Pimentel reiterates support for sugar industry

RE-ELECTED Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III made good on his pre-election promise, as he met yesterday with sugar industry stakeholders and provincial government officials at a dinner tendered in his honor by the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, Inc (NFSP) headed by Enrique D. Rojas.

“I requested for a briefing on the issues that touched the heart of the sugar industry but Mr. (Enrique) Nene Rojas organized a victory party for me,” said the senator in jest upon seeing the guests who comprised of the leading personalities in the city and the province.

Outstanding Bacolodnons lauded 

THE City Government of Bacolod led by Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia with the presence of Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, III led the awarding of the outstanding Bacolodnons and government employees, corporate, and individual taxpayers during the 75th commemoration of the signing of the Charter of the City of Bacolod held yesterday at the grand lobby of the Bacolod City Government Center.

Leonardia, along with some re-elected and elected officials of the city, stood firm to honor the historic day for Bacolod despite glaring opposition from some sectors in the community over the change of date from a duly-declared Charter Day celebration every October 19 to June 18 where the law was signed by former Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon in 1938.

Outstanding Bacoloeños honored

Two well-meaning citizens of Bacolod were named as the "Ang Banwahanon" awardees by the City Government of Bacolod and 16 others got the mayor's special citations in relation to the 75th commemoration of the signing of the Charter of Bacolod given Monday evening.

The Ang Banwahanon Award, which is a prestigious award given to citizens of Bacolod in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the city, were conferred to Fe Remitio and Ben Ortega.

Pimentel vows to help correct error in Charter Day

SENATOR Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, III yesterday assured Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia and the people of Bacolod to help them correct the so-called historical error in the Charter Day of Bacolod.

For 72 years, Bacolod celebrated Charter day every October 19 and only three years ago that the celebration was moved to June 18 under the Leonardia administration because they believe that the signing into law by Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon of Commonwealth Act 326 becomes effective when signed in June 18, 1938.

Lease applicants flood Cyber Center

THE provincial government has already received excessive applicants who signified their intention to lease spaces at the Negros First Cyber Center building.

As per May 23 record of the Provincial Administrator, 47 companies had already enlisted as interested applicants to lease 111 units for commercial spaces at the ground floor of the Cyber Center.

Schedule for barangay polls expected today

LAWYER Jessie Suarez, provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) supervisor, said the calendar of activities for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this October is expected to be out today.

Suarez clarified that the registration for the coming elections on October 28 is expected to start on July.

DILG to hold trainings for new mayors

TEN newly elected mayors of the province will undergo basic training on local governance for chief executives in July.

Joy Madayag, provincial officer of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), said the training would be held by the Local Government Academy for new mayors.

Reshuffling of police chiefs starts

TWO police chiefs in the province reassumed their old assignments, as the reshuffling of police chiefs in the province was effected by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) starting this week.

Records from the NOPPO revealed that Senior Inspector (S/Insp.) Mary Rose Pico and Snr. Insp. Danilo Zuniega were reinstated as Pontevedra and Toboso police chiefs, respectively.

Arrest warrants served to 2 inmates

SEPARATE arrest warrants for robbery and theft charges were served to inmates at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Handumanan and Bacolod City District Jail in Barangay Taculing last June 17, Monday by Police Officer 3 Noel Capablanca of Bacolod City Police Station 8.

Capablanca identified the suspects as Rodito Rivera and Jonel Libre.

Bacolod lacks police

WITH only 573 personnel in Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Bacolod City still lacks policemen, said BCPO spokesperson Superintendent Armando Tubongbanua in a press conference at the BCPO Headquarters yesterday.

Tubongbanua said that the population ratio of the cops with Bacolod residents is 1:1,002, which means that a policeman has to cater 1,002 people.

‘Barkers, trisikad drivers congest traffic’

BACOLOD City Police Office (BCPO) spokesperson Superintendent Armando Tubongbanua said that the barkers and trisikad drivers in Bacolod contribute to the congestion of the traffic in the city.

Barkers should not be allowed in places like malls, Tubongbanua added, stressing that they must only be allowed in the identified terminals.

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.