The People’s Choice

“THE people have spoken. I respect that.”

Mayor Vicente Emano says this in television news report when asked how he takes the big blow on his political career after he loses the mayoralty bid in the city against Misamis Oriental governor Oscar Moreno in the May 13 elections.

Oro woman tops criminology exam

TOPPING the recent 2013 Criminologist Board exam never crossed Xian Hilot Gaje’s mind. She is the first woman to top from her school in this male dominated program.

Xian along with Roland Bayangan tied up in the top spot garnering a rating of 90.85 percent.

Ex-commissioner to review Cebu poll results

CEBU CITY -- Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Gregorio Larazabal will review and analyze records on the May 13 elections to help determine what next step Representative Pablo John Garcia will take.

Garcia, outgoing congressman of Cebu Province’s third district, lost by 163,906 votes to lawyer and former Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III.

‘Life’ claims victory

THE outcome from last Monday’s election shows there is a Catholic vote, said one of the most vocal campaigners against the Reproductive Health (RH) law.

Of the candidates endorsed and campaigned for by the Lay Initiative for Elections 2013 (Life), six out of 12 made it to the Senate and seven out of eight in Cebu will be joining the Lower House.

Most CCMC nurses hired between July and Dec not interviewed

THE Civil Service Commission (CSC) 7 has ordered an investigation on the hiring of 17 nurses for the Cebu City Medical Center who were not interviewed by the Personnel Selection Board.

The Human Resource and Development Office, through acting head Evangeline Abatayo, confirmed that only three of the nurses were interviewed.

Argao politician talks about waking the ‘sleeping giant’

PROVINCIAL Board Member Wilfredo Caminero attributed his recent victory in the second district congressional race to the farmers and fisherfolk in the province.

“Kay kining mga tawhana sleeping giant, nga maoy makatampo pag-irog ug pagdasig sa economiya sa lungsod (They are the sleeping giant who can move and stimulate a town’s economy),” he said.

Man killed due to family dispute

THE police are eyeing family dispute as most likely the motive behind the killing of a 33-year-old man in Dipolog City, although they have yet to identify the suspects.

Killed was Chris Paul Carillaga, a resident of Locsin Street, Taclobo village, Dumaguete City, and temporarily residing in the village of Usocan, Plaridel, Misamis Occidental.

Man, 60, dies in motorcycle crash

A 60-YEAR-OLD died while five others, including an eight-year-old boy, survived although wounded in a road accident in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Saturday.

The Zamboanga del Sur Police Office (ZDSPO) said the accident happened around 10 a.m. Friday along the national highway in the village of Lourmah, Mahayag town.

DOST scholars undergo enrichment class

THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has required its 38 new scholars to attend a one-month Science and Technology Learning Assistance Program--Summer Enrichment Class to prepare them to become competitive in college.

The one-month program, which started last May 8 and is set to end on the 29th of this month, is being held at the Western Mindanao State University’s (WMSU) College of Science and Mathematics.

13-hour brownout hits North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- At least 75 percent of the whole service areas of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) in North Cotabato province experienced brownouts that lasted for 13 hours on Thursday, starting 11 p.m.

Officials said it was not yet part of the rotating load curtailment imposed by the National Power Corporation (Napocor).

Nograles appeals for unity

REELECTED Davao City Representative Karlo B. Nograles called on Saturday for unity "among all sectors," which "should begin right now" to effectively serve the people of Davao City.

He said: “As we begin anew, I extend my hand of friendship and cooperation to all persons and sectors. I believe that the people elected us to perform a service for the community and that must begin right now, with us united in our common cause to serve.”

Pinol moves for exclusion of 2 towns in canvassing

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol filed a petition before the Cotabato Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) to exclude in the canvassing the towns of Pikit and Carmen due to alleged "high improbability of the voters' turnout."

Pinol, in a radio interview, said the two towns, based on the latest tally from Commission on Elections (Comelec), have a voters' turnout from 95 to 96 percent, which, according to him, "was highly improbable."

Police hunt 3 men in Toril shooting

POLICE are hunting down three suspects who shot a 19-year-old man at Samantha Homes in Lizada, Toril in Davao City Friday evening.

Chief Inspector Angel Sumagaysay, Toril police chief, identified the victim as Jovele Venoya Aluvalang, resident of Babisa in Lizada.

