Benguet gets nine principal exam passers

LA TRINIDAD -- At least nine passed the 2010 National Qualifying Examination For Principals (NQEP) out of the 93 applicants from Benguet, according to the Department of Education memorandum dated March 17.

Passers are Albino A. Caoile, 99.42 of Mankayan; Elsie O Tacio, 98.45 of Bokod; Nancy S. Banas-e,97.91 of Atok; Mildred D. Marquez, 96.30; Rosalina E. Taqued, 95.40, and Leonardo S. Nayeng, 91.20 of Tuba; Onofre D. Limpayos, 94.84 of Buguias; Julita S. Danio, 91.93 of Kibungan; and Alberto B. Cipriano, 90.98 of Tublay.

Two shark hunters nabbed

ALAMINOS CITY -- Authorities apprehended two shark hunters recently at the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) off Alaminos City.

The suspects were identified as Zaldy Bacqaquin, 49; and Pablo Gatan, 29, both residents of Barangay San Vicente, Alaminos. They were nabbed by members of the Public Order and Safety Office (Poso)-Bantay Dagat while conducting seaborne patrol in the HINP.

Council proposes collection of toll fees

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- The Municipal Council is mulling to amend its Revenue Code and include imposing the collection of toll fees from all vehicles delivering agricultural products and other goods in the place.

A public hearing on the proposed amendment of the Municipal Revenue Code to incorporate issues and other provisions will be held on May 20.

Housing board for housing and resettlement programs created

MAYOYAO, Ifugao -- The Municipal Council crafted an ordinance creating the Mayoyao Housing Board (MHB) to oversee the implementation of housing and resettlement programs of the municipality.

This is in compliance with Executive Order 708, directing all local government units (LGUs) to create their own Local Housing Board or any similar body through an appropriate ordinance before conducting the clearing house functions on demolition and eviction activities.

Beneficiaries await answers to the lack of water, electricity, safe roads

ARE we going to wait for the next elections for a road-right-of-way to be developed and additional three years to get electricity?

These are questions posed by residents of Upper Laguerta, Barangay Busay after they were relocated there by City Hall.

South flyover opens today

OFFICIALS will open to traffic this afternoon the newly constructed Mam-baling flyover in Cebu City, even if contractor WTG Construction has yet to formally turn it over.

Mayor Michael Rama announced the decision after he inspected the 410-meter flyover yesterday, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom) officials and contractor Willy Te Go of WTG Construction.

‘Probe harvest of corals, other marine resources’

ENVIRONMENTALISTS lauded the efforts of law enforcement units that resulted in the seizure of corals and other marine products.

Capitol loses P20M in property tax

CAPITOL last year lost its P23-million share in the real property tax (RPT) from three former municipalities that have been converted into cities.

Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) official Herminigilda Garsula said the cities of Bogo, Carcar and Naga have submitted their RPT collection reports, anticipating a Supreme Court decision declaring them as cities.

BFP clears mall after Sunday’s fire

EMPLOYEES and stall owners of Robinsons Place were allowed inside the mall to clean their place and retrieve their items yesterday, after Bureau of Fire and Protection fire marshal Supt. Aderson Comar issued a clearance Monday.

The store management yesterday issued its first official statement since the establishment caught fire last Sunday.

‘Exclude’ vice guv from Balili probe

BUSINESSMAN Criso-logo Saavedra, who urged the anti-graft office to investigate the Capitol’s purchase of the Balili property in the City of Naga, believes the vice governor should not be among those who should be punished.

Group seeks salary hike for workers

THE Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) yesterday filed a petition for a P100 across-the-board wage increase for all workers in Central Visayas before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7.

ALU-TUCP director Ferdinand Jumapao said workers affected by the current economic crunch have no choice, but to demand an increase.

Keep 6 items taken from Bella’s house: pa to court

RENANTE Pique, the father of Ellah Joy, has filed a motion for partial reconsideration, asking Judge Meinrado Paredes to retain six items seized from the house of suspect Bella Ruby Santos.

These are the Mitsubi-shi Pajero, hair strands, a local area network (LAN) cord, porno CD, two stones and the waiver.

Church urges faithful to join Lenten events

LENTEN activities allow Catholics to experience the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ so they should attend daily readings, masses and processions during the period.

