Joavan eats CPDRC’s breakfast ration; pa visits

ACTING Governor Agnes Magpale said Joavan Fernandez will not be harmed inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), but he won’t get any special treatment.

Joavan was transferred to the CPDRC last Wednesday after he and two other companions were arrested in the southwestern town of Moalboal last Monday. They were preparing to board two pump boats for Negros Oriental.

‘Metro Cebu’ swindlers claim 2 more victims

TWO more complainants surfaced yesterday as police continue to search for the swindlers who issued bouncing checks to several stores in Metro Cebu last week.

Businessman Mark Loreto, 28, of Liloan, Cebu, said he lost five coffee vending machines worth P76,000 after the buyer who ordered the items over the phone issued a check that turned out to be of no value.

Cebu City Hall needs P70 million a month

IF THE City Council will have its way, the Cebu City Government will have to set aside at least P70 million every month for the allowances of barangay officials and workers, and the financial assistance for senior citizens.

City Treasurer Emma Villarete said the monthly release of the allowances and financial aid can be done if made through the distribution of cash cards.

City Hall needs P70M a month

IF THE City Council will have its way, the Cebu City Government will have to set aside at least P70 million every month for the allowances of barangay officials and workers, and the financial assistance for senior citizens.

Election bet’s female supporter shot, another killed in Tuburan

MORE than a week after the elections, supporters of opposing political parties in Tuburan, Cebu were shot in separate occasions this week.

The incidents — the first occurred last Tuesday and the second on Wednesday — prompted Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador to order police station chiefs of areas where there was intense political rivalry during the elections to hold a dialogue between opposing politicians.

COA answer on tour buses lacks specifics

AS the management of Capitol’s funds is the responsibility of the head of the Provincial Government, the Commission on Audit (COA) said that it is up to the acting governor to decide whether to pay the supplier of the Suroy-suroy buses given to the towns.

In a May 21 letter to acting Gov. Agnes Magpale, COA state auditor 5 Eva Cabrera said fiscal responsibility “resides with management” as provided under COA Circular 2011-002.

Mayor sued for vote-buying

DUMANJUG Liberal party mayoralty candidate Cesar Baricuatro filed a disqualification case against newly-elected Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia before the Cebu Provincial Comelec office on the day of the election on the grounds of vote-buying.

Baricuatro, in a phone interview, said Garcia gave the policemen of Dumanjug Police Station P10,000 each sometime before May 13.

P12M smuggled rice seized at Sasa port

BUREAU of Customs (BOC) led by Commissioner Ruffy Biazon inspected on Thursday P12-million worth of smuggled rice seized by authorities at Sasa Port in Davao City in March.

Joint operatives of the Customs Intelligence Group in Manila and Davao port seized the illegal rice shipment that were placed in 23 misdeclared 20-footer container vans consigned to two different Davao traders.

Cigarette distributors told: Remove signages

AN OFFICIAL of the Anti-Smoking Task Force of Davao City told distributors of cigarettes in the city on Thursday to remove its big signages placed atop some stores in the metropolis.

"We encourage them to remove it and transfer it to a city which is not implementing an anti-smoking ordinance. So do not dare us na lang to remove the ads," Dr. Domilyn C. Villareiz, chair for Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force, said during the I-Speak Forum on Thursday.

Pelaez wants Radaza victory voided

DEFEATED mayoral candidate Ephraim Pelaez Jr. will file today a petition before the Comelec in Manila for the nullification of the proclamation Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and her entire slate as winners in the May 13 election.

In a press conference at his mansion in Rahman St., Cebu City, Pelaez said Radaza and her camp engaged in terrorism, threats and intimidation against his supporters, and many of them failed to vote.

Low turnout of PTC payment during polls

THE New People's Army (NPA) rebels were only able to get a measly P26 million from their permit-to-campaign collections in the recently concluded midterm elections. Not a huge amount considering their target of P500 million PTC fee from candidates, according to the military.

Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Public Affairs Office chief Major Ramon Zagala said the figure came from documents the military recovered from various armed engagements with the rebel group.

Duterte apologizes to Taiwan

DAVAO City mayor-elect Rodrigo Duterte apologized to Taiwanese government on Monday over the killing of a fisherman in a shooting incident last May 9, a Taiwan-based national daily reported.

In an online report published by The China Post dated May 21, 2013, it said that Duterte called Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin to ask for apology for the slain fisherman, Hung Shih-Cheng, 65, who was killed during an anti-illegal fishing patrol by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) off Philippine waters.

Couple killed in Kidapawan

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A hardware store owner and her live-in partner were killed while two of their workers were seriously wounded when unidentified gunmen attacked them while inside their house at a subdivision here around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

City police director Supt. Chino Mamburam identified the slain victims as Gina Bayhon, wife of a former military officer and owner of Donamae Hardware, and his live-in partner, Kenneth Gelloriza.

‘Drug addict’ uses kid as shield

A KNIFE-WIELDING man used a nine-year-old girl in Barangay Suba, Cebu City at 8 p.m. last Wednesday, to shield himself from pursuers.