Drug lord’ usa sa `killers’ sa pulis

NAILHANG usa sa mga drug lord ang usa sa mga ningpusil patay kang SPO3 Jose Relampagos, imbestigador sa Tuburan Police, niadtong Biyernes sa hapon sa Sitio Pulangyuta, Barangay Looc, dakbayan sa Danao.

  Kini maoy gibutyag ni Supt. Resty Santos, hepe sa Danao Police Station dihang nahinabi sa dySS/Sun.Star Superbalita, kalabot kang Alvaro Alvaro, alias “Barok.”

28-anyos gipatay sa driver sa iyang giangkasan nga motor

USA ka babaye giunay pagpatay sa driver sa motorsiklo nga iyang giangkasan niadtong Biyer­nes sa gabii.

Drugas ang gidudahang motibo samtang nagtuo ang kapulisan nga ang biktima ug gunman managkaila ra.

CPA gipakgang sa OBO sa pagkoral

GIPAKGANG sa Cebu City Government pinaagi sa Office of the Building Official (OBO) ang pagkoral sa Cebu Port Authority (CPA) sa luna palibot sa Compaña Maritima duol sa Cebu City Hall.

Ang OBO niluwat og cease and desist order (CDO) niadtong Biyernes aron ipahunong ang pagkawot sa CPA sa mga lungag nga butangan sa haligi aron makoral na ang lugar.

Simple technologies can change lives

ANG mga lumad diri, nasanay man gud parehas sa repo niatong DENR kaniadto nga hatagan sila’g kwarta (The natives here see development programs like the reforestation program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had before where they are paid for planting trees),” said Nilo Tandangan, a Matigsalug resident of sitio Guilon in barangay Marilog, Davao City.

They expect to be paid to plant, he said, in explaining why not all families have joined the sloping agricultural land technology program (Salt 1) introduced in their villages three years ago.

Life as a dual artist

WHO said that the youth have limited abilities because they are too young to grasp good logic and understand true wisdom?

This fifteen-year old student of Cor Jesu College in Digos City who landed first place in editorial writing in the 2013 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Dumaguete City last month could probably change this perception.

Confessions of a first-time voter

IT WAS as I thought it would be. It was exciting.

The line was long, in every classroom. It was hot. There wasn’t enough ventilation. The classrooms did not even have electric fans.

Gloria Arroyo thanks kabalens for another term

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Former President and now re-elected Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (second district, Pampanga) expressed gratitude to Kapampangans for another term.

Arroyo, who will serve the towns of Lubao, Floridablanca, Porac, Sta. Rita, Sasmuan and Guagua, was proclaimed winner by the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) on Thursday evening, after she garnered 168,718 votes against former Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu with 18,547.

Re-elected, new BMs eye ‘greater Pampanga’

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Re-elected board members Ric Yabut, Nestor Tolentino, Salvador Dimson Jr., successful comebackers Dinan Labung and Rosve Henson, together with newcomers Cherry Manalo and outgoing Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang recently professed to “move in unison for a greater Pampanga” and pass more beneficial legislative measures which will benefit Kapampangans.

The local legislators, who expressed excitement over their first session together with Vice Governor-elect Dennis Pineda, said they are optimistic that the “new complexion” of the august body will not, in any way, affect their objectives for the bigger development of the province of Pampanga.

Bondoc calls for unity

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Congressman-elect Juan Pablo Bondoc has called for political unity in his district following his win against congressional rivals here, adding there is much to do in terms of infrastructure, tourism and agricultural development of the district.

Bondoc was proclaimed winner of the congressional race for the fourth district of Pampanga after garnering 105,610 votes or 55.58 percent of the 207,749 of voters.

Butil still Central Luzon’s choice

SANTA RITA — The Butil Farmers Party reigned as the top party-list choice in Central Luzon region after gaining 257,009 votes or 9.03 percent of the total voters who voted in the region, said the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Butil was followed by Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) with 162,470 or 5.71 percent at 2nd place in the regional ranking. Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay) followed close at third place and Binhi at 4th place.

Pimentel wants to have lunch with ‘friend’ Zubiri

REELECTED Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III wants to have lunch with his political nemesis, former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who failed to make it to the top 12 of the 2013 senatorial race.

"Wala akong problema with Migz Zubiri and after everything has settled, I want to schedule a lunch or dinner with my friend, Migz Zubiri," Pimentel told reporters in an interview.

65 nahilo sa balanghoy

SAYSENTA ka mga bata ug laing lima ka mga hamtong ang mitugpa sa balay tambalanan human nalanag sa gikaon nga balanghoy alas 10:15 sa buntag niadtong Biyernes.

