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87 orphans now homeless


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87 orphans now homeless
By Ryan Christopher J. Sorote/MIT (The Freeman) Updated August 19, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments

CEBU, Philippines - 87 orphans and 5 nuns would have to find another shelter after the Cebu City Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) has recommended the condemnation of the 7-year-old orphanage located in a mountain sitio in Barangay San Jose, Cebu City.

DEPW inspectors discovered that the entire structure of the “Our Bonita House for Girls” orphanage has been built with substandard materials.

This was discovered after a portion of the orphanage riprap collapsed last Wednesday evening in Purok 3.

Engr. Danny Sabarre told The FREEMAN that when the riprap collapsed, they discovered that the contractor used thin iron bars which are not advisable for such kind of construction.

He said that the occupants of the orphanage should evacuate as soon as possible and “condemn” the building. The inspectors also discovered that the soil surrounding the orphanage is very soft and muddy.

The orphanage which is located on top of a mountain was said to have first been constructed by a contractor led by a certain Engr. “BD” Daan who ran away with around P10 million in 2004.

After Daan left without finishing the construction, a certain Architect Boy Migallen took over the construction and finished the four-story building.

Orphanage directress, Sr. Julieta Preagido of the Franciscans Sisters of the Sacred Hearts said they have reported the incident to their superiors in Manila who are scheduled to arrive within the week to asses their situation.

Sr. Preagido said they spent over P50 million for the building which was funded by their German benefactors.

The orphanage directress said their biggest problem is finding a place to house the 87 girls who are under their care. The orphanage has 13 employees and 5 nuns.

When the riprap collapsed at around 10:00 p.m. last Wednesday evening, the residents of the orphanage thought that they were hit by lightning.

But upon checking, the sisters discovered that three stories of riprap have collapsed. Minutes after the collapse, the sisters of the orphanage took their girls out of the building and brought them to the Order of Augustinian Discalced (OAD) compound who offered them shelter.

They are now looking for a place where they can house their girls who are all studying in grade school, high school and college.

The youngest orphan is a four-month-old infant. (FREEMAN)

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Ex-professor nabbed for stepson's death



CEBU, Philippines - The mother of the 17-year-old boy, who was earlier believed to have died from hazing, yesterday admitted responsibility of her son’s death.

Mylene Mina, 32, and her live-in partner Richard Perez, of sitio Sihay, Tres de Abril, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City were invited by the homicide investigators for questioning because of information that they have beaten up Jhon Michael Mina to death.

Mylene admitted to the police that she and her live-in partner mauled the victim prior his death.

“Ato ra gyud nga higayon nahitabo ang pagpangulata sa iya (Jhon) kay tayming man kaayo nga nag-init akong ulo. Wala pay kaon akong mga anak unya sige pa gyud og pabuyag,” Mylene said.

Mylene said she strangled the victim. “Ako gyud gi-tuok akong anak tungod sa akong kalagot samtang ako siya nga gikasab-an,” she said.

According to Mylene, the victim’s stubbornness loses her temper prompting her to beat him. While at the height of her anger, Perez arrived and joined her in mauling the victim.

“Kasalanan ko tanan kay kun di tungod sa pagyaw-yaw nako, di mo kulata akong bana (It was all my fault, if not for my nagging, my husband would not have mauled my son)” Mylene defended her husband.

In fact, she is willing to go to jail in lieu of Perez.

“Wala ko na konsensya, gi-angkon gyud nako ang pagpangulata di ko mo sugot nga ma-priso akong bana mas maayo nga ako nalang,” she said.

Perez who was immediately placed under arrest after his wife’s admission, denied beating up the victim.

“Wala koy katungod nga mo dapat ato niya kay di man to akong anak. Bisan akong mga anak di man gali makatilaw og kulata gikan nako,” Perez said.

Perez, who is a former university professor, said that they were in good terms with his stepson, adding that Jhon was very good to him.

“Buotan tong bata-a lisod kaayo ka makiglalis ato kay hilumon to nga bata-a,” he said. (FREEMAN)

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MARINA lifts suspension on 7 Trans-Asia vessels

CEBU, Philippines - The Maritime Industry Authority has lifted the suspension order on seven Trans Asia Shipping vessels after they have passed the re-inspection and additional safety management audit.

MV Asia China, MV Trans-Asia 2, MV Trans-Asia 3, MV Trans-Asia 5, MV Trans-Asia, MV Asia Pacific and MV Asia Indonesia were allowed to operate again after having grounded since August 1 following the sinking of its sister vessel MV Asia Malaysia on July 31 off Calabasas Island in Ajuy, Iloilo City.

MARINA-7 information officer Jose Cabatingan said two other Trans-Asia ships are not operational, MV Asia Philippines and MV Asia Japan as they are on a dry dock.

Cabatingan said the seven vessels were already declared seaworthy by the joint inspection team of MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard.

MARINA administrator Emerson Lorenzo ordered on August 1 the suspension of all Trans-Asia vessels until they pass the re-inspection and safety audit. The suspension came after one of its fleet sank. Fortunately all the more than 200 passengers were safely rescued by a passing Cokaliong vessel.

Meanwhile, the hearing of the show cause order issued by MARINA against Trans-Asia Shipping Lines was again moved to August 26 from August 15. This is the second time that the hearing was moved upon the request of the shipping company’s counsel.

The shipping company requested for another postponement of the hearing because the schedule last Monday was in conflict of the marathon hearing of the Special Board of Marine Inquiry investigating the mishap in Iloilo City.

MARINA earlier issued a 72-hour show cause order against Trans-Asia why its Certificate of Public Convenience should not be suspended or revoked. (FREEMAN)

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DPWH denies abandoning subway project unfinished



CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas through the Metro Cebu Development Project yesterday denied accusations that they left the Cebu Subway project unfinished.

MCDP project development officer Rogelio Quibilan said the project was not yet turned over to them by the contractor. Besides, Quibilan said, whatever defects of the project are still covered by the warranty period.

Kajima Construction started the subway project in June 28, 2006 and has not turned over it yet to the DPWH.

In fact, the contractor is continuously conducting maintenance work at the subway considering that there are minor cracks that need repair.

“Before DPWH will issue a certificate of completion or certificate of acceptance, we will inspect the project first,” Quibilan said.

City Traffic Operations Management Board chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem earlier blamed the DPWH for the recent vehicular accident in the tunnel because it was allegedly left unfinished.

Jakosalem said he was disappointed that the DPWH left the P1.2-billion project incomplete.

The multi-billion infrastructure also known as 3B-2 project, which was inaugurated by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in June 30, 2010, was in the limelight after one was killed in a six-vehicle smashup last Tuesday.

The incident prompted CITOM to desire to take over the maintenance and operations of the SRP subway so they can implement measures to regulate its use.

Quibilan said that such suggestion is not far from reality as everything would depend upon their head office whether to approve such request or not.

“Depende na sa head office namo kung musugot ba nga ang CITOM ang mo undertake sa maintenance ug operation sa subway,” he added. (FREEMAN)

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3 burned infants to get full scholarship

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is giving full scholarships to the three children who got burned while in confinement at the city-run hospital in February.

The Cebu City Legal Office is already preparing the memorandum of agreements to be entered into by Mayor Michael Rama, on behalf of the city, and the parents of Kean Carl Villarico, baby girl Maglasang and Harry Vincent Ybañez.

The draft MOA has been submitted to the committee on laws of the Cebu City Council for review.

The city government decided to pay for the education of the three children from elementary until they graduate college aside from paying their hospital bills to prevent the parents from suing the Cebu City Medical Center.

It was stipulated in the draft memorandum of agreement that the city will assist the parents of the children to ensure their enrollment in the elementary, high school and even in the tertiary.

Their expenses for school supplies and tuition fees shall be charged in the existing scholarship program offered by the city government to qualified beneficiaries.

Early on, the city had spent close to P1 million in hospital bills of the three children who got burned when a gooseneck lamp exploded at the CCMC pedia ward in February 20. In spite the medical procedure like skin grafting the victims still suffered deformities.

