Police chief still has one year

CITY police chief Benedicto Lopez need not transfer since his two-year tour of duty is not yet due after he assumed post as city director of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office on January 2010.

Philippine National Police regional information officer Regina E. Abanales said all senior officers like Lopez have to end their stint only after completing their tour of duty.

Oro expects P200M revenue collection

THE Cagayan de Oro City government has already collected some P70 million in tax payment as of yesterday morning, 20 percent higher compared to last year's P56 million collected during the same period.

According to Lino Daral, City Treasurer, the city government projects some P180- P200 million tax revenue this year, higher than the P170 million revenue collected last year.

New radio station to go on air

THE sixth AM radio station in Cagayan de Oro is set to go on air in the next few days.

The name of the radio station is not yet known, but the people behind it were former personnel of the "Radio Aguila ng Bayan," who were absorbed by the Ultra Craft Broadcasting Corporation owned by Jun Suan of Carmen.

CH ordered to stop collecting P20M from Velez College

THE Cebu City Government is temporarily barred from collecting P20 million in taxes from Velez College.

In an order issued last week, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 58 Judge Gabriel Ingles approved the temporary restraining order (TRO) the school filed against the City, while he hears the preliminary injunction the school also sought.

Ex-Catmon vice mayor reprimanded

THE Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas found basis to reprimand former Catmon vice mayor Avis Monleon. 

Based on the complaint lodged by Ruben Ares, Monleon used as her service vehicle a van the Municipal Government had made available for the use of the council and other departments.

Give Basakanon time to reinvent itself: judge

CONSISTENT placers and crowd favorites in the Sinulog grand parade, the Lumad Basakanon of Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City failed to wow both the judges and the hometown crowd last Sunday.

For the first time since joining the Sinulog free interpretation category some nine years ago, Basakanon failed to land among the top finishers.

River current sweeps man away in Carcar

A 20-YEAR-OLD man went missing after he jumped off a bridge into the river for a swim in Barangay Poblacion II, Carcar City yesterday morning.

Rescuers have not yet found Sherwin Cañada as of 8 p.m. last night, SPO1 Joel Pananganan said in a phone interview.

Manzo twins growing up together well

MORE than seven years after they were born as conjoined twins in Mandaue City and surgically separated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Princess Anne and Princess Mae are now living a normal life.

The twins’ family now owns the lot where they are living in Barangay Paknaan in Mandaue, and the two Grade 1 pupils are under a scholarship until they finish college.

PB gives governor full power on 93-1

THE Provincial Board had authorized Gov. Gwen-dolyn Garcia to determine the courses of action Capitol should take in connection with 93-1.

The legislative body’s authority, which was passed in mass motion yesterday also stated that it covers all related issues subject to the requisite approval and confirmation by the Board.

Crimes lesser by 55%: MCPO

THE number of crimes in Mandaue City fell by 55 percent in 2010, according to PNP statistics.

Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) Director Noel Gillamac said the number of crimes in the city dropped to 1,740 in 2010 from 3,113 in 2009.

Mayor drops Middle East job offers

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama is discouraging Cebuanos to work in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia because of reports on “virtual slavery.”

Rama issued a policy statement yesterday, in line with his program to employ 2,400 to 3,200 people in the City.

Probe ordered in killing of lawyer’s son

STA. RITA - President Benigno Aquino on Monday ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) to prioritize the murder case of Emerson Lozano.

Lozano, 44, the son of lawyer Oliver Lozano, was found dead in Barangay Mancatian in this municipality. His remains had been burnt, forcing operatives to compare the teeth with Lozano's dental records.

Son hacks own father to death in Boljoon

CHILDHOOD anger could have led a son to hack his father to death in Barangay El Pardo, Boljoon Sunday afternoon.

Saturnino Biñan, 21, allegedly hacked his father Flavio, 60, a farmer, using a bolo.

Talisay’s ‘biggest’ gym 80 percent complete

VILLAGE leaders of Lagtang are counting on the support of Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas (Cebu, 1st) and the Talisay City Government to complete their unfinished gymnasium.

City Councilor Celiapo Cabuenas, a former Lag-tang barangay captain, said the village needs at least P8 million to complete the facility, which stands on a 3,000-square meter expropriated lot along the main road.

82-yr-old preserves original beat

BEFORE becoming the festival it is today, the Sinulog, which comes from the word “sinug,” was a simple ritual dance that originated in the pre-Hispanic period.

