Cebu local news (daily update)

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Homeless persons at Taboan market freely using shabu?

CEBU, Philippines - If a Public Utility Jeepney driver and his common-law wife are to be believed, homeless people rescued from the sidewalks and relocated to the second floor of the Taboan Public Market are freely sniffing shabu there.

The two made the revelation during an interview at the office of Cebu City Market Administrator Raquel Arce yesterday. The FREEMAN is withholding their names pending action by the government agency.

The couple used to live at the market’s second floor after they were rescued by the members of the Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division last November 10, 2010, but they were no longer allowed to stay there effective last September 18.

The driver said the reason why they were no longer allowed to stay at the market’s second floor is that Evelyn had a quarrel with a certain “Negra” who is allegedly the girlfriend of a SPEED member.

“Dili man kana maayo ang ila kay kami hinoon nga mga sidewalk dwellers og gipapuyo diha gipalayas nila unya dunay uban diha nga gipapuyo sa mga sakop sa SPEED kay ila mang mga kabit,” he said.

There are almost 100 individuals staying at the market’s second floor while the City Hall is processing their documents for them to be sent home to their respective provinces in line with Rama’s “Balik Probinsya” project.

Arce explained that she was tasked by the mayor to clear the second floor of the Taboan market building where the SPEED is also holding office.

“Sagdi lang kay ako na nga aksyonan ang ilang reklamo nga gihimo na ang maong lugar nga suyopanan sa shabu ug gipapuy-an sa mga kabit sa ubang kawani sa SPEED,” the market administrator assured. — (FREEMAN)

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CLB to challenge dismissal of porn plaint vs. Santos

CEBU, Philippines - While the lawyers of Bella Ruby Santos lauded the dismissal by Naga City Prosecutor Napoleon Alburo of the pornography case against her, the Children’s Legal Bureau is planning to file a motion for reconsideration.

“We appreciate because he was not swayed by the baseless opinion of the public,” Santos’ lawyer Julius Entise said.

Lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo likewise said the dismissal of the pornography complaint against their client gives impact to the main case against her.

Santos and her boyfriend Ian Charles Griffiths are accused of abducting and killing six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique who was found dead last February.

Villagonzalo also said they will also file a motion for a marathon hearing to be conducted.

However, CLB lawyer Jo-ann Pabriaga said they will file a motion for reconsideration of the dismissal of the complaint.

Alburo said that the compact disc covers with pictures of naked minors seized from the house of Santos was inadmissible as evidence because the search warrant was applied for the kidnapping with homicide and not for anti-pornography.

He said even if he will elevate the case to the court it will probably dismissed as the law cited by the CLB was Section 4, Paragraph 8 of Republic Act 9775, otherwise known as the Anti-Child Pornography Act, or the distribution of pornographic materials was incorrect because Santos did not distribute it.

The CDs were recovered by police from Santos’ house in Barangay Inayagan, Naga City, last March 4. — (FREEMAN)

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Aussie pleads not guilty to child abuse

CEBU, Philippines - The Australian accused of keeping minors as *** slaves in his house in Inayagan, Naga City, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment yesterday.

The accused assisted by his lawyer Cherry Mae Cabelte pleaded not guilty to violating Section 5, Paragraph (b) Article II of Republic Act 7610 or child-abuse.

The pre-trial of the case has been set for November 10, 2011.

Earlier, Judge Olegario Sarmiento of Regional Trial Court Branch 24 ordered that the 78-year-old accused be arraigned unless there was a motion to quash the information filed by his counsel.

Cabelte said the reason for her manifestation to the court to defer the scheduled arraignment was they were not informed until two days ago that another case against her client was raffled in Branch 24.

However, lawyer Jo-ann Pabriaga of Children’s Legal Bureau said it is not the obligation of the court to inform the defense counsel of this because she did not file a notice of appearance with the court.

“Attorney Cabelte was not subpoenaed because she has no appearance yet in Branch 24, it was the accused who was subpoenaed by the court and it is the obligation of the accused to inform his counsel,” Pabriaga said.

In all, nine cases were filed against the accused, eight cases were raffled to RTC Branch 22 handled by Judge Manuel Patalinghug. The accused has already pleaded not guilty to the qualified trafficking case and seven child abuse cases in Branch 22.

Pabriaga said they are open for the consolidation of the cases if the defense counsel will make a move.

The accused was arrested last July 20, 2011 by the Naga City Police for keeping girls aged 14, 15 and 17 as his alleged *** slaves.

It was believed the accused sent the girls to school and shouldered all their expenses.