Although the children were already out of the hospital, but the city agreed to continue giving medical assistance for their follow-up check up to ensure their good condition. (FREEMAN)

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Young: "We're trying to address dropouts"

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Acting Mayor Joy Augustus Young does not at all worry about a Commission on Audit (COA) observation questioning what the agency sees as laxity in the screening process for beneficiaries of the city’s Scholarship Program.

Young said they are in the process of preparing their response which they intend to submit to COA next week.

“For me, the COA does not know what we are doing right now to come up with an observation like that,” Young said. He refused to give a copy of the COA observation but promised to release it once their detailed response is ready.

Young said COA basically asked them to be stricter in implementing the scholarship programs through measures that will ensure minimal, if not zero, rate of dropouts to prevent wasting government funds.

COA noted a significant rate of dropouts that it says is due to lack of thorough screening of students who will be able to make it to the whole four years of college or six months to two years of vocational courses.

Last March, the scholarship committee recorded a 25-percent dropout for school year 2010 to 2011. This 25 percent is composed of 1,259 students who did not enroll in the second semester.

The City spent P12.5 million for these students, money that has gone to waste because it did not serve the purpose of sending these students to college.

Young then said the common cause of dropout is the students’ inability to survive the course, resulting in their shifting to another course.

Having observed this, however, the Scholarship Committee implemented measures to ensure that students will enroll in the courses that fit their skills and ability.

The new batch of scholars underwent a career assessment test that would tell them which courses to enroll in.

Results are interpreted by psychometric experts to ensure best results.

The Scholarship Committee limited the courses available to those that have market demands to make sure they will easily get a job after graduation.

The City Government is also holding an information caravan in all schools to inform the parents and students ahead of the expenses they will likely incur when they enroll their children in college.

Young said this will help the parents prepare ahead of time or will help them determine if they can afford their children’s college education before they allow their children to enroll. (FREEMAN)

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Rama visits China



CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama left yesterday for China to visit several cities that are potential for Cebu City to develop sister-city ties with.

Rama is on official travel with Councilor Edgardo Labella. They were invited by the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

The mayor will be back on Wednesday next week.

Rama and his company will visit Xiamen, Wuhan, Hankou and Quanzhou. Aside from business activities, the group will take a city tour of places of interests like the business districts and popular attractions.

On September, he is set to go back to Xiamen to attend the 15th China International Fair for Investments and Trade.

During last Wednesday’s regular council session, Councilor Jose Daluz III withdrew the resolution authorizing the mayor to travel to Xiamen, China, a sister city, along with Councilors Rodrigo Abellanosa, Sisinio Andales, Jose Daluz III and Labella.

Daluz said the authorization is not necessary since it is the prerogative of the mayor on who are the people he wants to take with him.

Last week, the council deferred Daluz’s proposed resolution after they questioned why the mayor will bring two consultants with him.

The council was apprehensive to authorize Rama and approve the official delegation because the city government will be spending for the trip of four of the eight people going to the trip.

But Daluz said that council need not to authorize the mayor. (FREEMAN)

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Trader faces raps for selling fake items



CEBU, Philippines - The owner of Diamond Auto Supply is facing charges for allegedly selling and distributing imitations of world-famous products.

The chairman of the task force on Anti-Intellectual Property Piracy, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Pedrito Rances, approved the filing of charges before the Regional Trial Court against Alberto Yu for violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Assistant State Prosecutor Elizabeth Berdal, who evaluated the complaint, said she found enough basis to elevate the complaint to the court after Yu did not file counter-affidavit.

Berdal recommended a P10,000-bail for Yu’s temporary liberty.

The complainant of the case was Robert Bosch, Incorporated (BOSCH) represented by lawyer Carlo Carag.

“Complainant engaged the services of a paralegal investigation firm specializing in research and in the investigation of violation of intellectual property rights of its clients, for the purpose of conducting surveillance on certain establishments suspected of selling or offering for sale of products bearing the worlds-famous BOSCH marks.”