In a bid to help preserve this ritual dance, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) held yesterday the “Sinug sa Casa Gorordo,” an annual event that features the oldest sinug dancer, Estelita “Titang” Diola.

Police arrest suspect in drug list, confiscate gun of dismissed cop

WITH the Sinulog-related gun ban still in effect, Mandaue police operatives apprehended Sunday night a drug suspect who was in possession of a pistol owned by a dismissed policeman.

A team led by Insp. Zocimo Jabas Jr., deputy intelligence chief of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), arrested Gate Gellagan Cañete, 45, of Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City, during a checkpoint near the boundary between Mandaue and Cebu City in Subangdaku.

Rape victim shot dead

DAVAO CITY -- An 18-year-old college freshman, who had been a victim of rape, was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman while she was onboard a passenger jeepney on her way to school Monday morning.

The victim, Rosemelyn Ricote, got on the jeepney at Sandawa Road in New Matina and was shot at around 7:55 a.m. when they slowed down near the Coca-Cola Village along MacArthur Highway in Matina, this city.

Aquino defends Brillantes's appointment

MANILA - President Benigno Aquino III on Monday justified his decision in naming lawyer Sixto Brillantes as new chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In a statement, the President said he chose Brillantes because of his extensive expertise in election laws and internal operations of the Comelec.

Nurse defends self: 'I am not a swindler'

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - A male nurse from Angeles City on Monday cried harassment against a businessman here for branding him as a "swindler."

Julius Brian Dizon Turla, 27, a balikbayan nurse residing presently at Barangay Salapungan in the said city, said Paternus "Ringo" Limjoco, 44, of Barangay San Agustin in this city is merely "weaving" all the stories against him to malign his reputation.

Koreans trapped inside 'fenced' golf course

ANGELES CITY - Some 11 Korean nationals were "trapped" inside the Royal Garden Golf and Country Club here after a fence had been constructed around it by workers of Neplum Inc.

The construction of a fence around the property, owned by businessman Ruperto Cruz, has affected the operations of the world-class golf course situated at the boundary of this city and nearby Porac town.

Town's conducts 'believable' fire drill

MEXICO -- When the fire alarm rang, patients of the Mexico Community Hospital (MCH) were immediately evacuated to a safe zone.

Doctors, nurses and other medical staff also went out of the hospital building, covering their heads to protect themselves from falling debris.

6 City College to move out of PHS this year

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City College of San Fernando will move out of its temporary building at Pampanga High School this year to comply with conditions set by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).

Dialysis machines presented to Angeleños

ANGELES CITY - At least six of the 15 dialysis machines from the World Medical Relief (WMR) were presented to Angeleños on Monday.

DepEd names Lubao school outstanding health implementor

LUBAO -- The Department of Education (DepEd) recently named San Pablo Elementary School as an outstanding "health implementor" in the Lubao West District, after it gained the highest score in implementing school waste segregation and for having a functional school clinic.

Davao mayor orders probe into murder of student

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday challenged the police to solve the murder of an 18-year-old rape victim who was assassinated while riding a jeepney on her way to school.

Rosemelyn T. Ricote, a first year student of Emar Learning Center in Matina Crossing taking up Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and a resident of SIR Phase 2 in New Matina was gunned down as the jeepney she was riding slowed down near the Coca-Cola Village along MacArthur Highway in Matina. She was a City Government scholar.

Mayor blasts city engineers on drainage plan

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte rejected the proposal submitted by the City Engineer's Office (CEO) regarding its intended action to deal with the city's flooding problem.

Duterte said she wants a master drainage plan and not just a request for more canal cleaners.

Davao vice mayor files proposed law vs discrimination

DAVAO City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte formally filed his pet bill that would, according to him, "change the entire paradigm of the community" if passed into an ordinance.

The "Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City" is aimed at protecting the "minorities" from discrimination. Duterte said his bill's predicate is based on giving equal opportunity based on gender, race, color, descent or national ethnic and origin and religion.

Mati maps out plan to protect Philippine eagles

MATI CITY -- The City Government here is mapping out a better plan on how to protect and preserve the growing Philippine eagle population in the area.

Hospital capable of handling meningo cases

SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega on Monday assured Davaoeños the hospital is capable of handling highly contagious cases like meningococcemia.

Village chief, 5 others hurt as bridge collapses

A VILLAGE chief and five others were injured when a hanging bridge they were working on collapsed in the hinterlands of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Monday.

The Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) reported that the incident took place around 1 p.m. Friday in the boundary of Timbaboy and Palili villages in the town of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur.