Cebu local news (daily update)

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Gangs join Suroy-Suroy, pledge to stop vandalism, criminality

CEBU, Philippines - More than 50 out of school youth in Minglanilla town belonging to groups Bloods, Crips and Hard Core joined the first day of the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Southern Heritage Trail yesterday.

Their participation was Governor Gwendolyn Garcia’s treat to the youth groups after they signed a commitment to help the province in the campaign against vandalism and criminality in Minglanilla.

At the first stop in Minglanilla where participants had breakfast, a peace treaty was signed in the presence of Garcia, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Vice Mayor Elanito Peña and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Manolo Delgado.

The groups formally declared their intention to stop hostilities, especially among themselves.

“The parties undertake to settle any dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means, in such a manner that peace, security and justice are not jeopardized, and to refrain from the use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of Philippine laws,” the treaty reads.

In order to fulfill the objectives of the treaty more effectively, the groups agreed to “develop their individual and collective capacity to resist violence” separately and jointly. They also agreed to have their leaders consult with each other from time to time as regards the implementation of the treaty.

“This Treaty shall remain in force indefinitely,” the treaty reads.

Annabelle Simene, barangay captain of Poblacion Ward 3 in Minglanilla, said the members of Hardcore are being mobilized for the anti-graffiti campaign after they admitted responsibility over vandalism in the barangay.

Simene accompanied the 39 members of Hardcore while Pakigne Barangay Captain Vicente Abella accompanied nine members of Bloods and 19 members of Crips.

Around 300 participants joined the Suroy Suroy Sugbo, the last for this year, composed of local and few foreign tourists, representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Commission on Audit, IBM, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Russian delegation, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other guests.

After Minglanilla, they visited Naga, San Fernando, Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy and Boljoon. Today the participants will visit Oslob, Santander, Samboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian and Moalboal. (FREEMAN)

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CPDRC guards probed over inmate's escape

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) is investigating all jail and blue guards who were on duty when inmate Renante “Bolatik” de la Rosa escaped last Thursday night.

In an interview, CPDRC Deputy Warden Pepito Reynaldo said De la Rosa passed through several areas before he eventually reached the outer wall of CPDRC.

De la Rosa reportedly escaped when he got through the back door when the guard on duty was out to take his dinner, said surveillance officer Jason Villanueva.

Villanueva told The FREEMAN De la Rosa was also caught in one of the surveillance cameras minutes before the jailbreak was reported.

After passing the back door, the suspect reportedly sneaked to the back of the jail kitchen unnoticed until he managed to reach tower four over which he climbed out to freedom.

Several blue guards, according to Villanueva, allegedly saw and chased the fleeing inmate around 6 pm.

Elements of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team were immediately dispatched to search for the fugitive but to no avail.

Police said De la Rosa most likely removed his standard orange inmate t-shirt right away so he would not be identified as an escapee.

De la Rosa is a native of Sibonga Town who was brought to CPDRC on February 25, 2009 for a murder case. His escape is the first reported to have happened at CPDRC this year. (FREEMAN)

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New CREMDEC lodge unlikely to rise this year

CEBU, Philippines - The proposed three-storey lodging house for the Cebu City Resource Management and Development Center (CREMDEC) in Barangay Taptap is unlikely to be implemented this year due to lack of funds.

CREMDEC Executive Director Allan Bautista said the available P9.4 million is not enough to build the structure.

The initial estimate reportedly does not suffice after they realized that they would have to strengthen the structure’s foundation, considering the type of soil on which it will be built.

“Our architect from the engineering department said the building must have a stronger foundation considering the type of soil in our area and the number of stories of our proposed building,” Bautista said.

He said the Department of Engineering and Public Works estimates that they would need over P13 million if they will apply the modifications.

“We were advised to just implement the project when the fund is already complete so the implementation will not be interrupted,” Bautista said.

