Cebu local news (daily update)

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Cebu City fiscals inhibit from tabloid case 10/17/2011


CEBU City fiscals inhibited from handling the obscenity complaint filed against one of two Cebuano tabloids over the weekend.

In an order, Cebu City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon elevated the complaint against Banat News to Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane.

Sellon said they have “no other recourse” than to inhibit, despite the absence of a motion by the respondents in the case.

Asst. City Prosecutor Rodulf Joseph Val Carillo endorsed to Sellon the complaint against Banat News after the Cebu City Prosecutors' Office dropped the case against Sun.Star Superbalita.

Sellon earlier granted Sun.Star Superbalita’s motion for the office to inhibit from the case, acknowledging that his membership in the Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board (CCAIB) cast doubts on the neutrality of the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office.

Gubalane assigned the complaints against the two tabloids to Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Ferdinand Collantes, who will conduct the preliminary investigation and resolve the complaints.

CCAIB filed separate complaints against Sun.Star SuperBalita and Freeman Banat News after the daily columns “From Junquera with Love” and “Wildflower” continued to appear in their pages.

This despite the board’s appeals to their editors and publishers to “tone down” the “obscene” language.

The respondents allegedly violated Cebu City Ordinance 1408 or the Anti-Indecency Ordinance and Article 201 or the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which prohibits “obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.”

The CAIB, a body under the office of the Cebu City mayor’s office, include representatives of the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office, Cebu City Legal Office, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) and private sector. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

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Drainage master plan seen to solve Metro Cebu flooding 10/17/2011




An integrated drainage master plan should immediately be undertaken to resolve Metro Cebu's worsening flood problem, a Cebu City-based urban planning organization said yesterday.

“It should go beyond expansion of culverts or dredging. It should consider the topographic divide to the receiving end (of water flow),” said Architect Socorro Atega, executive director of Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW).

Atega made the statement amid a fund-raising campaign by residents of barangays Banilad, Cabancalan and Talamban in Cebu City to finance a study on technical solutions for their flooding problems.

The Banilad, Cabancalan, Talamban Communities Drainage Committee vowed to raise funds for the technical study which they said would pave the way for infrastructure projects promised by Cebu City Hall.

Atega said the drainage plan in Cebu should be prioritized due to the rising water volume in recent years.

She cited the heavy flooding in Talisay City which she said is caused by the diversion of a waterway which originally directs to a sinkhole near the Sto. Niño Village.

Atega said the runoff water from the uplands are diverted to Mahiga Creek in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue due to the land design of the drainage system on roads.

“The drainage system in the road is diverting the natural water flow,” Atega said.

She added that the flooding could have been avoided if a drainage master plan was followed before the road construction.

“Our concern is how the runoff can flow back to the sinkhole and undergo treatment,” Atega said.

She said Metro Cebu local governments should follow ecology laws like the Water Code that prescribes the proper treatment of wastewater.

Atega said proper easement-zones of establishments and illegal settlers should also be observed.

“The easement encroachments constrict the water flow,” Atega said.

She said the water runoff in Talamban and Banilad which exits in barangay Cabancalan in Mandaue City would also contaminate the water source due to its exposure on untreated wastewater in the septic tank and household waste.

Atega said communities also need to learn that the quality of land use and use of water affects the volume and quality of the water source. /Candeze R. Mongaya, Reporter

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Ombud questions discrepancies in Radaza SALN 10/17/2011




THE Ombudsman-Visayas questioned last week some discrepancies in Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza's statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) that she submitted recently.

Asst. Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago said Radaza's entries under the real properties category were erased with liquid paper ink, raising questions on whether or not she owns any buildings or real properties.

Radaza didn't mention her nephew Harry, a Lapu-Lapu City councilor as a relative.

All public officials are required to list in their SALN to identify their relatives working in government up to the fourth degree of consanguinity.

In an interview, Santiago declined to elaborate on Radaza's SALN but said they can investigate whether or not Radaza has erred or made lapses in filing her SALN.

Radaza's SALN showed that she made an annual income of P1,895,000 as mayor. As of Dec. 31, 2010, Radaza has a net worth of P3.7 million.

Radaza's wealth comes from personal properties she disclosed in her SALN.

These include a Toyota Hilux worth P850,000; furniture and appliances at P1.9 million, and jewelry at P950,000.

The mayor didn't list any real properties. She also didn't incur liabilities

The net worth or actual wealth presents the official’s total asset, minus total liabilities.