Joy (real name withheld) was rescued unscathed, but hostage-taker Polinario Nanoy, who is allegedly a drug addict, suffered injuries after he was beaten up by the angry residents.

Student sued for gun ban violation

A FOURTH year high school student is facing charges before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) for keeping a seven-inch ice pick.

Charged with violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Gun Ban was Jebson Alayao Bansag, 19, of Calinan District in Davao City.

Colleagues want speedy probe on Pops' death

HUNDREDS of colleagues and supporters of Fr. Fausto "Pops" Tentorio are asking the Aquino administration to initiate a speedy investigation into the death of the priest.

In a post outside a hotel on Porras Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City on Thursday around 4 p.m. the colleagues and supporters of Tentorio held a liturgy and candle lighting, hoping that the probe of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will have a positive result.

2 ‘big-time’ drug pushers nabbed

JOINT personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Davao region and Philippine Air Force (PAF) arrested two big time drug pushers in a buy-bust operation in Tulip Drive, Barangay 76-A on Wednesday.

Man shot dead in Agdao

A 26-YEAR-OLD man was shot dead Wednesday in Gotamco, Barangay Leon Garcia, Agdao, Davao City.

The shooting took place around 1 a.m., killing one Ronald Villabas, 26, a resident of the said place.

2 more houses robbed

TWO houses were robbed in separate incidents in Davao City on Wednesday, victimizing an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) and an employee of a gasoline station.

The first incident happened around 7 a.m. at Purok San Lorenzo, Buhangin. The victim was identified as Joan Maquiling del Mondo, a 26-year-old OFW and a renter of #0407 Sto. Niño St.

2 brods face drug charges

TWO brothers, who were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade, will face trial after they were charged by the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.

Associate Prosecution Attorney Van Russel Inopiquez found enough evidence to indict Michael Cavan with violations of Sections 11 (illegal possession of dangerous drugs) and 12 (possession of paraphernalia), Article 2 of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Young stops demolition of a stage in Apas; Ayuman says it’s mere politics

CEBU City Acting Mayor Joy Augustus Young issued a cease and desist order on the alleged demolition of a stage in Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Apas.

But if one had to ask Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman, there was no demolition, and Young and his supporters are just politicking.

3 Aspins to join in 1st dog agility tilt in Cebu City

AMIGA, a two-year-old asong pinoy or aspin, will be one of three aspins that will compete in the First Philippine Dog Agility Championships this weekend.

Aspins are not known to compete in agility contests but officials of the Philippine Dog Agility Association (PDAA) said this was only because of the lack of time that people spend on their pets for training and brain stimulation.

City continues to monitor HIV-AIDS

HEALTH officials will intensify monitoring the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the city with the continued decline of recorded cases.

Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, of the Social Hygiene Clinic, said they will start their surveillance in May 27 to get the real picture of HIV infections among various sectors particularly among Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) where most of the recent infections in the city emanate.

Hospital worker faces raps anew

AN EMPLOYEE of Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) faces another possible case of multiple counts of estafa after falsifying several documents resulting to the loss of P3,360,674.

In an affidavit/complaint of the province of Benguet represented by Governor Nestor Fongwan, it accused BeGH Administrative Officer Dison Balangue for 28 accumulated counts of estafa.

Roads, railways rehab sought

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Barangay Pico chief Juan Mendoza is asking for the urgent rehabilitation of roads and railings here.  

Mendoza endorsed to local council a barangay resolution asking for fund allotment from the barangay’s calamity fund for repair of damaged pathways and railings at the stairway going to Upper Cogcoga kilometer 3 at the Pico area.

Lualhati folks feel voting rights were violated

THE barangay chairman of Lualhati expressed her constituents’ frustration after they failed to vote during the recently concluded 2013 elections due to the switching of ballots with Compostela Valley.

“Our constituents in Barangay Lualhati feel very frustrated and feel their basic voting rights were violated,” said chairman Norma Bustarde during a press conference Wednesday, adding: “It’s a painful and frustrating experience.”

DepEd to introduce new teaching method in June

THE Department of Education (DepEd) is launching the High Order Thinking Skills (Hots) method in teaching to test the ability of students in reading by using computer units.

Hots is the type of learning which involves cognitive processes such as analysis, comprehension, knowledge acquisition, synthesis, and evaluation.

Measles cases soar by 157%

THE Department of Health’s Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit (Resu) reported that measles cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region increased by 157 percent.

Suspected measles cases rose to 77 this year compared to 30 cases reported from January 1 to May 18 last year.

Website to hold walk-briefing on Saturday

BAGUIO City’s website “Bonjing” will guide 150 children and youth to a walk and orientation this Saturday morning from the Voice of America grounds along Loakan Rd. to the Bell Amphitheater of Camp John Hay.

Bookstore to showcase Iloilo talent, culture

SAMTOY Books, which is located at the artsy La Tabacalera in Laoag City, will showcase Iloilo’s arts and crafts.

Jane Gaspar, general manager of Samtoy bookstore, said the bookshop will showcase on its walls films posters, photographs of the Ilocano people and landscapes.