Police: Security lapses weakest link in Cepalco heist

SECURITY lapses have been the weakest link in the swift heist at the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) Tuesday that left the power firm losing at least P35,000 from its two tellers and an undetermined amount of money from customers waiting for their turn to pay their electricity bill, police said.

Capitol awaits Governor Garcia today

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s 180-day suspension ended last Monday, but Capitol officials and employees are still waiting to find out if she’s reporting for work in the last 12 days of her term.

She was not seen within the Capitol building and the governor’s office remained locked yesterday.

Tornado strikes 2

A TORNADO damaged more than 70 homes in coastal barangays of Minglanilla town and Talisay City Tuesday afternoon, peeling the roofs off some houses and uprooting trees.

It struck Minglanilla past 2 p.m. and Talisay City around 3:45 p.m., according to reports that reached the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC).

Over 70 homes damaged by tornado in Cebu

CEBU CITY (Updated) -- A tornado damaged more than 70 homes in coastal barangays of Minglanilla town and Talisay City Tuesday afternoon, peeling the roofs off some houses and uprooting trees.

It struck Minglanilla past 2 p.m. and Talisay City around 3:45 p.m., according to reports that reached the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC).

Regional growth in 2012 lower than 2011

THE economy of Central Visayas in 2012 did not grow as much as in 2011 but it still surpassed the national economic growth rate.

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) 7 Director Buenaventura Go-Soco Jr. said the region’s economy grew 7.9 percent in 2012, lower than 2011’s 12.5 percent.

Ex-stowaway gets probation as courts hold Judgment Day

WHEN he was still eight years old, Nicleo Verdida woke up inside a life raft on the uppermost deck of a boat that was bound for Cebu City.

He recalled he was stunned when a member of the crew discovered him.

Kidnap ‘leader’ works in gov’t

THE alleged mastermind in the kidnapping of an overseas worker in Talisay City is a government employee in Cebu City.

This was the information released by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 Director Antonio Pagatpat to the media yesterday.

Fugitive shows up at police station

A FUGITIVE landed in jail after seeking the help of police in Cordova, Cebu last, complaining she was allegedly mauled by her common-law husband.

Police arrested Marilou Tabada, 33, when she showed up at the police station past 5 p.m.

‘Burglar’ killed in shootout with cop

A SUSPECTED Akyat Bahay gang member was shot dead in a gunfight with policemen at a checkpoint in Talisay City last Monday night.

Jaime Telmoso, a resident of Sitio Lemonville, Barangay Cansojong, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Talisay District Hospital last Monday night.

‘Carnappers’ charged with estafa

POLICE filed an estafa complaint against two women who were allegedly behind the series of car thefts in Metro Cebu.

Gionna Marie Geolina, 36, and Maria Roselyn Olid, 40, were charged before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday afternoon.

Public urged to get their kidneys checked

TWO kidney experts yesterday urged the people to undergo examination so they may know if their kidneys are damaged and if these can function normally again.

Speaking before the 888 News Forum, Drs. Cesar Quiza and Vivina Chiu, president and past president of the Society of Nephrology-Central and Eastern Visayas Chapter, respectively, said the Department of Health declared June as National Kidney Month.

60 cops join seminar on disaster response

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is conducting a three-day seminar with the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) to improve police skills in search and rescue.

The seminar started yesterday and will end on June 20.

Panel to look into trader’s allegations

THE Ombudsman-Visayas has formed a panel three graft prosecutors to look into the allegations of a businessman that the ombudsman sat on cases he filed against some Lapu-Lapu City officials.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol created the three-man panel to investigate the claims of Efrain Pelaez, who lost his mayoralty bid in the last elections.

Castillano returns to his post as election supervisor of Cebu

PROVINCIAL Election Supervisor Eddie Aba turned over all his duties and responsibilities to “returning” election supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano yesterday, as the Commission on Elections prepares for the barangay elections this October.

Castillano hopes that problems in logistics in the past barangay elections will not recur, such as the lack of official ballots and the late arrival of election paraphernalia.

PAC is now State U

ANGELES CITY - President Aquino on Monday signed into law House Bill No. 4450, a bill converting the Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC) into a state university.

The President signed Republic Act 10605, or an Act converting Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC) in the municipality of Magalang, into a state university to be known as the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU).

Lawmaker asks COA to audit city gov't

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Outgoing Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. (Third District) has asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit and examination of "the accounts, books and records" of the City Government of San Fernando for fiscal years 2013 and 2012.

Gonzales filed the request before COA Chairperson Maria Gracia M. Pulido-Tan who received the lawmaker's letter personally last Monday in her office in Quezon City.

Capitol buys P7-M disaster preparedness equipment

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Provincial Government of Pampanga has spent some P7 million to purchase 200 hand-held radio communication devices as part of the disaster preparedness plan of the province.