Ricky Taguding, market researcher who conducted an investigation, reported to BOSCH that Diamond Auto Supply located at No. 36 Leon Kilat St., Cebu City sells BOSCH products.

On February 8, 2006, they filed a letter-complaint to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-7 asking for assistance to apprehend the owner of Diamond Auto Supply for selling and distributing counterfeit BOSCH products and without the consent of BOSCH registered trademarks.

The complainant was able to purchase in Diamond Auto Supply a sample for inspection, which they later found was fake.

A search warrant was issued by Judge Antonio Eugenio of RTC Manila Branch 24.

The complainant, with the help of the NBI, confiscated 12 pieces of spark plugs, three pieces of ignition coils, one piece horn (12 volts), another piece of horn (24 volts) and six pieces of relays, all bearing the BOSCH trademarks and devices.

Prosecutor Berdal said that when respondent was called for preliminary investigation, the latter did not appear although a subpoena was issued. (FREEMAN)

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Garcia donates SOCO vans

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia lauds the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) for their accomplishments in fighting against illegal drugs and illegal gambling.

Garcia and the CPPO yesterday had a ceremonial burning of more than 6,000 marijuana plants and destroyed 16 video karera machines.

The ceremony was a “celebration of performance and hope for the province,” Garcia said during her speech.

“It shows the actual accomplishments of our men and women in uniform who put their lives at risk,” she said.

Garcia also assured CPPO Director Patrocinio Comendador of her support in all their endeavors.

The marijuana plants were uprooted during raids in various towns of the province while the video karera machines were also confiscated from different municipalities.

Most of the marijuana plants came from the towns of Balamban, Carmen, Badian, Tuburan and Liloan as well as from the cities of Danao and Toledo. These were uprooted by the Provincial Intelligence Branch, Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Group and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7.

Most of the video karera machines were from Consolacion town.

The chiefs of the police stations concerned were also given awards for having demonstrated “dedication to duty and exemplary in performance” that greatly contributed to the reduction of illegal drugs in the entire Cebu province.

The awardees were Supt. Anthony Bagarinao, Chief Insp. Jovito Canlapan, Chief Insp. Alvin Balio, Sr. Insp. Richard Oliver, Insp. Edgar Awe, Sr. Insp. Almirante Bacayo, Insp. Welther Grapa, and Supt. Rodolfo Albotra.

To show the governor’s full support for the CPPO, she donated two Scene of the Crime Investigations (Soco) vans and Soco equipment worth P206, 246, 200.

The two vans will be used by police stations in the northern and southern Cebu.

Comendador said the equipment are an added value for the provincial police.

“We thank (the governor) for her support and this will improve peace and order in the province,” he said.

Comendador said the ceremony will prove that police are intensifying their operations against illegal drugs and illegal gambling.

Police Regional Police-7 Director Ager Ontog said that the leadership of the governor would be an encouragement for others to be efficient with their jobs. (FREEMAN)

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Soldier faces malversation charges

CEBU, Philippines - A military man who failed to return various items owned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is facing criminal charges.

The Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military filed a case for malversation of public property against Capt. Expedito Agustin, former Responsible Supply Officer (RSO) of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, for his failure and refusal to return government-issued properties.

Graft investigator Marie Grace Pulayan-Roldan elevated the case to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) yesterday after finding probable cause based on the complaint filed by Editha Dichos, Supply Accountable Officer of the Central Command.

The graft investigator recommended the filing of the case after Agustin failed to execute a counter-affidavit to answer the allegations against him.

Dichos said Agustin was issued properties amounting to P66,388 when he was assigned as RSO.

The items which Agustin failed to return included seven units of VHF FM Radio ICOM with complete accessories worth P12,648 each; seven units of battery pack worth P4,420; one unit of linear amplifier worth P3,650; 1 unit of Omnidirectional Varelop antenna 4 stock worth P3,000 and three units of wall charger.

Despite repeated demands, Agustin did not return the items and failed to present his explanation.

Roldan recommended P40,000 bail for Agustin’s temporary liberty. (FREEMAN)