Sun.Star finalist anew in CivicJourn Awards

SUN.STAR Davao is among the 13 daily and weekly community newspapers nationwide vying for ten awards in the Philippine Press Institute – The Coca-Cola Export Corporation 2010 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards.

9 North Cotabato villages under state of calamity

A STATE of calamity was declared in nine barangays in President Roxas, North Cotabato which were affected by landslide and flooding.

Among the affected barangays are Duwail, Poblacion, Mabuhay, Kabangbangan, Idaungan, Labu-o, Kamarahan, Malegria and Ipkahilo.

'Kuratong Baleleng' man suspect in Cebu murders

CEBU CITY (Updated)-- One of the suspects behind the brutal murder of an alleged former robbery gang member, his live-in partner and his three-year-old son in Lapu-Lapu City last Thursday was identified Friday.

Police named the suspected lead gunman as Ricky Cadavero, a native of Ozamiz City.

Coast guard asked to hold foreign cargo ship

KORONADAL CITY -- The Provincial Government of Sarangani has formally asked the Philippine Coast Guard to hold MV Double Prosperity until it can pay the damages wrought to a protected reef in Kiamba town, initially placed at P42 million.

Arnel A. Zapatos, Sarangani chief legal officer, said that marine experts they have requested to conduct a study recommended the amount, which is the same as what the Department of Environment and Natural Resources earlier asked as initial damage cost.

Photos of kids, but not Ellah, in flash drive

NO picture of Ellah Joy Pique, 6, was found when the court began viewing yesterday the contents of the USB flash drive the police took from the house of suspect Bella Ruby Santos.

Among the things found was a folder that contains about a hundred 2x2 photos of young girls and boys, who look like they’re between six and 15 years old.

Cebu ‘ideal for coral smuggling’

CEBU’s access to an international airport and rich marine resources makes it an ideal place for coral smugglers, said Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.

“The temptation is there and the accessibility is also there,” said Garcia.

Dismissal of murder case against Dumanjug mayoralty bet upheld

THE justice department has upheld the dismissal of a criminal complaint against a former mayoralty contender and his brother for the post-election shooting of a youth leader and nephew of their political opponent.

There is no evidence to warrant a reversal of the decision, said Justice Secretary Francisco Baraan III of the original joint resolution on review of the Office of the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor, in dismissing the complaint against brothers Efren and Erwin Gica.

Don’t hit pupils: DepEd to teachers

“BE patient.”

Department of Education (DepEd) 7 Assistant Director Carmelita Dulangon gave this reminder to teachers, as she reiterated DepEd’s policy against corporal punishment in schools.

City to put up cop substation in new market

THE Talisay City Government will set up a police outpost inside the market-terminal in Barangay Lagtang in preparation for its possible opening this month, a city official yesterday said.

Councilor Rodi Cabigas, committee chairman on public infrastructure, said the design of the Lagtang public market allots spaces for police and fire sub-stations.

Women’s commission to create module vs. cybersex: Magpale

WITH the plan of Cordova officials to conduct a massive information dissemination drive against cybersex in schools, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale wants the language used in the campaign to be suitable for children.

Magpale, co-chairman of the Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC), intends to come up with a module that would translate terms such as “lewd shows” and words related to cyber pornography.

Oro mayor dares 2 tribal men to file charges

CAGAYAN DE ORO City Mayor Vicente Emano on Friday denied that he maltreated two tribal men seeking help at his office and challenged the victims to file charges against him.

“There is no need to put it into blotter. File charges against me immediately because I am waiting,” Emano said in a radio interview.

DepEd warns schools on 'forced contributions'

THE Department of Education (DepEd) in Northern Mindanao reiterated its warning to all government schools not to force parents to give contributions to fund school projects.

DepEd-Northern Mindanao Regional Director Luz S. Almeda said teachers or school administrators could be liable administratively should the department find evidence of them coercing parents to pay dues.

Private armies not a reason for Armm polls postponement: senator

SENATOR Francis Escudero said dismantling of private armed groups can always be done regardless of the political exercise.

Escudero said his in response to the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) statement that the deferment of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) is needed because the government should focus on eliminating private armies to eliminate controlled votes in the region.

Moro rebels peace panel to hold consultation in Iligan, Oro

THE peace panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is set to dialogue with non-Moro and Moro stakeholders in Northern Mindanao in response to calls for inclusiveness and participation in the government-MILF peace negotiations.

Haulers dump their waste into city’s rivers, drainage systems

INTO drainage systems and rivers, they dump their wastes.

Cebu City Hall is currently being confronted with problems after it banned six septic haulers from dumping their septic wastes at the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill Just as they feared, Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairperson of the council’s committee on environment, said the septic haulers are disposing of their septic wastes anywhere, including rivers and drainage systems.

