients," said Tayag, who is also an assistant secretary of the DOH.
Catholic website offers online Lenten retreat
AN ONLINE Lenten retreat is the additional feature of the Visita Iglesia online of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Office.
CBCP Media Office chief Monsignor Pepe Quitorio said the item is especially focus to Filipinos who are abroad particularly seafarers, since there are no churches while they are at sea, and those who are bedridden, who cannot go to church because they are sick.
