Sugar industry holds congress

LABOR Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz is the keynote speaker in Wednesday night’s opening ceremonies of the two-day national consultative congress of the district tripartite councils (DTCs) in the sugar industry.

The event at Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod City will also be attended by Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Sugar Tripartite Council (STC) vice chair for labor Zoilo Dela Cruz Jr., who will both deliver their inspirational messages.

Sick baby gets help from PCSO

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) extended medical assistance to Jesse Neil Guntalidad, a five month-old baby boy who was diagnosed of post meningitis hydrocephalus and infections.

He has been confined at the Bacolod Adventist Hospital since he was born on November 18, 2010.

Guv lauds local government’s participation in Panaad

NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. lauded the participation of the towns and cities in this year’s 18th Panaad sa Negros Festival.

“The festival improves in terms of quality. It’s getting better,” Marañon said.

Bacoleños air gripes vs airline

A GROUP of Rotarians from Bacolod who attended the Rotary International District 3850 in Zamboanga recently complained against the shabby treatment of Cebu Pacific Zamboanga personnel when their plane experienced technical trouble and could not fly out passengers on schedule.

Military condemns AFP’s 'most corrupt' tag

TOP ranking officials of the military condemned the sweeping labeling of the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) as the most corrupt government agency based on a recent survey.

"It is unfair," said Brig. Gen. Pedro Ramon Sinajon Jr., who assumed as General Officer in Charge of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of the Philippine Army yesterday.

Probe on Ceneco power contract slated Thursday

TWO committees of the Bacolod City Council will hold an investigation into Central Negros Electric Cooperatives (Ceneco)’s power supply contracts at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The two committees are communications and energy chaired by Councilor Archie S. Baribar and on laws, ordinances and good government chaired by Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito.

Ang to deliver privilege speech on plastic ordinance

BACOLOD City Councilor Em Ang will deliver a privilege speech Wednesday to express her sentiments on her derailed resolution for the regulation of the use of plastic in the city.

Ang’s proposed ordinance seeks to prohibit the use of plastic bags as packaging materials and styrofoam as containers for food in Bacolod City.

Golez leaves 'assassination' probe to authorities

BACOLOD City lone district Rep. Anthony T. Golez stated that he leaves the investigation of the alleged assassination plot against him and his wife to the hands of the authorities.

Golez and his wife Princess Soraya Jaafar were reportedly the subjects of an alleged assassination plot by a syndicated group, which was reportedly responsible for the killing of former Barangay Pahanocoy chairman Eleuterio Salabas and other politicians in Negros island.

12 hostages in Agusan freed

PROSPERIDAD (3rd Update 9:48 a.m.) -- Mayor Albin Magdamit confirmed that the remaining 12 hostages in Agusan del Sur province were already released Wednesday morning.

In a television interview, Magdamit said the hostages were freed before 8 a.m. by the tribesmen after Jobert “Ondo” Perez, a jailed tribal leader who is their relative, convinced them to release the victims.

‘Butete’ lunch kills 2

A FAMILY’S hunger was not eased after they ate a fish for lunch inside their home in Bantayan town, northern Cebu last Monday.

They were poisoned instead.

Not one urban poor beneficiary has moved into relocation sites: DWUP records

CEBU City has 893 vacant lots in 21 barangays in Metro Cebu, but 327 of these are not livable.

Niceforo Iroy, executive director of the Local Housing Board, said a lot is considered not livable if this has not been developed by the City Government.

Radaza, Cortes sit it out while Rama is a shoo-in

LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza has no intention of signing the memorandum creating the Metro Cebu Development Coordination Board (MCDCB), as she wants to “fully exercise jurisdictional and territorial independence for Lapu-Lapu.”

Police probe Mabolo policeman

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is investigating one of its own for allegedly letting a suspect in a rape case escape from the Mabolo Police Station detention cell.

PO1 Lloyd Magdadaro allegedly let go of Lysander Pardilla, who was accused of raping last Saturday a 22-year-old who worked as cashier of a restobar.

Convict regrets role in chop-chop murder

MURDER convict Joseph Roy Cellar, alias Jojo delos Reyes, said yesterday that he has already accepted his fate.

The court sentenced Cellar, 35, to life imprisonment for the murder of Eva Mae Peligro and Gwendolyn Balasta in Barangay Mag-haway, Talisay City on July 24, 2008.

Fiscal forms probe panel to handle Ellah Joy case

ACTING Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Joseph Berciles formed a three-member panel that handle the kidnapping with homicide case filed by the police against Bella Ruby Santos and British boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths.

As this developed, the police described the perjury case filed by one of Santos’s lawyers against two police officers and two witnesses in the Ellah Joy Pique case as “harassment.”