These devices will be used for the establishment of community-based early warning system in all municipalities and cities.

Agri office spends P300M for programs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) spent some P300,618,206.95 for various programs and projects from 2010 to this quarter of 2013, benefitting thousands of farmers, fisherfolk, cooperatives and even students.

The OPA, under the administration of Governor Lilia Pineda, undertook 11 prime programs that boosted agricultural and fishery industries in Pampanga's 18 towns and two cities.

Councilor optimistic for barangay, SK polls

MABALACAT CITY -- A councilor here has expressed optimism that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or Youth Council elections will push through as scheduled on October 28.

Outgoing Councilor Oscar Aurelio said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is mandated to implement the law that sets the local polls.

Folks wary of increasing Akyat Bahay robberies

FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga -- Folks here expressed alarm and worry over the rising attempts of burglaries and robberies allegedly perpetrated by members of the Akyat Bahay gang.

A resident in Barangay San Roque over the weekend reported to police that Akyat Bahay members were able to enter their home but failed to take anything of value.

'Handog Pasasalamat' highlights job fair, negocarts

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A jobs fair and negocarts distribution for students of the City College of San Fernando will highlight the "Handog Pasasalamat ni Mayor EdSa" on June 21.

Donny Sayre, Community Affairs Division and Public Employment Services Office chief, told Sun.Star Pampanga that the job fair to be held at the atrium of city hall -- jiving with the birthday celebration of Mayor-elect Edwin Santiago -- has been requested by unemployed Fernandinos, particularly fresh graduates.

LGUs urged to submit disaster management plans

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) is urging local government units to submit their respective disaster management plans to get immediate assistance from the Provincial Government.

Engr. Lulu Alingcastre, PDRRMO chief, said the assistance will be based upon the request in consideration of the previous flood situation in the localities.

Security lapses ‘weakest link’ in Cepalco heist

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Security lapses have been the weakest link in the swift heist at the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (Cepalco) Tuesday that left the power firm losing at least P35,000 from its two tellers and an undetermined amount of money from customers waiting for their turn to pay their electricity bill, police said.

It was still around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday and the number counter stopped at 30 when the heist occurred. Authorities saw the attack as highly planned and well executed.

Approval of land use plan deferred

THE Davao City Council deferred the approval of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Clup) on second reading on Tuesday since the number of members present did not reach the exact count of votes needed.

The local lawmaking body needed 21 members to vote on the proposed Clup, but there were only 19 of them present in the plenary around 5 p.m., thus the move to defer the item to the next regular session.

2 killed, 3 hurt in North Cotabato clashes

TULUNAN, North Cotabato -- An armed civilian and an alleged Moro rebel were killed while three others were wounded after they engaged in a running gun battle at the hinterlands of Barangay Maybula in this town last Sunday.

Senior Inspector Ronnie Cordero, chief of Tulunan police, identified one of the fatalities as Dondon Palomo, one of the members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) of Maybula and an employee of a banana plantation in the village.

Teener dies, 4 hurt in Sultan Kudarat grenade blast

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A 14-year-old boy died while four members of his family were wounded when a still unidentified suspect tossed a fragmentation grenade inside their house in a remote village in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, a police official said.

Senior Inspector Emerson Policarpio, chief of Lambayong police, identified the slain victim as Muad Ambolodto, 14, of Purok Libertad in Barangay Madanding, Lambayong.

Man dies in road mishap

A MAN was killed in a road mishap around 1 a.m. Monday along the Davao-Bukidnon Highway in Calinan, Davao City.

The victim was identified as Allan Tambis Galima, 23, single and a resident of Purok 11, Barangay Wangan, Calinan District.

Cops hunt suspect who killed 54-year-old man

POLICE have launched a manhunt operation against a suspect who stabbed to death a 54-year-old man around 12 a.m. Tuesday at Purok 3, Barangay 23-C, Davao City.

Now being hunted is Saraha Datudacula, alias Charlie, a resident of Purok 4 of the same barangay.

Aliping, biggest poll spender

REPRESENTATIVE-elect Nicasio Aliping declared the most expenses among local candidates based on his submitted Statement of Election Contributions and Expenses (Sece) to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The newly-elected representative, who ran as an independent candidate, spent P571,320, all from his personal funds declaring zero contributions.

BSU’s agri project lacks papers

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Stakeholders to the multimillion Agri-Pinoy Project at the Benguet State University (BSU) Strawberry fields are being asked to submit necessary papers for its completion.

Department of Agriculture (DA) undersecretary for Administration Antonio Fleta in a letter to the Provincial Government of Benguet, local government of La Trinidad, BSU and the Benguet Farmers Marketing Cooperative, sought for letters of commitment as well as program of works "to ensure the progressive and successful implementation of the project."