Mga biktima pulos molupyo sa Barangay Magtuod, Talomo District, siyudad sa Davao nga nadala sa Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

2 gipamusil, 1 patay

PATAY ang usa ka estudyante samtang nadala sa balay tambalanan ang lain pang usa ka lalaki human gipamusil sa duha ka managlahing higayon sa siyudad sa Davao niadtong Biyernes.

Unang pagpamusil nahitabo alas 5:45 sa hapon didto sa Alvarez Street, Corner Monteverde, Barangay 27-C, ning siyudad.

2 namaligya shabu sikop

NASIKOP sa kapulisan ang duha ka notadong tigbaligya'g shabu sa gilusad nga buy-bust operation sa Sta. Ana Police Station niadtong Biyernes ug kagahapon, Sabado.

Unang nasikop ang usa ka traysikad drayber, alas 4:45 sa hapon, Biyernes, didto sa Purok 8, Barangay 31-D, Quezon Boulevard.

P10M gipangayo nga ransom sa kidnaper

COTABATO CITY - Mokantidad sa P10 milyones ang gipangayo nga ransom money sa armadong grupo nga midagit sa anak sa usa ka negusiyante, alas 4:05 sa hapon niadtong Martes didto sa probinsiya sa Maguindanao.

Giila ang biktima nga si Kenneth Cabrera, 25, ulitawo, anak ni Rafael Cabrera, usa ka buy and sell trader sa Barangay Kauran Ampatuan.

Team formed for 'harassed' Filipinos in Taiwan

MANILA -- The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) has formed a team that will handle reported cases of harassment against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan, Malacañang said Saturday.

In an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte reiterated the call to the Taiwanese people for calm and to spare from any harassment the Filipinos there who have nothing to do with the killing of 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng off Batanes last May 9.

Palace to Comelec: Speed up release of teachers' honoraria

THERE is no reason for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to delay the honoraria of the teachers who served in the midterm elections last Monday as funds are already available, a Palace official said Saturday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released early this year P960 million for the poll body.

MMDA chief: Increase on net worth due to new SALN form

METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino explained Saturday the significant increase on his net worth in 2012 compared to 2011.

Tolentino was the biggest gainer among the Cabinet members of President Benigno Aquino III whose net worth climbed by over P21 million to P43.77 million last year from P22.54 million in 2011.

12 senators proclaimed

MANILA (Updated) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed Saturday night the final set of winners of the May 13 senatorial race.

Completing the so-called "Magic 12" are Team PNoy's Cynthia Villar and United Nationalist Alliance's (UNA) JV Ejercito Estrada and Gregorio Honasan.

Villar, Estrada, Honasan to be proclaimed tonight

MANILA -- All 12 winning senatorial candidates have already been proclaimed by Saturday evening after the recent tally showed Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito Estrada, and Gregorio Honasan firmly holding on the last three spots.

This developed after the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), composed of members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), received the last provincial certificate of canvass from Lanao del Norte, which has nearly 500,000 voters for the May 13 polls.

An Waray emerge as first in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY – The An Waray party-list is number one in Eastern Visayas and 11 other party-list groups turned out to be the top picks in 33 of the 143 cities and municipalities, counting results showed.

An Waray party-list Representative Neil Benedict Montejo said this is inevitable considering that nominees and officials of some existing party-lists hail from the region, too.

Dominic proclaim as new Leyte governor

TACLOBAN CITY– Leopoldo Dominico “Dominic” Petilla was proclaimed by the Provincial Board of Canvassers as the new governor of Leyte. He ran unopposed.

The 48-year-old new governor was proclaimed at 10 p.m. Thursday by the board of canvassers, chaired by Leyte elections supervisor Richard Alvin Japzon, after the town of Calubian was able to transmit their result at 8:10 p.m.

Yaokasin as vice mayor, ‘good’ for Romualdez

TACLOBAN CITY - After proclaiming outgoing Councilor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin as the new vice mayor of this city, the information officer of the City Government said she expects a good flow of legislative action at the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the next three years.

City information officer Bernardita “Bering” Valenzuela said that they are happy that Mayor Alfred Romualdez won in the mayoralty race over out-going An Waray Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel, who was endorsed by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

Montelibano, Golez proclaimed in Silay City

RE-ELECTED Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano and Vice Mayor Mark Andrew Golez were finally proclaimed Thursday night as the winners for mayor and vice-mayor, respectively, of Silay City after the canvassing of votes by the City Board of Canvassers (CBOC).