The victims remain under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. — (FREEMAN)

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Ghosts haunt Ponce house?

CEBU, Philippines - Strange things are said to be happening in the house of the Ponce family following the massacre last Sunday killing six people at the Palm View Village, Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

Some neighbors of the Ponce family now considered the house as haunted because of the alleged scary things experienced by them. Edith Alcantara, 47, who is living adjacent to the house of the Ponces claimed to have heard a hiss coming from the jackfruit tree at the back of the house last Monday.

“Ikatulo gyud to una nawagtang,” she said.

Roberto Bacus, one of the barangay tanods securing the house, said that the family’s dogs are howling at dawn while facing the house.

“Mura sila og muhangop sa ilang amo, mubarog unya mulingkod napud,” he said.

The telephone inside the house also rings during midnight even if it was already disconnected by the relatives of the victims.

“Kadungog mi pero amo gipasagdan kay dili man mi kasulod sa balay wala lang gihapon mi mahimo,” he said.

A taxi cab was also noticed bringing passengers in front of the house last Tuesday evening. However, they did not see anybody disembark from the cab but the driver was seen having a conversation.

Monsignor Frederick Kriekenbeek, of the Mary’s Little Children Community in Talisay City, said that unusual things noticed by the people in the neighborhood were allegedly done by bad spirits.

According to him, it is not the souls of the massacre victims that are wandering and doing bizarre things.

Kriekenbeek said when a person dies whether he is prepared or not he goes directly to God. He said that God can not afford to see souls of his people wandering.

“Human na sa lubong mubalik ang kalag sa kalibutan,” he said.

He said that the house may now be considered haunted but it remains livable. He said unusual happenings inside were not made by souls of the victims but by bad spirits pretending to be souls of the dead.

“Presensiya na sa demons or bad spirits nga naa sa balay karon but maayo nga i-ampo or pamisahan ang namatay sa tagtungod, kana base lang sa pagtuon sa simbahan,” he said.

Emmanuel Ponce killed his wife and three children including their helper last Sunday morning. The incident remains a mystery for police investigators of what could have prompted Ponce to kill his family before committing suicide. — (FREEMAN)

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PB asks Comelec to act on Compostela

CEBU, Philippines - For the second time around, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has made an appeal to central office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resolve immediately “the long-delayed electoral controversy in Compostela town.”

This time, the appeal is addressed to the newly confirmed Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes. The first one was addressed to then Comelec chairman Jose Melo.

The first request was made exactly a year ago when PB Member Thaddeus “Jude” Durano Sybico sponsored a resolution that was endorsed to Melo last October 2010.

The Municipal Government of Compostela has been handled by the Department of Interior and Local Government since July 2010 because the elected officials were barred from assuming post due to the electoral protest filed by defeated mayoral candidate Ritchie Wagas.

Sybico, in another resolution passed last Monday, said the suspension order issued by former Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer against the winning candidates has taken its toll on the town.

He cited the town’s lack of funds for the delivery of basic services and to maintain its infrastructure.

“The administration of a local government by a caretaker rather than an elected mayor is an anomaly under a democratic and republican form of government,” Sybico said.

Wagas alleged that irregularities marred the elections, resulting in the suspension of the proclamation of the winning candidates - Joel Quiño and his slate.

Sybico in his first resolution said that the political scenario in the Municipality of Compostela cannot be left to the hands of luck or fate but must be addressed with a more drastic solution.

He said the Comelec, which is vested with the primary responsibility of settling election disputes, must “expeditiously and judiciously” address the matter.

DILG-7 Director Pedro Noval continues to sit as town mayor in a temporary capacity although he already received a directive from DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo for his transfer to Region 8.

Noval said earlier that while DILG ordered his transfer to another region, DILG must also appoint somebody to replace him as caretaker mayor of Compostela before he can leave. — (FREEMAN)

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Strike did not affect operations at MCIA

CEBU, Philippines - The strike staged by Philippine Airlines’ ground crew that crippled almost 200 flights did not affect the airport operations, Mactan Cebu International Airport general manager Paul Nigel Villarete.

Except for lesser flights, “there’s no economic effect of any disruptions in flights,” said Villarete in an interview with reporters.

He said the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority is a service-oriented agency so they do not interfere with the issue.

“If there are flights, we accept. If wala, we won’t,” he said.

Right now, Villarete said, what they are doing is to take extra care of their passengers.

“At the start it was sudden, so we have to put extra effort to maintain passenger convenience,” he said.