Radaza said she is connected with AR Craftline Manufacturing Co. located in barangay Humayhumay, Lapu-Lapu City.

She said she and her husband Arturo are partners in the manufacturing business.

Rep. Arturo Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City's lone district also submitted a joint SALN with his wife Paz before the Ombudsman-Visayas.

As a congressman, Radaza is required to submit his SALN with the Lower House.

But since his SALN included his wife Paz, a copy of the document was received by the anti-graft office.

In their joint SALN, Arturo and Paz stated their total assets at P15.6 million as of Dec. 31, 2010.

The couple listed as real properties a building in Lapu-Lapu City worth P3 million.

They also claimed to own a lot with a current market value of P848,960. Arturo and Paz also listed several personal properties in their joint SALN.

These include a Toyota Praxe worth P2.7 million; Toyota Hi-Ace at P200,000, one Toyota Hilux at P850,000; furniture (P1.0 million); two multicabs at P113,000; furniture and appliances at P650,000; and jewelry at P1.6 million.

The couple didn't list any liabilities. Like Paz's SALN, the joint SALN of the couple also didn't include Councilor Harry Radaza as a relative working in government.

The signature in their joint SALN is the same found in Paz's SALN, but Santiago didn't state whose signature appeared in both documents.

Public officials are required to submit their SALNs under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Government officials and employees who fail to submit their annual SALN or stated false items in the documents will face charges of perjury for mis-declaring their wealth in their SALNs.

The anti-graft office deemed the submission of SALN a requirement to monitor an official's net worth and determine if a government official's lifestyle does not exceed his income.

All SALNs filed with the Ombudsman shall be available to the public. /Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter

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Capitol to upgrade two Cebu airports 10/17/2011




Capitol will be rehabilitating the airports of Bantayan and Camotes islands.

Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre told Cebu Daily News last week that Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is pushing for the developments of these two airport facilities because of the continuous influx of tourists in the islands.

“Governor Garcia wants to make some improvements. With the influx of foreign tourists, it's high time to upgrade the airport,” Pelayre said in an interview.

He cited the increasing number of resorts as the best indicator of this reported influx of tourists in both islands.

Improvements like the paving of the 1.5 kilometer air strip and the introduction of hangars and passenger terminals will be included.

“This is one of the projects of the governor. Last year this was already placed as a priority for engineering,” he said.

Pelayre also cited the importance of the rehabilitation of these two airports.

“Dako na siya nga contribution pag-develop sa usa ka lugar. When you talk about airports, fast ang movement, not only sa goods but also sa mga tao and also the circulation of economic activities in the area (This will have a big contribution as far as development in an area is concerned. When you talk about airports, the movement is fast, not only in goods but also the people and the circulation of economic activities in the area,” he said.

Pelayre said they will hopefully make the airport similar to that of Boracay Island.

The plans are expected to be presented today at the Capitol.

Both the Bantayan and Camotes airports are owned by the Cebu Provincial Government.

Meanwhile, Governor Garcia will also meet with officials of the Cebu Port Authority and Department of Public Works and Highways 7 to finalize plans for the proposed roll-on roll-off port in Maya, Daanbantayan.

In the annual investment plan for 2011, the development for both airports and even the ports in the province received a budget of P50 million. /Carmel Loise Matus, Correspondent

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Call center agent scares people as zombie to help poor children 10/17/2011




A19-YEAR-OLD call center agent is one of the 60 zombies who will try to scare passersby inside their horror booths so that they can help make indigent children in the city happy.

Jason Bihag of barangay Mantuyong has been joining Mandaue City's Horror Booth for a Cause since it started five years ago.

The fund-raising activity for indigent children is organized by the Kaabag Foundation, a foundation made up Mandauehanons.

Jason Bihag of barangay Mantuyong said he would play the zombie at the horror booth during his days off from his call center work.

He started joining the foundation activity since he was 14 years old.

The horror booth at the Mandaue City Sports Complex had been open since Oct. 8 and will close on Nov. 2.

He said his friends convinced him to join and had since been the one of the zombies of the annual activity.

Bihag, the youngest of seven children, said people would be laughing at him and his friends but it was all for fun and it was his own little way of helping indigent children in the city.

Proceeds of the horror booth for a cause activity will be spent on Christmas parties for indigent children in the city as well as feeding programs.

“Atleast nakatabang pud mi bisan inani rami. Para raman pud ni sa mga bata among gibuhat,” he added.

