Only 1 of 7 Binugao councilors nixes coal power plant

ONE of the seven village councilors of Binugao in Davao City, where the proposed 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant will be established by AboitizPower Corp., voted against the project.

Boy, 10, drowns in resort pool

A 10-YEAR-OLD boy drowned at the swimming pool of Pizzaro Resort in purok 31, Veterans Village, Barangay Panacan, Davao City on Sunday.

Farmers, lumads protest mining permits issuance

FARMERS and lumads from Paquibato district, Davao City staged a protest rally against mining companies owned by foreign nationals in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Lanang.

Gunmen torch construction firm equipment

SUSPECTED rebels have burned a construction equipment in an attack in the hinterlands of Zamboanga del Norte province, the police said Monday.

The heavy equipment, a backhoe, belongs to the Hi-Tri Construction firm that is undertaking the construction of a national road in Panganuran village, Zamboanga del Norte Police Office (ZDNPO) reported.

Two die over food argument

AN ARGUMENT over food has cost the lives of two people – a father and his son – when the latter hanged himself after killing his own father in a farming village of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Labor agency: Wage increase not possible on Labor Day

A WAGE increase for Zamboanga Peninsula workers on Labor Day in May 1 is not possible, an official of the the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said Monday.

Dole-Zamboanga Peninsula director Ponciano Ligutom explained that several procedures have to be followed before a wage increase can be implemented.

Iloilo airport now included in open-sky policy

THE airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo will now allow international airplanes to land and receive passengers for other countries.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said President Benigno Aquino III assured him last April 1 that the Iloilo airport will be included in the Department of Transportation and Communications-Civil Aeronautics Board open-sky policy.

Public-private partnership eyed for railways revival

THE government is eyeing a private-public partnership (PPP) in the proposed P16-billion revival of Panay railways after the Regional Development Council (RDC) approved the project as one major infrastructure development in Panay Island.

Police assure safety of tourists, locals on Holy Week

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — More than 200 police officers will be deployed in strategic posts to ensure the safety of tourists and locals, who will witness the crucifixion rites in three villages here on Good Friday.

City police director Senior Superintendent Homer Penecilla, who also heads the Security Management Team of the Maleldo Committee 2011, said there will also be roving patrols, K-9 units, mobile escorts and quick reaction teams ready to assist the public in case of emergency situations.

Veteran journalist dies at 72

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Veteran journalist and press freedom advocate Jose Leetai Pavia succumbed Monday morning after a lingering illness. He was 72.

Joe, as he was fondly called by family and friends, is survived by his wife, Loreto Quijano, and eight children.

Two airport corporation officials replaced

CLARK FREEPORT – Architect Nestor Mangio and businessman Raffy Angeles are no longer part of the state-run Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC).

Mangio, who is the former chairman of CIAC, and Angeles, who is a member of the CIAC board, are replaced by Felipe Gerardo Mallari and James Koch Dimal.

Mayor supports cities’ league move vs SC justices

ANGELES CITY – Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan is supporting the cities’ league plan to file impeachment complaints against justices of the Supreme Court, who voted to uphold conversion 16 municipalities.

‘Newsman’ nabbed for illegal possession of firearms

CAMP OLIVAS – An alleged local journalist was arrested for illegal possession of firearms in Angeles City, while four others were arrested for grave threat and trespassing.

Water district to launch new pump station, sub office

MABALACAT -- The Mabalacat Water District (MWD) will launch its new pumping station in Barangay Mabiga and its sub-office in Barangay Camachiles on April 29.

City places ‘portalets’ in tricycle, jeepney terminals

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — City officials have started positioning blue portable toilets (portalets) in jeepney and tricycle terminals on Monday as part of its sanitation project.

Lawmaker leads opening of youth council sportsfest

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Third District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. on Sunday led the opening of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) basketball tournament in Barangay Anao here.

Mall's lack of cooperation disappoints fire victims

CEBU CITY (Updated 4:12 p.m.) -- Employees and stall owners who lost some of their properties in a fire that hit Robinson's mall on Sunday complained of lack of cooperation from the management.

Almost a hundred employees and stall owners trooped to Robinson's Place on Monday, hoping to hear explanation and assurance from the mall's management.

Ligots answer tax evasion case

MANILA (Updated 12:32 p.m.) -- Former Armed Forces comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife Erlinda said the tax evasion charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is "erroneous and is based on imaginary bank deposits and properties in the names of other people."

The couple filed Monday their counter-affidavit at the Department of Justice on the P428-million tax evasion complaint filed against them by the BIR.

More gas stations give fuel discount

MORE gasoline stations in Bacolod City plan to give fuel discount of P2 per liter for public utility vehicles.

Nilo Frias, United Negros Drivers and Operators Center assistant secretary general, said some gasoline outlets of Caltex in Bacolod had asked the mechanics on how they can also provide for public utility vehicles (PUV) lanes.

Fugitive ex-village chief still in Negros: police

FUGITIVE former Kapitan Ramon, Silay City barangay captain Noel Ayalin is still in Negros Occidental, being coddled and sustained by his friends, a top police official said.

“This is the reason why it is also difficult for the policemen running after Ayalin to arrest him,” said Negros Occidental police director Alan Guisihan.

Guv goes to Australia; Alvarez takes over

GOVERNOR Alfredo Marañon Jr. has designated Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez as the acting governor of Negros Occidental starting Monday.

City Council okays tree planting ordinance

THE Bacolod City Council approved on final reading last week the proposed ordinance seeking to institutionalize Arbor Day in Bacolod City.

Arbor Day refers to an official day devoted for tree planting observed in all 50 states of the United States, usually in spring.

Police arrest three swindlers

THREE suspected swindlers were arrested Sunday afternoon at the roll-on, roll off area of the Bredco Port, Bacolod City.

Ombud suspends Cebu official over aid to foundation

CEBU CITY -- The anti-graft office has suspended for three months without pay Provincial Accountant Marieto Ypil for the release of P5 million by the Provincial Government to a bogus private foundation in 2002.

20 in hospital after mall fire in Cebu

CEBU CITY -- A fire that hit a mall and sent smoke into an adjacent hotel tested Cebu City firefighters’ ability to deal with high-rise emergencies.

The fire itself was short-lived. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) received the alarm at 3:04 p.m. and said the flames were put out by 3:14 p.m.

Exemption granted to Peza-accredited firms doesn’t include realty taxes

THE Cebu City Government has refused to grant a tax exemption request of a company based in the city.

City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said that Lexmark Research and Development Corp. is required to pay real property taxes for its two buildings in the city, invoking City Ordinance 2016.

Fire spotlights need for gear, safety inspections

THE fire that hit Robinson’s Place yesterday again called attention to the city’s lack of firefighting equipment, particularly to put out fires that hit high-rise buildings.

The firefighters had a hard time reaching and rescuing the people trapped on the upper floors of the mall, as well as those in a connected hotel.

Bureau requests higher stipend

FIREFIGHTERS in Cebu City have asked Mayor Michael Rama to double the monthly allowance they are getting from City Hall, with the fire marshal asking for an additional P7,000 a month.

‘Spend this week in prayer, not partying’

CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma challenged the people to spend free time this week in prayer and meditation, rather than on leisure and merriment.

“This is not the time for a vacation, for going to the beach,” he said in his homily yesterday during the Palm Sunday mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Piers, terminals inspected ahead of holiday rush

SECURITY preparations in Cebu City’s ports and terminals passed an initial inspection yesterday by Chief Supt. Ager Ontog Jr., director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7.

To help these areas cope with the additional passengers traveling this Holy Week, he suggested that private vehicles be kept from entering the North Bus Terminal.