The protesting workers said they would continue with their protest until the PAL management accepts their demands.

Of the 2,600 employees affected nationwide, 206 come from Mactan airport. Ten of the 206 protested to the contractualization that PAL has implemented starting October 1.

Though 90 percent of all employees in Mactan have accepted the management offer, the 10 protesters said they would continue holding rallies with the support of other labor organizations.

The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office has put up checkpoints particularly in Barangay Pusok to monitor the movements of protesters and their supporters.

Since October 1, PAL management has been outsourcing employees. — (FREEMAN)

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Woman, grandson drown in Pulangbato

CEBU, Philippines - A woman was drowned while trying to rescue her grandson who fell into the Butuanon River yesterday afternoon in Barangay Pulangbato, Cebu City.

Reports said Adelaida Velasquez, 50, was doing the laundry around 1:20 p.m. when she saw her grandson, Henry Velasquez, 4, fell into the river while playing with his friends.

In a desperate act to save him, Velasquez reportedly jumped into the river even if she does not know how to swim.

Personnel of Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) rushed the victims to North General Hospital where they were declared dead on arrival.

Lorna Miñoza, secretary of the barangay, told The FREEMAN that incident was the first in their area. — (FREEMAN)

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Central Visayas tops number of jobseekers

CEBU, Philippines - Central Visayas has one of the highest numbers of jobseekers through Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) nationwide from January to September this year.

Citing a report from the Bureau of Local Employment, Department of Labor and Employment-7 regional director Exequiel Sarcauga said Central Visayas topped the number of jobseekers conducted in the first three quarters nationwide with 54,127.

According to the BLE report, the highest number of jobseekers were in the NCR (150,84, followed by Region 4A (111,603), Region 7 (54,127), Region 3 (36,815), Region 12 or SOCCSKSARGEN (30,090) and Region 6 (25,630).

There are 798,775 jobseekers out of the 1,088,776 who were referred to all types of jobs.

Of the total number of jobseekers, more than 502,000 found employment in the private sector while the rest were employed in the government.

The 1,299,270 jobseekers – some were fresh graduates, highly skilled and semi-skilled workers, and disadvantaged workers – were assisted by a network of 1,069 PESOs.

The PESOs solicited 2,050,441 job vacancies that were made available to the 1,299,270 jobseekers during the three-quarter period.

Job applicants nationwide have been assisted during 1,179 job fairs jointly organized by the DOLE regional offices and PESOs in partnership with companies. — (FREEMAN)

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Former employee caught on cam: Gardener arrested for stealing from TV station

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN) Channel 47 were able to recover one hundred thousand worth of editing equipment after their former gardener was caught on camera while in the act of stealing gadgets from his former employer on Tuesday dawn.

Daniel Tubac, 24, who left CCTN for greener pastures, was caught on tape while stealing video editing materials in one of CCTN’s editing rooms.

Tubac reportedly entered CCTN compound at Barangay Luz, Cebu City at 12:41 a.m. through the station’s kitchen where he is very familiar.

“Mi-agi siya sa murag kusina namo unya mi-adto dayon sa editing room kun asa niya gi-kuha ang mga laptop ug ubang gamit,” Wilnard Banzon, who was Tubac’s complainant, told The FREEMAN.

Banzon said that Tubac even managed to turn off the kitchen’s close-circuit television camera when they reviewed the footage.

Once inside the station’s editing room, Taboc took a laptop worth P27,000; a digital camera worth P14, 000 and other editing equipment with an estimated total of P100, 000. To capture the suspect, the CCTN administration informed the suspect to report back to the station where he was offered work as a driver.

When he reported for duty yesterday morning, the suspect was apprehended by the station’s security guards and later turned over to the Cebu City Police Office Theft and Robbery Section.

Tubac immediately owned up to the crime.

“Ako ra gyud to nabuhat kay nanginahanglan na gyud ko ilabi na kay ang akong asawa kay di pa dugay nanganak (I had to do it for my wife who just gave birth),” Tubac told The FREEMAN.

The police recovered Tabuc’s loot in different houses where he lived in a three-hour recovery operation with Tubac.

“Among nakuha ang mga gikawat sa mga balay sa iyang (suspect) mga amigo diin siya mi-puyo,” PO3 Juvee Tantiado said.

Banzon said that he was shocked when they discovered through the station’s CCTV camera that Tubac stole their equipment. “Wa gyud ko nagtuo kay buotan baya na siya,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of two suspected swindlers are now behind bars after divesting a sales clerk of over P200,000 worth of items after pretending to be buyers at Mobile 1 Kiosk at the upper ground level of Ayala Center Cebu on Tuesday at around 10: 26 a.m. last Tuesday

Mark Lester Vicente Bereña, 24, from Sagat, Paco, Manila was collared by House Detective William Jusoy after the sales clerk, who requested anonymity, sought his help.

The sales clerk said that last Tuesday morning, she was attending to Bereña and a certain Edward who ordered a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, BlackBerry Bold 9900, BlackBerry Playbook and two casings with a total amount of P239,664.00.

The sales clerk told The FREEMAN that prior to the incident, a certain Dennis called her and ordered the said items from their store saying that his assistant and helper will pick up the items he ordered.

The clerk immediately prepared all orders for her client and upon the arrival of Edward and Bereña, who claimed to be Dennis’ assistants, Edward said he needed to bring the items to Dennis who was inside their car in the mall parking area because he reportedly had an injured leg.

She gave the goods and waited for Edward’s return but he did not come back.

“Nagduda na ko kay dugay naman kaayo unya wala pa jud nibalik si Edward,” the sales clerk said.

She then called sought Jusoy’s help in arresting the suspects who reportedly tried to run away but the sales staff immediately jumped through the glass door to capture the suspects.

They caught Bereña but Edward was able to elude arrest carrying with him all the items.

Bereña said he had no idea about the modus of his boss.

“Wala po akong alam. Nagpunta lang po ako dito sa Cebu para samahan ang boss ko na magpa-therapy ng paa niya doon po sa Mactan,” Bereña said.

He said they arrived in Cebu last Monday and he has no idea where his boss was. The sales staff said she did not suspect anything unusual at first because they paid well last September 27, “Nag-order to sila, smooth lang ang transaction kay mingbayad man sila dayon, unlike karon na nahitabo ni”.

“Ningsalig ko kay nakapalit naman pud sila sa amo sa una wala may abirya nga ingon ani ang nahitabo. Si Edward gihapon ang nag- kuha sa items kauban ang amahan daw ni Dennis. Nibayad sila gamit ang credit card,” the sales staff said.

Bereña is now detained at the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office pending the filing of formal charges. — (FREEMAN)

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Man dies, worker injured in shooting incidents

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged thief is dead while a utility worker for an eatery was injured in two separate shooting incidents in Cebu City yesterday dawn. Josephus Villanueva, 36, of C. Padilla Street, Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City was shot dead while asleep on his bed at 4 a.m. yesterday by an unidentified assailant.

Homicide Investigator PO3 Ruth Violango told The FREEMAN that the victim was sound asleep on the second floor of their house when the assailant reportedly sneaked into his room.

“No one saw the assailant when he entered and left the victim’s house,” Violango said in Cebuano.

Once inside the victim’s room, the assailant shot the victim several times which resulted to his immediate death. “The assailant shot the victim at close range,” she said.

After the shooting, the assailant immediately fled on foot, leaving his victim dead and bloodied in his own bed.

Violango said the victim’s 67-year-old father, Vicente, heard gunshots while he was using the toilet.

“The father had no idea that his son was shot. When he saw his son already dead, he boarded his bicycle and personally reported the incident to the police,” Violango added in Cebuano.

The victim sustained eight gunshot wounds while seven empty shells believed to be from a caliber .45 were recovered at the crime scene. Violango also said that the victim’s family did not cooperate with their investigation. “Wala gyud mitabang ang iyang mga pamilya. Bisan iyang amahan wala gyud mi-balik sa crime scene,” she said.

Investigators are now eyeing the possibility that the victim was killed because of personal grudges.

“Gi-ila man gud ni siya sa iyang mga silingan nga kawatan kuno,” Violango added.

Meanwhile, Jolito Monreal, 23, a utility worker for an eatery in A. Lopez Street, Barangay Calamba, Cebu City survived a shooting incident at 4 a.m. yesterday.

Violango who also investigated the incident told The FREEMAN that the victim was talking with his 16-year-old cousin when a certain Eugene arrived with an unidentified companion. Monreal reportedly greeted Eugene when he saw the latter but instead, the suspect replied saying, “Naa mi kulatahon (we will maul someone).”

The suspect then pulled a gun and shot the victim hitting him on the left side of his stomach and on the right side of his hand.

“Tungod sa babaye ang posible nga motibo sa pagpamusil,” Violango said.

He was immediately rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center where he is currently recuperating from his wounds. Recovered from the crime scene were three empty shells of what investigators believed to have come from a caliber .45. — (FREEMAN)