With P20 ticket each, the Kaabag foundation a non-government organization could continue giving Christmas parties to indigent children from 27 barangays in the city. The foundation has also been conducting weekly feeding activities at the Mandaue City Central School.

The foundation will also set aside a part of the Horror Booth proceeds to build a center for juvenile children.

The theme for this year's event is, “Kahadlok Mo, Pinaskuhan Ko.”

Violeta Cavada, City Social Welfare Services head, together with the barangays leaders of the 27 Mandaue City barangays had already identified the indigent children that would benefit from the proceeds of the Horror Booth activity.

With almost 60 zombies, there will be innovations in the horror booth, the foundation assured that it would try to give the public a scary experience more than what they paid for.

Nannette Bowler, adviser of the Kaabag Foundation, said proceeds from last year's horror booth went to fund a party for 650 indigent children as well as feeding programs. She said the horror booth earnings reached P400,000.

However, P160,000 were spent for the materials used to build the booths and food for performers.

The 60 percent of the remaining money went to the foundation which was spent on the indigent children while the 40 percent was given to the performers who made the horror booth a success.

Bowler said aside from the party for the children, the beneficiaries were also given rice and canned goods.

Organizers, however, advise those who are pregnant and suffering from heart ailment not to visit the horror booth because it will be dangerous to their health.

Knives, belts with metal, and other weapons won't be allowed inside the booths. /Jucell Marie P. Cuyos, Reporter

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Six oil firms willing to open books 10/17/2011


MANILA — Six oil companies belonging to the Philippine Institute of Petroleum (PIP) said they would "open their respective books," if asked to do so, amid allegations of overpricing and cartel, and calls for greater disclosure from the downstream oil players.

In a statement issued yesterday, PIP said its member companies namely Chevron (Philippines) Inc., Liquigaz Philippines Corp., Petron Corp., PTT Philippines Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., and Total (Philippines) Corp. will be baring their financial statements, also in support of President Aquino's call for transparency.

According to PIP, its member companies agreed to such an additional review, despite the fact that they have been submitting to existing stringent reportorial requirements imposed by the Department of Energy (DOE) as mandated by appropriate provisions in the Downstream Oil Deregulation Law; the financial protocols of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR; and the statutory submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

"In response to various stakeholders' allegations of overpricing by oil companies, PIP members expressed their willingness to have their books opened and reviewed in order to provide the public well studied, accurate and complete information on the issue of oil pricing," the group said in a statement.

"The PIP enjoins all other oil players to heed President Aquino's call for openness and transparency by also opening their books," it further stated.

PIP warned however that any additional review should, however, have well-defined objectives, taking into consideration the views and opinions of various sectors with emphasis in promoting the balanced interests of both the consumers and the oil industry.

The group is proposing that for this additional review to be credible, the review team to be put up should be composed of legitimate representatives from the affected sectors and should be competent and well-respected in their respective fields.

PIP, a non-stock, non-profit grouping of businesses operating in the downstream oil industry in the Philippines, has long been an advocate for reforms and standards in the oil industry, helping ensure a level playing field. /INQUIRER

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NEWS BRIEFS 10/17/2011


Byron not off the hook

HE may have settled his feud with an American national, but former Capitol consultant Byron Garcia still has some unfinished business with the Talisay City police.

Talisay City Prosecutor Marshall Rubia said a subpoena was issued to Garcia requiring him to file a counter-affidavit in the complaint filed against him by the police.

Garcia faces charges of illegal possession of firearms at the Talisay City Prosecutor's Office.

Garcia was earlier accused by American Wayne Morris of brandishing an AK-47 rifle at him in front of his home in Corona del Mar Subdivision, barangay Pooc in Talisay City last Sept. 20.

He and Morris patched up their differences in a mediation proceeding held at the Pooc barangay hall in Talisay City last week.

Garcia has yet to submit his counter-affidavit in the case.

Asst. City Prosecutor Benjo Luther Macion is assigned to resolve the complaint.

Rubia said the investigation will be based on the evidence submitted by the police which include accounts of witnesses.

Rubia said they will also have to consider the report that Garcia has no permit to carry a high-powered firearm outside his residence. Garcia is the younger brother of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Morris apologized for the confrontation with Garcia which ensued after the former Capitol consultant removed the steel signs that barred motorists from passing by his home.