Montelibano won by a margin of 914 votes, garnering 29,411 votes over Carlo Gamban's 28,497, while Golez garnered an overwhelming 41,296 votes over his opponent July Ledesma.

Prices, prizes up for PCSO’s 6/42, 6/45 draws

EFFECTIVE yesterday, May 17, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) doubled its betting price from P10 to P20 per combination, as well as the jackpot prizes, for the Lotto 6/42 and Megalotto 6/45 games.

PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, in a press conference Friday at the PCSO office at the Paglaum Sports Complex, Bacolod City, said that the minimum jackpot prizes also increased effective yesterday from P3 Million to P6 Million for Lotto 6/42 and from P4.5 Million to P9 Million for Megalotto 6/45.

Tubillara seeks recount vs Magno

MAYORAL candidate Jilson Tubillara revealed his plans to file a Protest for Recount against re-elected Mayor Mario Magno.

Magno won against Tubillara by only 20 votes.

Bacolod City councilors-elect thank voters

AS ELECTION is over, many things happened to both winners and losers.

The expression of gratitude from the winners becomes endless, while those who did not make it in the May 13, 2013 polls could hardly be seen or reached even by phone.

BCDA pursues CJHDevCo

JOHN Hay Management Corporation (JHMC), Bases Conversion Development Authority’s (BCDA) estate manager in the former American base, maintained it is submitting to arbitration proceedings.

The management, however, stressed this does not stop them from filing and pursuing criminal cases against its lessee Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo).

Fongwan: Shun dirty politics

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Governor Nestor Fongwan reminded councilmen here of the lessons learned during the recent elections.  

Fongwan said dirty politics has no place in the province, but added “it turns out that we have been infected by dirty tactics here.”

Youth’s role in the arts stressed

CORDILLERA tourism director Purificacion Molintas said technology and culture and the arts could go hand in hand.

She underscored the role of the younger generation in preserving the best cultural practices and traditional art.

Baguilat proclaimed Ifugao representative

PROVINCIAL canvassers proclaimed Ifugao representative-elect Teodoro Baguilat Jr. despite early rumors his proclamation will be halted due to a case filed for his disqualification from a pending Ombudsman decision of his dismissal.

Commission on Elections–Ifugao provincial election supervisor Elenita Tabangin-Capuyan said there is no reason for them to suspend the proclamation of Baguilat as the Comelec En Banc has not barred them and the provincial Board of Canvassers from declaring Baguilat as winner of the congressional race in the province.

Danao policeman shot 7 times, dies

A POLICE officer died after five men repeatedly shot him near an illegal cockfight arena in Barangay Looc, Danao City late yesterday afternoon.

SPO3 Jose Relampagos, who was assigned to the Tuburan Police Station, was shot seven times in his head and body.

Mayoralty candidate in Tuburan won’t face raps

DEFEATED Tuburan, Cebu mayoralty candidate Rose Marie Suezo and her running mate Daphne Lagon will not face trial for allegedly employing six armed men as bodyguards.

Cebu got most poll problems

CEBU Province has the most number of defective Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in the entire Central Visayas.

Of the total 215 defective PCOS machines in Region 7, Cebu has 134.

Groups urge fast probe on Malampaya fund scam

MASANTOL -- Members of the Masantol Eastern Coastal Communities (MECC) urged the Commission on Audit (COA) on Friday to speed up the investigation on the Malampaya fund scam involving multi-million pesos worth of "ghost project" intended for farmers here.

Former Vice Mayor Marcelo Lacap, a member of MECC, said their "innocence had been taken advantage by some individuals who successfully enrich themselves" by facilitating the release of some P89.2 million at the expense of the supposed beneficiaries in the localities.

Rimpy to prioritize agri dev't

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Congressman-elect Juan Pablo "Rimpy" Bondoc said on Thursday he will prioritize agricultural development in the fourth district to give Kapampangan farmers more opportunities for growth.

Bondoc made a successful comeback after he overwhelmingly won over his closest rival, Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba.

New heritage sites unveiled

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Two houses were added to the heritage map of the City of San Fernando on Friday as the City Government led by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and the San Fernando Heritage Foundation chaired by businessman Levy P. Laus unveiled the markers and signed the memorandum of agreement for their preservation.

The first site opened for viewing to visitors was the century-old Paras-Hizon house along V. Tiomico Street right along the city's main Heritage District.