Comelec: All but six local bets proclaimed

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday that all but six local candidates have already been proclaimed by local board of canvassers.   In a press briefing, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said they have received reports that almost all local winners were already proclaimed.   "It should be easily 99.99 percent tapos na (done) all over the country," said Brillantes.   He said the six un-proclaimed local candidates are from areas where special election will still have to be conducted since the remaining votes will still be material in determining the winners.

Drilon doesn’t expect reward for Team PNoy’s 9-3 win

SENATOR Franklin Drilon, who helped the Team PNoy coalition attain its nine-three victory in the senatorial race, said he does expect a reward for his hard work during the national campaign.

Drilon was the campaign manager of Team PNoy–a coalition of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), and the Nacionalista Party (NP).

Economic losses to reach P65B due to power deficiency

ECONOMIC losses in Mindanao could reach P65 billion if the Mindanao grid will continue to experience power deficiency in most areas in the island.

Engr. Cerael Donggay, Greenergy Development Corp. chief executive officer and project director of Bulanog-Batang and Pulangi 5 hydro projects, said production losses due to machinery breakdowns, export revenue losses, employment curtailments, net profit and taxes reduction will result to billions of economic losses if the Mindanao grid will sustain the 100-megawatt (MW) power deficiency.

Emano mulls filing election protest

WHILE saying that he respects the decision of the people in the latest elections, Mayor Vicente Emano on Sunday said he is considering filing election protest against mayor-elect Oscar Moreno.

But, he would study first the legality and basis for the filing of his election protest.

Moreno’s wife: ‘I will be the eyes and ears of Kagay-anons’

IN LESS than six weeks, before he could formally sit as the new mayor, Oscar Moreno has already found a critic -- his own wife, Arlene.

In a television interview last week, Arlene said she will be the first to criticize Moreno if he fails to perform his task as the city’s new chief executive.

Cogon vendors vent sentiments

THERE were over 100,000 Kagay-anons who voted the newly proclaimed Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno.

The color of “Hapsay nga Pang Gobyerno” will reign in the city for the next three years as promised by Team CDO.

Motorcycle driver shot dead

A “HABAL-HABAL” (motorcycle for hire) driver was shot dead along Narra St. in Reyes Village subdivision, Barangay Bugo in Cagayan de Oro City Saturday night.

Police Officer 2 (PO2) Lemuel Tecson of the Puerto police station (PS6) identified the victim as Amorsolo Corpus, 34, single, a resident of Zone 1, Sta. Ana, Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental. Corpus sustained a single gunshot wound in the head.

Military, NPA rebels clash anew in Misamis Oriental

SOLDIERS belonging to the 402nd Infantry Brigade and some 20 suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) clashed anew at the outskirts of Sitio Tongo, Tingaan village in Salay town, Misamis Oriental, Saturday afternoon, the military said.

Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) spokesperson Major Leo Bongosia said the gunfight lasted for about 10 minutes but there were no reported casualties on both sides.

4 remaining Oro councilors proclaimed

THE Cagayan de Oro City Board of Canvassers (CBOC) recently proclaimed the four remaining winning candidates for city councilors both in the first and second district of Cagayan de Oro.

Proclaimed Wednesday last week was re-elected second district councilor President Elipe for the number eighth position.

City files case vs Bato folks

THE Cebu City Government filed a criminal case against 21 residents in Sitio Bato in Barangay Ermita, for allegedly blocking the City’s efforts to clear an area that fire struck last month.

The case was filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor last Friday, three days after the proclamation of Michael Rama as the reelected mayor of Cebu City.

P580-M loan for port dredging still on hold

FOR three years now, government has been trying to get a P580-million loan to dredge and deepen the sea near Cebu City’s port, so that larger cargo vessels and cruise ships can dock there.

But the loan application of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) remains on hold, said General Manager Dennis Villamor.

2 nabbed for violating gun ban, in effect ‘til June 12

A ROBBERY suspect from Masbate was collared by the police in Mandaue City yesterday dawn, one of two men caught in the city during the weekend for allegedly violating the gun ban.

Helario Sollano, alias Ondo, 43, a native of Placer, Masbate was arrested for alleged illegal possession of a firearm and violation of the election gun ban past 1 a.m. in Barangay Labogon.

Memorial tries to cast light on HIV

HE CRIED for days when he tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) last December.

“I felt hopeless,” said 19-year-old RG (real name withheld). “It’s like I’m one step closer to death.”

Davide in dept heads’ meeting

GOVERNOR-ELECT Hilario Davide III was invited to attend the regular Monday meeting of the Cebu Provincial Government’s department heads to help him prepare for his term, which begins at noon on June 30.

Davide said it was Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale who invited him to today’s meeting, which will give him a chance to begin consultations with different groups, including Capitol’s executives.

Plans, MOA needed for Bantayan, Camotes airports

TWO agencies will have to sign an agreement with the Cebu Provincial Government before the construction of airports in San Francisco, Camotes Island and Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island can proceed, an official said.