"The key is sacrifice, sacrament and presence. In these three is the key that binds the Paschal Tri-duum," Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, Archdiocesan Commission on Worship chairman told Sun.Star Cebu.

Pe bares plan to move south

CEBU City Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. yesterday confirmed talks he will resign from his post as north district councilor next year so he can run for a City Council seat in the south district in 2013.

Pe, a third-term councilor, intends to transfer his voter’s registration records from Barangay Capitol Site in the north district to Barangay Guadalupe in the south so he can qualify to run for south district councilor.

Kidnap-murder case closed

THE Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 27 sentenced to 120 years in prison 12 police officers who were accused of kidnapping and murdering three victims in August 2, 2003.

After eight years of waiting, the family of former Pahanocoy barangay captain Eleuterio Salabas, maritime instructor Ricardo Suganob and Maximo Lomoljo, finally achieved justice.

Review of Ceneco power deals urged

THE joint committees of the Bacolod City Council made a recommendation after investigation on the power supply contracts entered into by the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).

The committees recommend the submission of a position paper urging the Energy Regulatory Commission to review and, thereafter, deny or disapprove, any pending power sales contract of Ceneco, particularly that with Panay Energy Development Corp, should the same be shown to be contrary to public interest under the circumstance.

Police official denies molestation raps

A POLICE official vehemently denied on Tuesday that he molested three teenagers at a videoke bar in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Councilor: No malice in Facebook post

FACEBOOK has become the center of discussion during the City Council session on Tuesday when a councilor used it to channel his sentiments on the proposed Plastic Ordinance.

Resolution condoling with Perez family proposed

TWO Bacolod City councilors proposed a resolution condoling to the family of Kapamilya star Antonello Joseph "AJ" Perez.

Cebu vice guv fighting lung cancer

CEBU CITY -- Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. has stage four cancer of the lungs and is confined at the Intensive Care Unit of Perpetual Succour Hospital, his family confirmed.

The announcement was made Tuesday by the vice governor's two daughters, Grezilda Sanchez Zaballero and Gerlyda Sanchez Spiller, during a press conference at the Lacto-Pafi office in Guadalupe.

Cebu mayor's son 'slaps' security guard

CEBU CITY -- At the start of Holy Week, Joavan Fernandez allegedly slapped a newly-hired guard of Vista Grande Subdivision in Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City Monday night.

Public warned of terrorist attacks

MANILA -- The military warned the public of possible "retaliatory attacks" this Holy Week by al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandits and local members of the Jema'ah Islamiyah.

Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for operations Major General Emmanuel Bautista said terror groups might take advantage of the density of the people on Holy Week to launch attacks.

Social welfare program exec rescued at Mt. Apo

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Mountaineers rescued Tuesday the program manager of a social welfare program owned by ABS-CBN Foundation who suffered severe dehydration after trekking the country's highest peak.

Red Cross provides sterilizer to Cotabato hospital

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) handed on Tuesday a brand-new sterilizer set for the safety of patients at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City.

The ICRC said the state-of-the-art equipment from Germany will help the hospital provide better services, especially on surgical operations.

Tribal groups demand justice for leader's murder

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Davao City Police Office were asked to hasten investigation on the death of a tribal leader three years ago.

Members of the Kahugpungan sa mga Lumad with the Pasaka doy Salugpungan Kalimudan (Pasaka) held a picket along San Pedro Street fronting Unitop, Davao City on Tuesday, calling on authorities to solve swiftly the murder case of their tribal leader, Datu Domingo Diarog.

Mayor sneers at cheating allegation

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte said she won the May 2010 elections fair and square, contrary to her opponent's electoral protest.

Village council okays Aboitiz power plant

THE Inawayan Barangay Council in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur unanimously approved on Tuesday the construction of the AboitizPower Corporation's proposed 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in the village.

33% district health centers PhilHealth-ready

ONLY six of 18 district health centers in Davao City are ready for public health insurance certification, a City Health Office (CHO) official said on Tuesday.

Human rights office probes slay of 2 minors

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Davao Region is now looking into the murder of two boys, age nine and 12, in Tagum City.

Mining permits in Paquibato opposed

HUNDREDS of farmers and lumads staged a rally Monday in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and marched on to the Landco Corporate Complex where the Alberto Mining office is located.