Provincial Board commends Porto

THE Provincial Board of Negros Occidental passed Wednesday a resolution commending Major General Vicente Porto, outgoing commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz.

Porto retired from the military service Tuesday as he turned 56 years old, the mandatory age for military men to retire.

City to probe Candoni councilor

THE Provincial Board unanimously approved Wednesday a resolution for the conduct of an investigation against a municipal council member of Candoni for alleged dishonesty, grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority.

The resolution was authored by Board Member Emilio Yulo III.

Kalinga donates P2M school building

KALINGA party-list Representative Abigail Ferriol led Wednesday the inauguration of the P2-million two-classroom school building in Barangay Tabao, Valladolid funded by Kalinga.

Ferriol, the youngest member of the 15th Congress, said since they do not have a specific district where they could put their projects, they base their projects on proposals from local government units which are in need of projects.

Bacolod police office forms ‘Task Force King’

THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) formed Wednesday “Task Force King” to solve the alleged attempt by two suspects to kill Chinese national Nick King Tuesday morning at Daalco Building, Libertad, Bacolod City.

BCPO Director Ricardo De la Paz said Task Force King will be headed by Superintendent Alexander Ermeo with Police Inspector Leonardo Borromeo of City Intelligence Division, Police Inspector Homer Vargas of Intelligence Branch and Station 6 commander Police Chief Inspector Placido Gentoleo as members.

6 robbers ambush pawnshop workers

EIGHT employees of a pawnshop chain lost their belongings, including jewelry, after six robbers held them up at gunpoint before their vehicle reached the Marcelo Fernan Bridge yesterday afternoon.

Laptops, a cell phone, P10,000 cash and assorted jewelry were stolen from employees, mostly managers, of the M. Lhuillier Pawnshop Inc. from Ozamis and Cagayan de Oro.

Mayor Rama threatens barangays who fail in waste segregation drive

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday said he might cut off City Hall’s incentives to the barangays, including fuel allocation, if they still fail to implement the “no segregation, no collection” policy.

This, as the City’s Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team (Ceset) will file cases against the barangays that have continuing offenses against the waste segregation ordinance of the city.

Fiscal appears before Council, slams media reports for ‘bias’

MANDAUE City Assistant Prosecutor Bienvenido Mabanto yesterday accused members of the media of “twisting the facts” in the traffic incidents in which he was involved.

Mabanto, the city traffic board’s vice chairman, made the statement in the weekly session of the Mandaue City Council, which summoned him to explain his side.

Capitol: nothing to do with Briton’s arrest

CAPITOL said it did not request authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) to arrest British national Ian Charles Griffiths.

BOC examiner faces graft rap

GRAFT charges have been filed against a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official with the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in relation to complaints by Korean tourists whose passports allegedly disappeared in the hands of the customs examiner.

Bella’s lawyer a fighter, surmounts suspension

IF THE case lodged by the police recently means tough times are ahead for partners Bella Ruby Santos and Ian Charles Griffiths in the Ellah Joy Pique abduction and murder case, then they should be thankful their lawyer is a fighter.

Atty. Ana Luz Cristal, known in Manila as Ana Luz Cristal-Tenorio, sued a superior while working at the Makati City Government and has been charged and suspended twice by the Supreme Court, but remains active in litigation.

‘I thought he came for a visit’

THE Mabolo policeman who is accused of letting a rape suspect escape admitted he knew the latter.

But PO1 Lloyd Magdadaro said he was not aware that Lysander Pardilla was a rape suspect and that he was brought to the Mabolo Police Station Saturday night by barangay tanods who were assisting the victim.

Magpale chokes smokers with rules

ON HER second day as acting vice governor, Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale implemented a no-smoking policy at the legislative office and explained it is prohibited as stated in a provincial ordinance.

She met with the employees of the Vice Governor’s Office yesterday and checked the physical status of the office.

Russian artist to create sculpture for Province

RUSSIAN artist Gregory Pototsky turned over a dandelion poster to two Cebu officials, a preview of sorts for a sculpture he will give later this year.

He gave the poster to Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation Armi Lopez-Garcia and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, represented by Provincial Board (PB) Member Agnes Magpale, in last Tuesday night’s ceremony.