These agencies are the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Public schools reminded vs enrollment fees

THE Cebu City Council appealed to the public schools in the city to avoid collecting “unreasonable” or “unauthorized” contributions from students.

“With the ongoing enrollment for public schools in the city, every Filipino family is now faced with financial challenges with the demand of school fees and other miscellaneous expenses,” said Councilor Edgardo Labella in a resolution.

9 ‘illegal recruiters’ hauled to court

NINE persons will face trial after the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office charged them with large-scale illegal recruitment and estafa.

The accused allegedly offered five victims with non-existent work in the United States in exchange of P224,000.

3 men to face trial for cutting trees in Cebu forest reserve

THREE persons will face trial for allegedly cutting several mahogany trees in the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve.

Cebu City Prosecutor Dixon Fuentes found enough evidence to indict Dondon Maluya, Juvy Pintor and Vicky Pintor with violation of Section 77 of Presidential Decree (PD) 705, or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines.

Kin denies man tied up nephew for 2 days

THE family of a man who was earlier accused of tying and handcuffing his nephew clarified that his action was not meant to cause pain but to teach the nephew a lesson.

“We tied him not to make him suffer but instead to let him tell us where he sold the ice bucket and let him feel what he was doing to us,” the family of Matias Tabasa said in a press statement to Sun.Star Cebu.

Free summertime service helps boys undergo rite of passage

HE IS only nine years old, but John Carl Pelare is already facing a dilemma.

Pelare of Barangay Calajoan, Minglanilla, Cebu was bothered that his friends would often tease him for being uncircumcised.

Parents urged to enroll kids early, join Brigada Eskwela

APART from encouraging the parents to enroll their children early, the Department of Education (DepEd) is also encouraging the parents and the whole community to participate in the Brigada Eskwela which will start today, Monday.

Nenita Divinagracia of DepEd Bacolod City said they are appealing for the parents’ cooperation in terms of early enrollment. In January 26, she said, DepEd have conducted an early registration for the convenience of both parents and students as well as for teachers.

Alter Trade Corp spearheads sugarcane producer’s confab

AS PART of its forthcoming 25th anniversary celebration in July, a “Sugarcane Producers Encounter” was held recently by Alter Trade Corporation (ATC) for its producer communities at the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM) center in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. 

Agrarian reform beneficiaries and marginalized farmers who attended the activity belong to farm communities assisted by ATC and Alter Trade Manufacturing Corporation (ATMC).

Rep. Golez hints 2016 comeback

OUTGOING Bacolod City lone district Representative Anthony Rolando Golez, Jr. thanked Bacolodnons who gave him the opportunity to serve them for a three-year term but pointed out that a single defeat does not mean a final defeat.

"If it is in boxing, the May 13 election was just the first round. There are still more rounds coming," he said.

4.8 quake jolts province

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that a magnitude 4.8 earthquake jolted the Negros Occidental on Sunday morning.

Phivolcs said that the quake, which was tectonic in origin occurred at 5:06 a.m. with its epicenter traced at nine kilometers northwest of Hinoba-an town in Negros Occidental and had depth of 39 kilometers.

Army recruitment on

THE 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army at Camp Macario Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz announces the recruitment schedule for Western Visayas and Negros Oriental. 

Cops on poll duties back to barracks

POLICEMEN who were deployed to different areas for election duties are now back to barracks.

The Police Regional Office-Western Visayas (PRO-6) has consolidated its members who were deployed as augmentation force for the May 13 election security coverage.

Colmenares: ‘Smartmatic should be finished now’

BAYAN Muna Representative Nerie Colmenares said Sunday that the services of Smartmatic in the conduct of the May 13 automated midterm election should be over and should not be allowed to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.   Colmenares was in the city yesterday to thank the Negrense and Bacolodnons for the overwhelming support they gave to Bayan Muna locally garnering more or less 120,000 votes.  

They have raised a serious concern about the automated election.

Bacolod underway to digitize ordinances

BACOLOD City Legal Officer lawyer Joselito Bayatan said the city government has awarded to CD Technologies Asia Inc. (CD Asia) to digitize, harmonize, and codify the ordinances of the city government from 1938 to 2007.

This has passed the Bids and Awards Committee biddings and procedures and there was already in fact a purchase order issued in favor of DC Asia way back in July 2007. But the city was not able to formalize its agreement with CD Asia. So DC Asia filed a case against the city for it to comply with the contract because it (CD Asia) had already passed all the formalities.

Filipinos in Taiwan told to limit movement

MANILA -- The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) issued an advisory to Filipinos in Taiwan to avoid going out for their safety amid the anger by some Taiwanese nationals over the killing of their compatriot by the Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

In an interview over Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that Meco Executive Director Antonio Basilio has been in touch with the Filipino communities in Taiwan.

Pa killed, son survives in gun attack

A TRICYCLE driver was killed while his one-year-old son survived although wounded in a gun attack in a remote village of Zamboanga del Norte, a police official said Sunday.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, Zamboanga Peninsula police spokesman, said the incident took place around 8:15 p.m. Saturday in the village of Kayok, Liloy town.