I come in peace: Magpale to staff

AFTER assuming as vice governor last Monday, Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale told the employees of Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. that she's “coming in as a friend.”

Magpale, an ally of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, was briefed by Sanchez’s chief of staff, Evangeline de Paula, about the resistance of some employees to her takeover.

12 barangay chiefs form group to tackle waste disposal problem

BARANGAY captains have formed a group to solve the solid waste management problem in Cebu City, as scavengers asked the Cebu City Government to honor a memorandum protecting their livelihood.

Councilor Michael Ralota, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), heads the group called “Circle of 12,” which City Mayor Michael Rama considers as the “think-tanks” in solving the garbage problem.

Most of AFP members honest: Navy officer

THE Philippine Navy yesterday said majority of the men and women in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are still honest in their mandate to protect the people.

Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, the Philippine Navy flag officer in command, said the public should understand that just because there are four or five military officers who illegally amassed wealth at the expense of the military budget does not mean the entire AFP is corrupt.

No such sitio as ‘Kawatan’: bry. officials

ALARMED over the sitio’s infamous name as Kawatan, which means thief in Cebuano, the Barangay Council of Tabunok, Talisay City passed a resolution clarifying that there is no such name among the village’s 22 sitios.

Also, Tabunok Barangay Captain Manuel Cabriana appealed to the media to refrain from using the word Kawatan, because the sitio’s real name is Mananga 2.

Warden stays in post pending BJMP decision

CEBU City Jail Warden Felixberto Jagorin Jr. will remain in his post while waiting for the decision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) central office.

BJMP 7 Community Relations Service Chief Sr. Insp. Mary Jane Enopia said they informed BJMP Manila about the request of Mayor Michael Rama.

No such sitio as ‘Kawatan’: bry. officials

ALARMED over the sitio’s infamous name as Kawatan, which means thief in Cebuano, the Barangay Council of Tabunok, Talisay City passed a resolution clarifying that there is no such name among the village’s 22 sitios.

Also, Tabunok Barangay Captain Manuel Cabriana appealed to the media to refrain from using the word Kawatan, because the sitio’s real name is Mananga 2.

Warden stays in post pending BJMP decision

CEBU City Jail Warden Felixberto Jagorin Jr. will remain in his post while waiting for the decision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) central office.

BJMP 7 Community Relations Service Chief Sr. Insp. Mary Jane Enopia said they informed BJMP Manila about the request of Mayor Michael Rama.

Identity of Carcar ‘bomber’ known

THE police have identified the man who threw a grenade at the home of a Carcar City town official last Sunday morning.

The suspect, whose identity is being withheld from the press so as not to jeopardize police investigation, is still at large.

2 gas station robbers nabbed

POLICE arrested Monday two of the four men who robbed a gasoline station in Barangay Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City.

Nabbed were Raul Ocon, 25, a resident of Upper Bontong, Camaman-an; and Edmar G. Mole, a fireman assigned at Medina Fire Station in Misamis Oriental.

Aquino approves P3 per liter fuel subsidy

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Northern Mindanao announced recently President Benigno Aquino III's approval of the P3 per liter subsidy to the transport sector.

LTFRB-Northern Mindanao Director Mandangan Darimbang said last week that public utility jeepney, taxi and motorela units will be given P3 per liter discount on fuel products as one month subsidy to survive the impact on rising fuel prices.

3 drug suspects fall in raids

ELEMENTS of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) recently apprehended at least three drug suspects in separate operations in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City.

RSOG chief Reynante Reyes said one Vedon Recibido alias Ronnie was arrested in Purok 1, Batangan, Valencia City, Bukidnon last March 30.

Guv may slash province's expenses

MISAMIS Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno said he may be forced to slash funds from other provincial expenses to raise the P55 million needed as counterpart fund for the construction of a hospital in Alubijid town.

Councilor tells police to catch vandals

A MEMBER of the Cagayan de Oro City Council is pledging to donate half of his monthly pay to the Cagayan de Oro Police Office's (COCPO) coffers if the newly-installed police leadership is able to apprehend vandals who routinely spray-paint graffiti in almost every corner of the city.

Cops in rape case to face trial in Cebu

THE trial venue for the case against two policemen accused of raping a 14-year-old girl last year inside a police detachment in Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte has been transferred to Cebu City.

Military corruption whistleblower is new audit commissioner

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III appointed Tuesday a former state auditor who helped expose alleged corruption in the military service as commissioner of the Commission on Audit (COA).

On Tuesday afternoon, Presidential Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang announced Aquino's appointment of Heidi Mendoza as the newest commissioner of COA.