DURING the term of then mayor Luigi Quisumbing, a joint venture agreement was entered into by Millenium Resorts Corp. and the City Government, represented by the mayor, over the famous Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) property.
The P800-million building, located on a 3.8-hectare lot owned by Mandaue City, was sold in 2018 by Cebu Province to the City Government for P300 million.
Many people are interested in projects contracted and left by the predecessor of the new governor or mayor. But Luigi's Infinity City project has not drawn as much attention as Junjun Davide's Resource Center Building at the Capitol. Primarily because neither Luigi nor his successor has been talking about it.
Would Mayor Jonas Cortes pursue the project, seek revision of terms, or litigate for annulment or rescission? Has the new mayor already disclosed his plan about Infinity City?
People talk about...
[1] 'UNKEPT PROMISE' OF PRESIDENT DUTERTE ABOUT PUGAPO THE FISH. On May 16, 2016, just after the presidential election that he won (with 39.01 percent of the vote), Rodrigo Duterte promised to have the fish "pugapo" re-named "magellan."
Apparently, the post-election promise was to strike back at those who mistakenly give "pugapo" the name "lapu-lapu," which some people, including the President, deem an insult to the Cebu hero.
The promise still has to be kept. A bill filed by Representative Paz Radaza, the former Lapu-Lapu City mayor who now represents the city's lone district, seeks to dissuade people from giving "pugapo" the name "lapu-lapu." No bill yet giving "pugapo" the name "magellan."
[2] KRIS AQUINO'S CALL FOR MALE FRIENDS. The movie-TV star and daughter of the late president Cory Aquino and sister of the former President Noynoy Aquino is calling publicly for males whom she'll give access to her private account.
Kris Aquino says the male must be aged 41 to 55, single but "pwedeng widowed, divorced, legally separated or annulled." Friend requests of doctors -- "particularly rheumatoid, immunology, allergy specialist, neurologist, management specialist or cardiologist" -- will be instantly granted, she said.
Is the "I Love You, Hater" actress looking for mere friends or people she can date with or even live in with? The interest in doctors suggests she wants her date or live-in partner to be someone who can help manage the illness she admits she has.
[3] THE PRESIDENT'S WORD IS 'GOOD ENOUGH.' When asked why the Moriones (Marinduque) police chief carried out the order to re-arrest prisoners released under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) system, despite the justice secretary's instruction that police have to wait for DOJ's final list, Capt. Elvin John Tio said, "Kapag sinabi ng presidente, official na siya. (If the president says it, then it's official.)"
Same thing happened with the order, also orally made by the President, for the shutdown of lotto outlets.
The practice can cause confusion and conflict among officials of agencies and make accountability difficult in case litigation results from the order.
[4] WHO'S HANDLING THE SENATE INQUIRY ON BUCOR ANOMALIES AND THE GCTA FIASCO? Overheard conversation that followed the question:
-- "Senator Richard Gordon."
-- "Dick Gordon? The senator who got this dressing down from the President: 'Yung utak mo, Dick, natutunaw, napupunta diyan sa tiyan mo. You are a fart away from disaster..."
-- "Yes, the same Dick."
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