City Council not under mayor’s office: Young

CEBU City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and the city councilors insisted the legislative department is independent from the executive department.

This is in response to the legal opinion rendered by the City Attorney’s Office, which states that only Mayor Michael Rama has the sole authority to sign all consultancy contracts, including those of the members of the city council.

Police probe abduction of student

THE police are conducting an investigation into the alleged abduction of a sophomore high school student in Zamboanga City last Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Felixberto Martinez, Police Station 7 chief, ordered the investigation after the student's father, Delfin Barredo, 36, reported the incident.

Agri agency opens food terminal in Malamawi Island

THE Department of Agriculture (DA), in an effort to boost the livelihood of farmers and fisher folks, has recently launched another Barangay Food Terminal in Isabela City.

DA Regional Chief of Agribusiness Marketing and Assistance Division Ferdinand Gamorot said the new food terminal is located in Barangay Carbon, Malamawi Island, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province.

Zamboanga to join in Independence Day rites

THE City Government of Zamboanga will join the entire country in the observance of the 113th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence on Sunday, June 12, with the theme “Kalayaan: Paninindigan ng Bayan.”

Mayor Celso Lobregat will lead City Government officials and employees including representatives from the National Government agencies, private organizations and other sectoral groups in the activities that will be held at the Rizal Park fronting City Hall.

Couple in coral smuggling 'missing'

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and local policemen here failed to locate in the city the couple implicated in the coral smuggling.

Armed with warrants of arrest issued by the Senate, an 11-man team from the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms headed by Gil Valdez arrived in Zamboanga City Thursday evening to arrest couple Li Yu Ming alias Jo Pring and his wife, Olivia Li.

Meat packaging firm invests $12M in Clark

CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has forged an agreement with a meat product packaging firm for a $12-million factory inside the Freeport.

Officials of both CDC and Viskase Asia Pacific Corporation have signed a lease agreement for the establishment of a manufacturing plant for various packaging materials for meat products.

Fisheries bureau: No fish kill in Central Luzon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Amid fish kill incidents in Pangasinan and Batangas, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) assured that Central Luzon remains "fish kill-free."

BFAR Regional Director Remedios Ongtangco said fish breeds, particularly tilapia and bangus coming from Central Luzon, are typically grown in fishponds wherein owners implement an extensive to semi-intensive culture system utilizing less feeding and have effective culture management techniques compared to the intensive methods being conducted by the fish cage operators.

Pampanga kicks off Pinatubo memorial

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Government Friday officially started the 20th Mt. Pinatubo commemoration with a massive tree planting led by Governor Lilia Pineda in Nabuclod, Floridablanca.

Capitol’s remembrance of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo 20 years ago is aptly dubbed "Rising from the Ashes."

Lawmaker wants Mt. Pinatubo declared as tourist spot

ANGELES CITY -- Congressman Carmelo Lazatin has filed a bill in the House of Representatives pushing for the declaration of Mount Pinatubo as a major tourist destination in the country.

Lazatin recently filed House Bill 4803 or an "Act Declaring Mount Pinatubo as Major Tourism Spot".

Labor department celebrates 9th World Day Against Child Labor

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) Friday celebrated the 9th World Day Against Child Labor celebration here in Central Luzon with various activities for children.

US envoy to witness Dinagyang Festival

UNITED States Ambassador the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. vowed to witness the Dinagyang Festival in 2012 in Iloilo City and enjoy the premier tourism event in the Philippines with the Ilonggos.

Iloilo eyed to pilot cultural integration of Fil-Am youths

MAYOR Jed Patrick Mabilog and Philippine Ambassador Joey Cuisia are planning a joint project to make Iloilo City as a pilot area to reintegrate the Filipino-American (Fil-Am) youths on Filipino culture and tradition.

Mabilog, fresh from his 12-day trip to the United States, said an agreement was forged with the Philippine Ambassador to send about 30 to 40 Fil-Am youths in the Philippines and stay for at least one month to absorb Filipino culture and tradition.

26 missing fishermen rescued

PANGASINAN (Updated 4:14 p.m.) -- A top official of the national disaster council on Friday said the 26 missing fishermen off Pangasinan were already rescued.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) Executive Director Benito Ramos said the Philippine Coast Guard plane spotted the 26 fishermen.

Gunman in Cebu city killings named

CEBU CITY (Updated 3:30 p.m.) -- The Lapu-Lapu City Police on Friday identified the gunman who killed three members of a family on Thursday.

City homicide investigator Police Officer 2 Carlos Barluado, in a phone interview, named the gunman as Ricky Cadavero alias "Uncle".

'Dodong' exits Philippines

MANILA (Updated 12:09 p.m.) -- The state weather bureau on Friday said Tropical Storm Dodong is now outside the country and continues to move away.

In its 11 a.m. Friday bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said, as of 10 a.m., Dodong was at 330 kilometers northwest of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte.