Man, pregnant wife nabbed for marijuana

A COUPLE was arrested in a buy-bust outside a mall in Barangay Ibabao, Mandaue City last Saturday afternoon.

Wakee faces perjury cases

AS A boxing promoter, Rex “Wakee” Salud puts up a show by letting two gloved prizefighters face each other inside the ring.

But, this time, the businessman has a fight to face on his own: a trial.

We’re just music lovers: rescued girls

THEIR love for music brought them together and nothing else.

This is what the two girls said after authorities rescued them, together with a French national, inside a hotel in Cebu City on suspicion of human trafficking.

Group needs P4.9M to attend Youth Day

A CEBUANO youth group is excited to attend the first World Youth Day with Pope Francis next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Marlito Cabigas, Commission on Youth (COY) member, said he expects to learn more on the humility of the pontiff.

Rama’s plan for new term: Sell SRP lots to halt floods

CEBU -- Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama plans to sell lots from the 302-hectare South Road Properties (SRP) in the second term of his administration, which will start at noon on June 30.

With the onset of the rainy season, the mayor wants to use the revenues from the sale to implement the City Government’s comprehensive drainage master plan, among others.

Barangay school gets more rooms

BARANGAY Captain Jose F. Navarro of Punta Princesa, Cebu City yesterday said the lack of classrooms in his barangay was partly solved when they inaugurated the other day the P6.3 million multi-purpose building at Punta Princesa Elementary School.

Navarro said the original appropriation from the Cebu City Government as approved by Mayor Michael Rama was P6.8 million and the savings of P500,000 was used for other projects.

Creative solutions needed in peace talks: negotiator

ILIGAN CITY -- Creativity by the parties in the current negotiations to end the Moro rebellion in Mindanao will be a key driver in concluding soonest a comprehensive peace pact, said government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.

Already, peace activists are worried that the lengthening delay in the restart of the negotiations could impair the quality of outcome of the upcoming Bangsamoro transition.

Airport porters: ‘We have been betrayed’

LUMBIA Airport porter David Anas almost fell to his knees after learning that their services were no longer required in the new Laguindingan Airport after Lumbia closed on Friday.

Their cooperative, the Cagayan de Oro SkyCap Multipurpose Cooperative (SkyCap Coop), has not been part of the team that relocated to the new Laguindingan Airport on Saturday.

Mining firm’s tailings dam that cracked ‘stabilized’

TUBOD, Surigao del Norte -- An official of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Caraga region said the tailings dam of a mining firm operating in Barangay Siana in this town has been stabilized following a crack to mitigate possible environmental risks.

Rene Gonzales, mining environment division chief of MGB-Caraga, said that he personally checked the dam two days after Greenstone employees discovered a crack on April 24, 2013.

Ex-soldier, 2 others nabbed in drug buy-bust

POLICE arrested a former soldier and two other suspected drug pushers in separate buy-bust operations in Davao City last Saturday.

The first operation was launched by the intelligence operatives of Sta. Ana police around 6:35 p.m. at the corner of Artiaga St. and Quezon Blvd., resulting in the arrest of Dante Hairal Ja-Alain, 42, a former Army soldier assigned at the Military Intelligence Battalion at Camp Felix Apolinario in Panacan and a resident of Barangay 37-D.

Robbers victimize teacher, elderly

A 41-YEAR-OLD teacher and a 75-year-old man were victimized by robbers in separate incidents in Davao City on Friday.

The first incident happened around noon at Diho 2 Subdivision, Carlos P. Garcia Highway.

Man killed in road accident

A MAN was killed in a road accident at R. Castillo St., Agdao District, Saturday afternoon.

The fatality was identified as Petronilo Zamora Samson, of legal age and a resident of 60 Fatima Village, Bajada, Davao City.

Manager faces raps for large-scale estafa

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Davao Region filed on Friday charges before the City Prosecutor's Office (CPO) against a manager of a business company for alleged scam.

Charged with large-scale estafa of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Presidential Decree 1609 was Zosette Socorro Ortiz, owner of a certain "rice investment/production business," human resource manager of Now Outstanding Services, and resident of Tugbok in Davao City.

Man sued for theft

CHARGES have been filed before the City Prosecutor’s Office (CPO) against a man for breaking in a car and stealing valuables.

Superintendent Caezar Cabuhat, chief of Sta. Ana police station, identified the suspect as Jerrymiah Ahos Datwin, 18, resident of Kilometer in Sasa in Davao City.

Septuagenarian grandpa killed

A YOUNG man has killed his septuagenarian grandfather after an argument ensued when he asked money from the latter in a remote village of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur.

The police said the incident took place around 7 a.m. Saturday in Barangay Gumpingan, Dumingag municipality.

Ex-environment official dies in ambush; pal hurt

THE police have activated a task group to investigate and file charges against perpetrators of the ambush-slay of two persons, including a former environment officer, in Zamboanga Sibugay, an official said Sunday.

Task Group "Balagot" was activated Saturday on the same day former Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (Penro) Rodolfo Balagot, 55, and Joel Cañales were killed in an ambush.

Maritime Group hires men

THE Maritime Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that it is hiring personnel to augment its present manpower as maritime law enforcers.

Regional Maritime Office (RMO)-Zamboanga Peninsula Director Superintendent Rollen Ariño said those who will be hired will comprise the command's Special Boat Unit (SBU) personnel.

Tons of water lilies clog waterways

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- There are seven areas of concern in the city that need to be addressed as the rainy season sets in, including the removal of tons of water lilies in the city's critical waterways, a volunteer engineer said over the weekend.

The volunteer engineer, who requested not to be named, told Sun.Star Pampanga that other interventions include the desilting of creeks, declogging of canals and drainages, and rechanneling of portions in the Sagip Ilog Phase 3B before it is turned over to the City Government.

Kapampangan expats to lead procession in Mama Mary’s birthday

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Kapampangan and other Filipino expatriates will lead this year’s celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the United States on September 8 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

They will be joined by the Spanish communities and Marian groups from different parishes in metro Los Angeles during the procession of Pampanga’s Virgen de los Remedios, according to Kapampangan expatriate Vidal Aguas.

Engineer loses car to ‘CIDG’ men

CAMP OLIVAS -- An engineer lost his car to four unidentified armed men who introduced themselves as operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The incident took place in front of the San Isidro Parish Church in Mabalacat City, according to Senior Police Officer-1 (SPO1) Roy Bravo, chief investigator of Highway Patrol Group-3 (HPG3).

LGC treats San Beda Red Lions for feat

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Laus Group of Companies (LGC) on Saturday tendered an all-Kapampangan luncheon for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball 3-Peat Champions San Beda Red Lions at the Carworld Pampanga showroom in this city.

The San Beda Red Lions were fresh out from their weekend teambuilding and bonding at Clark Freeport where they similarly met fellow Bedan Art Tugade, president of the Clark Development Corporation.

DOT to launch 3-in-1 tourism event on June 19

ANGELES CITY -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Central Luzon has set the conduct of a 3-in-1 event at SM City Clark here on June 19, which will highlight tourism initiatives here.

The event will present to the public the launching of the Travel Guidebook which was conceived and developed by the Hotels and Restaurants in Pampanga (Harp) led by its President Mitch Otsuru of Yu Fu In Japanese Restaurant.

Mankayan FPIC resumption eyed

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Stakeholders from the province up to the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) are hoping to resume the stalled Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) proceedings in Mankayan town.

Governor Nestor Fongwan and Mankayan officials were called together with some concerned agencies to determine how to proceed with the mandated FPIC proceedings between Far Southeast Gold Resources Inc. (FSGRI) and the local community.

Conflicting stand stalls road widening

CONFLICTING stands between the City Government and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) continue to stall the circumferential road widening project.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier lashed the BCDA position not to honor a certification given by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) allowing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to earth-ball and cut trees in portions of the John Hay Reservation.

PMA cadet joins US service academy

FORT DEL PILAR -- Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets are now being sent to the US, as the PMA has established ties with the United States Military Academy (USMA).

Sent recently was cadet Don Stanley Castillo Dalisay, who will join the USMA 2017 class.

College prexy urges officials to help improve education

UNIVERSITY of the Cordilleras (UC) president Dr. Ricardo Pama urged local officials and residents to contribute in nation building by focusing on the improvement of the educational system.

The outstanding educator and engineer said all heroes who fought in the past acknowledged the importance of education.

Health office revives ‘four o'clock habit’

THE Department of Health (DOH) is making way for the return of the four o’clock habit in a bid to curve the continuing increase of dengue cases in the country.

Cordillera Center for Health Development–Dengue Prevention and Control Program Coordinator Dr. Alexei Marrero said the revival will be part of the commemoration activity the DOH will be doing for the dengue awareness month this June. 

Junior Comelec commissioners to handle village polls

LATEST additions to the seven-man Commission on Elections (Comelec) will have their hands full in the next four months in preparation for and implementation of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls on October 28.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the en banc appointed Commissioner Christian Lim to head the steering committee of the upcoming polls.

Security tight as USM classes start

KABACAN, North Cotabato -- Classes are set to resume Monday at the state-owned University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan, North Cotabato after a two-week standoff between authorities and the group calling themselves, Oust Derije Movement.

North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco took the lead in negotiating with some of the organizers and leaders of the rallyists.

2 die in shooting incidents

A 21-YEAR-OLD tricycle driver and a 19-year-old man were killed in two separate shooting incidents in Davao City recently.

The recent incident happened at around 9 a.m. Saturday in front of the Barangay Hall of Wilfredo Aquino in Agdao.