Davao ranks 4th in civil service exams

WITH 13.34 passing rate, Davao Region ranked fourth in the civil service (CS) examinations conducted on October 17, 2010, higher than the national passing rate of 12.66 percent.

Man nabbed for drug possession

A YOUNG man, who pretended to be a minor when arrested by the police to avoid legal accountability, has been charged before the Regional Trial Court for allegedly possessing two sticks of marijuana.

Pa, son sued for slay try

A MAN and his son face frustrated murder charges for trying to kill a 50-year-old farmer in Marilog district, Davao City last January 29.

2 men caught with 2k of marijuana

TWO men landed in the slammer after barangay policemen caught them with two kilos of marijuana near the Coca-Cola plant in Ulas, Sunday morning.

Rabusa tags ex-congressman in military corruption

FORMER budget officer George Rabusa said Monday that then Surigao del Sur congressman Prospero Pichay Jr. is also a recipient of diverted military funds.

Rabusa said that dismissed major general Carlos Garcia asked him to give Pichay P500,000 at least three times.

Senate probe to include general's wife

THE wife of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) comptroller Jacinto Ligot will be summoned to the next Senate hearing.

This came after Ligot failed to explain two houses in California that he bought, apparently without his knowledge.

De Lima on Lacson: Court decision not final

JUSTICE Secretary Leila De Lima on Monday stood by her position that the manhunt on fugitive Senator Panfilo Lacson may still be enforced despite the ruling last week of the Court of Appeals (CA).

The CA last week cleared Lacson in the November 2000 murder of PR man Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

Palace won't prohibit Cimatu from attending probe

MALACAÑANG will not stop former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff and now special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu if he wants to appear before the congressional investigation on alleged military corruption.

Aquino starts process of choosing next AFP chief

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III opposes the revolving door policy of the previous administration, thus he is on the search for the next chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at this early.

Bills penalizing cybercrime acts opposed

A LEGISLATOR strongly criticized the proposed cybercrime bills in Congress, saying these will only provide law enforcers with opportunities to intrude into the private communications of individuals.

Transparency in use of Intel funds pushed

FOLLOWING revelations on military corruption at the Senate hearings, progressive lawmakers seek the passage of a measure that will ensure transparency in use of intelligence funds.

Government cautious over 'conflict' in MILF

A GOVERNMENT peace negotiator said President Benigno Aquino III's administration is concerned over the reported tiff inside the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) ahead of the resumption of negotiations this week.

Palace bares list of priority bills

EXECUTIVE Secretary Paquito Ochoa disclosed Monday the priority bills that President Beningo Aquino III will present to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting to be held this month.

LTO seeks insurance firms' help in fight vs carnapping

TO DETER illegal activities by carnapping syndicates, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday sought the assistance of the Insurance Commission (IC).

Poll body unfazed by Armm elections postponement

THE poll body remains determined to complete its preparation for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) elections this August amid snowballing moves to postpone it until 2013.

Bishop rates Aquino 5 out of 10

ON PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III's 51st birthday, a Roman Catholic prelate gave him a failing grade in terms of being able to address the problems of the country.

No drugs found at Zambo detention facility

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Bureau of Jail Management and Penology's (BJMP) joint "Operations Greyhound" has not recovered any prohibited drugs at a detention center in Zamboanga City.

Senior Superintendent Ester Pepito, warden of the BJMP-administered Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC), said the operation was launched by surprise Monday morning at the detention facility.

City sends relief assistance to Jolo

THE Zamboanga City Government is sending half a million pesos worth of relief goods to Sulu where thousands of people were displaced by freak tornado and flash flood that hit the province Thursday.

Human rights groups dared to check rebels' violations

A MILITARY official on Monday challenged human rights advocates "to look into and act on violations" perpetrated by the New People's Army (NPA) the past three days in southern Mindanao.

City readies mass wedding of 100 indigent couples

ILOILO CITY - The Civil Registrar's Office here is preparing for a mass wedding for 100 indigent couples as part of the celebration of Civil Registration Month which runs for the entire February.

Those to be married in civil rites are mostly beneficiaries of the 4Ps program of the National Government and those unmarried couples identified by the city social welfare office.

Lawmaker acts on Iloilo River problems

ILOILO CITY - Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to transfer immediately their dredging equipment and start working on the highly silted Iloilo River from the Parola up to Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

This after Drilon took a walk at the Treñas Boulevard at Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao District, on Sunday and observed the many problems besetting the river, which separates four city districts from three districts, including the city proper.

Slaughterhouse rehab soon

ILOILO CITY - The rehabilitation and upgrading of the city slaughterhouse here will soon start after the P30 million fund intended for farm-to-market roads in Iloilo is realigned.

The facility will be made into a full-fledged Double A abattoir, said City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Investors eye city central market

ILOILO CITY - The Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF), composed mostly of prominent Ilonggos based in Metro Manila, has been tapped to help find investors to help in the rehabilitation and upgrade of the central public market here into a world-class facility.

P15 million earmarked for Samar tourism

THE National Government is allocating P15 million to assist local government units in Samar province to come up with a first ever Island-wide tourism master development plan this year.

Lack of funds slows scholarship of village officials’ kids

LACK of funds hinders the free college education to children of barangay officials, according to a legislator who heads the higher education committee of the Lower House.

Aurora lone district Representative Juan Edgardo Angara said he will push for the allocation of budget to bankroll the benefits that are due all children of barangay officials studying in public universities and colleges as provided for in Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code.

Stop on mining permit grant sought

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) to stop granting mining permits in Eastern Visayas.

Ex-lawmaker, 2 others got military money

MANILA (Updated 1:32 p.m.) -- Former budget officer George Rabusa on Monday tagged a former congressman and two former audit personnel as recipients of diverted military funds.

Speaking before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee during a hearing on alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Rabusa said former Surigao del Sur representative Prospero Pichay Jr. received money from the military.

Lacson can still be charged over twin murder

MANILA (Updated 8:15 a.m.) -- Malacañang said Monday that fugitive Senator Panfilo Lacson can still be charged in connection with the Dacer-Corbito double murder even if the Court of Appeals (CA) has cleared his name.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in a radio interview, said the principle of double jeopardy does not apply in the case as the senator has not yet been arraigned.

Mayor lauds success of Bacolaodiat fest

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia said the holding of the 6th Bacolaodiat Festival, which highlighted the city’s Chinese New Year celebration, last February 3-6 was successful.

“This is definitely a resounding success,” Leonardia said Sunday during the Champions Night at SM City Bacolod where the winners of the lantern dance contest rendered their winning performances while the festival committee also awarded the winners of the giant rabbit lantern competition.

Bacolaodiat peaceful, police say

THE three-day celebration of the 6th Bacolaodiat Festival in Bacolod City went smoothly and without any major crime incidents reported, said city police chief Ricardo de La Paz.

“It was very peacefully. Revelers really enjoyed the festival,” de La Paz said.