Garcia and Morris are neighbors in Corona del Mar subdivision. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

Road, plaza projects

ABOUT P40 million will be allocated to fund construction of a parallel road connecting Sibonga town and Naga City, Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu's 1st district said last Saturday.

In a speech during last Saturday's celebration of the Halad-Inasal Festival in Talisay City, Gullas said the four-lane road will run parallel to the main thoroughfare in Carcar City and serve as an 'alternate' road to southern Cebu.

He also said P14 million will be allocated from his pork barrel funds to build a plaza in front of the new Talisay City Hall. The plaza's design was supposedly made by his wife.

Gullas said he will ask the Department of Energy (DOE) and Korean Electric Power Corp. (Kepco) to facilitate the installation of power in 130 barangays in Naga City, Talisay City and Minglanilla town. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

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ngano kaha noh. naka basa ko sa news nindot man unta kahimtang kay mga professional

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Pamilya Gimasaker

CEBU, Philippines - Mga anak, asawa ug katabang gihurot og pamatay sa usa ka amahan kinsa nagpusil usab sa iyang kaugalingon kagahapon sa buntag diha sa ilang balay diha sa Palm View Subdivision, sitio Sangi, barangay Tabunok, dakbayan sa Talisay.

Ang mga biktima mao ang 53-anyos nga giingong branch manager sa usa ka bangko (asawa), mga anak nilang 26-anyos nga nurse ug kanhi volunteer sa Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) ug nagtrabaho na isip call center agent; 25-anyos nga radiation technologist; 18-anyos nga nursing student ug ang 30-anyos nga katabang.

Ang suspetsado mao ang 55-anyos nga retiradong seaman ug padre de pamilya sa maong banay kinsa naghikog usab human pamusila ang mga biktima.

Sa imbestigasyon sa kapolisan, ang 14-anyos nga kamanghurang anak sa magtiayon gituyo sa suspek nga wala pusila ug gipadagan kini ug gisugong patawgon og polis.

Si Inspector Ricardo Echavez nga nahinabi sa mga tigbalita kagahapon nagkanayon nakadungog ang 14-anyos ug butobuto sa armas maong migawas kini sa iyang lawak.

Mao nalay kakugang niyang nakita niini ang maguwang nga nurse nga nagluhod ug nagkadugo atubangan sa ilang amahan.

Matud ni Echavez ang suspek misugo dayon sa bata nga “gawas didto kay ikaw ray mabuhi karon kay magpakamatay ko, tawag og polis!” Sa paggawas sa bata sa ilang balay nakita niya ang ilang katabang nagbuy-od na diha sa kusina ug ang usa ka babaye diha ilawom sa dining table nagbuy-od nga mao diay ang iyang inahan.

Dihang diha na siya sa gawas nakadungog ang bata og usa ka buto ug niadtong higayona naabot usab ang mga polis. Matud ni Echavez nga si Talisay City Administrator Richel Bacaltos ang mitawag kang SPO1 Mikie Espina sa Talisay City Police Station Homicide mga alas 8:24 sa buntag kagahapon nagpahibawo kabahin sa hitabo.

Si PO1 Jude Enemecio uban kang PO1 Jovie Antipolo ang unang miresponde ngadto sa lugar diin ang maong mga polis nakadungog pa og usa ka buto.

Sila si Enemecio ug Antipolo nagtuong dunay nagpinusilay sa sulod sa balay sa mga Ponce ug nanawag sila og backup kinsa sila si SPO1 Archimedes Judilla, PO3 Benedicto Lasque ug PO3 Rey Bucao sunod si SPO1 Mikie Espina ang miadto usab sa lugar nga nahitaboan.

Ang gate sa balay abli na hinungdan nga nakasulod ang mga polis ug giguba ang pultahan sa kusina aron makasulod gyud ngadto sa balay. Matud ni Echavez nga pagsulod sa mga polis naabtan nila ang padre de pamilya (suspek) diha sa kusina naglingkod nga nagdungoy ug naggunit pa sa kalibre .45 nga pistola.

Ang katabang diha sa kusina nagbuy-od ug ang asawa suspek diha sa ilawom sa dining table nagbuy-od. Samtang ang usa sa mga anak nga babaye diha pa sa ibabaw sa double deck sa kwarto nga nagtinga na.

Ang patay’ng lawas sa 18-anyos tinun-an sa nursing nagbuy-od usab duol sa banyo nga gituohang migawas samtang naligo tungod sa pagkadungog sa butobuto.

Ang lima pulos adunay samad pinusilan sa ulo gawas sa katabang nga nakaangkon og samad pinusilan sa walang bahin sa iyang dughan.

Ang kapolisan nanawag sa Talisay Rescue Action Team (TREAT) diin ang tanang mga samaron gidala ngadto sa Talisay City District Hospital apan pulos sila wala nay kinabuhi pag-abot sa maong tambalanan.

Matud usab ni Echavez nga ang mga silingan sa pamilya nakadungog og buto-buto.

Ang asawa sa suspek nga usa ka branch manager sa Banco De Oro (BDO) sa Tabo-an Branch, dakbayan sa Sugbo giingong gikan pa kini miapil sa sports fest nga gipasiugdahan sa BDO ug gani nagsul-ob pa kini og sports shorts ug sleeveless nga t-shirt para dagan.

Giingong aktibo ang maong ginang pag-apil sa mga marathon dinhi sa Metro Cebu ug naglaraw unta nga makaapil sa lumba didto sa Manila human kini modaog sa ikaunom nga pwesto niadtong Septiyembre 10, 2011 sa Womens Category sa Warrior 53k Ultramarathon nga gipahigayon sa usa ka beach resort sa dakbayan sa Lapulapu. Ang maong distansiya gihuman niya og 5:39:25. - Dugang report ni Manny Villaruel, The Freeman Sports Editor/EIM (BANAT NEWS)

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4 ka polis gireklamo sa negosyante

CEBU, Philippines - Gihangyo sa usa ka negosyante ang buhatan sa Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas sa pag-imbestigar sa upat ka polis nga nadestino sa lungsod sa Alcoy Police Station tungod sa giingong ilegal nga pagbilanggo kaniya nga walay klarong kaso.

Ang negosyanteng si Jose Earl Plando sa Barangay Daanlungsod molupyo sa maong lungsod nga mamalitay og kanding mipasaka og reklamo batok nilang PO1 Leon Gesim, PO2 Raniel Cartin, PO1 Gerlito Estremos ug PO1 Abraham Quijano.

Matud pa ni Plando nga nahinabi sa igsuong pamantalaan sa Banat News nga The Freeman, gisikop siya ug gibilanggo sa nahisgutang mga polis nga walay igong hinungdan.

Giingong gipasanginlan siyang may kalambigitan sa mga nahitabong pagpangawat og kanding sa iyang mga silingan ug gidakop ug gibilanggo siya tungod lang niini bisan walay klarong imbestigasyon.

Si Plando mibutyag nga niadtong Oktubre 6 naabot siya sa ilang panimalay alas-7 sa gabii ug gitunolan siya sa iyang amahan nga si Priscilo og invitation letter gikan sa kapolisan sa maong lungsod.

“That after reading the letter, I was really bothered and surprised when my father told me that the PNP members of Alcoy wanted me to appear at the Police Station in the morning for a conference regarding the complaint of Luz Jackson who complaint against me that I was the one who stole their four goats,” matud pa ni Plando.

Midugang si Plando miadto siya sa panimalay sa iyang iyaan aron mangutana ug asa ang panimalay sa mga Jackson apan ang iyang iyaan mibutyag nga ugma nalang siya tudlo-an niini tungod kay layo kini.

Samtang nakig-estorya siya sa iyang iyaan miabot ang patrol car sa polis ug dihang mihunong iyang gipangutana ang tulo ka polis nga silang Cartin, Estremos ug Gesim nganong gipadad-an siya og invitation letter.

Sumala pa niya nga dihang didto na siya sa presinto daw gi-interogate siya sa mga polis ug gipangutana asa siya niadtong gabii sa Oktubre 5 ug gibati siya nga giduot siya sa maong krimen nga wala niya buhata.

Matud pa niya naabtan nalang siya og gabii sa maong presinto ug giingnan nga anha nalang siya pakatulgon sa prisohan hinungdan nga nianang pagkasunod adlaw napugos siya pagbayad og P12 mil isip settlement sa kanding nga nawala.

Apan ang maong kasinatian nakapakauwaw kaniya ug sa iyang pamilya nga miresulta sa ilang kaguol.

“Because of the incident, I suffered sleepless nights because my reputation and also my family’s reputation is being damage due to unlawful arrest and illegal detention done by the abusive minds of police officers in Alcoy Police Station,” tipik sa reklamo ni Plando. - BANAT NEWS