School board gets additional P60 million

THE Cebu Provincial School Board (PSB) increased its fund allocation for next school year by more than half to P177.8 million.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, the school board chairperson, explained the funds were increased because of the demand for educational supplies and in preparation for the K+12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd).

PRO 7 gives Gwen list of cop chief candidates

TOP police officials met with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday and submitted a list of three officers qualified for the position of Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director.

The officials also reached a formal agreement with the governor for Capitol to provide logistical support.

Seed fund grows in an hour

FROM a fund of zero to P1.1 million in less than an hour.

This is what the Super Beautification Council (SBC) that will beautify Osmeña Blvd. will be working on through pledges from two business people.

Camotes weekend for Suroy Sugbo

BOTH local and foreign tourists will explore the islands of Camotes this weekend for Capitol’s Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said they are getting a lot of bookings but said they still limited the slots to around a hundred guests.

Fire hits Pier 4 bodega, building in Liloan

ANOTHER fire hit Ce-bu City.

A cooking oil retailing station burned Tuesday night.

Transport groups to stage more protests

TRANSPORT groups in Northern Mindanao are renewing their call for a price roll back of petroleum products, saying the P3 per liter subsidy for the transport sector is not enough.

Court orders Ecleo’s arrest

CEBU CITY -- After he snubbed again and again the scheduled hearings on the parricide case against him, Representative Ruben Ecleo Jr.’s bail was cancelled Wednesday by the Regional Trial Court (RTC), which issued a new warrant for his arrest. 

In a verbal order, RTC Judge Soliver Peras directed that the new warrant is to be given to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Caraga Region, for immediate enforcement.

Proposed village info system 'legal'

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The proposed Barangay Information System and Safety plan designed to curb criminality and create a database of transients living or working in Pampanga villages is legal, said the Provincial Board (PB).

Recently, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Pampanga Chapter and the Kapampangan Kontra ID expressed opposition to the proposal in two separate statements, saying it was unconstitutional, violates the bill of rights, discriminatory and a threat to the privacy and security of Kapampangans.

Speed limit at Pampanga avenue proposed

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Provincial Board (PB) led by Vice Governor Joseller Guiao approved Tuesday a resolution requesting various regional government agencies to establish a speed limit along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Jasa).

The resolution urges the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local governments of Lubao, Guagua, Bacolor, and the City Government of San Fernando "to adopt means and measures that will establish and enforce the maximum speed limits along Jasa from Lubao to this city."

Bizman: Japan crisis has little effect on economy

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The ongoing economic crisis in Japan caused by two major disasters have little effect on the Philippine economy, especially to Kapampangan trades, a businessman said.

Jose Teodoro Limcaoco, president of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)-Family Savings Bank, said the Japanese crisis may have a spillover to the demands of the country for raw materials, or partially finished electronic goods.

High-value crops eyed for Aeta livelihood

PORAC -- Government officials and members of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) are now looking on the possibility of putting up high-value crop industries for Aeta tribes here.

The move is seen as an added livelihood program for the Aeta tribes in the villages of Sapang Uwak, Inararo and Villa Maria.

Hüper Optik Phils joins 7th Manila International Auto Show

HÜPER OPTIK Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of the Laus Group of Companies (LGC), joins the 7th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) at the World Trade Center's East Wing and Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City.

Mabalaqueño bar topnotcher honored

MABALACAT -- Mayor Marino Morales lauded Johana Tanglao Sunga, a resident of Sitio Camalig in Barangay Dau here who placed fifth in the recent bar examinations.

Lawmaker challenges Northville kids to become successful

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Third district Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. challenged graduates of the Northville Integrated School in Barangay Calulut here to aim for success and improve their standard of living.

6,000 indigent students to get summer jobs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- At least 6,000 indigent students across Central Luzon will be beneficiaries of summer jobs that will be offered by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in the region.

Sweetest mango highlighted in Zambales Mango festival

IBA, Zambales -- The much-anticipated Zambales Mango Festival, which highlights the province's world-class product, kicks off at the provincial capitol grounds Thursday.

Smiles for 3,000 indigents

LUBAO -- More than 3,000 indigent kabalens from the towns of Guagua, Sta. Rita, Sasmuan, Porac, Floridablanca and this municipality were given free dentures, courtesy of Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Governor Lilia Pineda.