Since they already have P9.4 million from this year’s Annual Budget, they included the rest of the P13 million in next year’s annual budget, which is still under review by the City Council’s committee on budget and finance.

The three-storey building will consist of 72 units of single, double or dormitory-type rooms.

The building will also have a function room at the ground floor, which will also serve as the billeting area. The function room is designed to accommodate 200 persons simultaneously.

Bautista said they also plan to install a private bathroom in each unit. The lodging house shall increase their accommodation capacity.

CREMDEC accepts reservations for trainings and seminars at an affordable price.

Currently, there are two buildings in the area – the dormitory and the events hall. The expansion came from suggestions of their clients.

Bautista said that once the building is in place, they will be forced to increase their rate to recover their capital in five years. (FREEMAN)

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Vendors ask for relocation site from City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - Fish and vegetable vendors at the corner of Gorordo Avenue and Salinas Drive across JY Square Mall are asking Mayor Michael Rama to help them find a relocation site.

The 13 vendors, represented by Roel Labajo, channeled the letter request through Councilor Alvin Dizon.

Labajo said the group is proposing to be transferred to a vacant lot near a private school located on the way to the neighboring Barangay Busay. The area is just a few meters away from their current location.

They also asked City Hall to help them request soft drinks companies to provide them with stalls, in line with Rama’s beautification project.

Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, designated head of the mayor’s beautification project and a resident of Sitio Maracas, Lahug passes by the area herself everyday and observes the vendors are not exactly a pleasant sight.

The City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) has requested the Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division to clear the sidewalks along the vicinity of JY Square, but to no avail. (FREEMAN)

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Kasambagan launches sticker campaign

CEBU, Philippines - To warn both minors and bar owners, officials of Barangay Kasambagan posted warning stickers on more or less 50 establishments under their jurisdiction last Thursday night.

The yellow sticker, with seals from the Cebu City hall and the barangay itself, bears the bold note: Off limit to minors.

Barangay councilman and Committee on Public Service chairman George Chang said they continued posting the remaining stickers last night, as 90 percent were already posted Thursday night from sitio Panagdait to Gaisano Country Mall area.

He said the warning stickers were posted on beer houses, disco bars, gay bars, grill stations, and videoke bars among others.

“Namilit sad mi’g stickers sa mga establishments sa Crossroads especially sa Club Vudu. We also posted in Cheetah gay bar kay daghan ra bang mga batan-on manganha,” he said.

Chang said bar owners reportedly cater to customers aged 18 years and below, which is contrary to the law that prohibits minors from entering such establishments.

“Unahan sa UC Banilad, naay daghang mga beer house diha nya makakita mi’g mga studyante mag-inom, mga first year College to sila, ga-uniform pa,” Chang told The FREEMAN.

The barangay councilor said the stickers will serve as a warning to establishment owners even though they are compliant to the barangay’s policy.

He said they will be forced to issue a cease and desist order to establishments who ignore their warnings.

Kasambagan barangay captain Jose Lim, Jr. led the activity. Aside from Chang, Lim was accompanied by his councilmen, including committee on Tourism chairman Vivian Go who came up with the idea of the stickers.

Under City Ordinance 1725, informants can report any violation in the barangay to Barangay Kasambagan’s hotline 232-5340. (FREEMAN)

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Two men rob PUJ, cart cellphones

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged thief was shot dead yesterday dawn along Magallanes corner D. Jakosalem Streets, Barangay Sto Niño, Cebu City.

A certain Michael Abellana who is temporarily residing at Barangay Ermita, was shot by two men onboard a motorcycle at 2:10 a.m. after being chased by the suspect from F.Gonzalez Street.

The assailants fled immediately after they shot the victim.

Residents of the area reportedly heard gunshots a few minutes before Abellana’s body was found sprawled and bloodied on the side of the road.

He sustained several gunshot wounds on the right side of his body which resulted to his death.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) personnel who responded to the incident declared the victim dead.

Cebu City Police Office homicide investigator PO1 Esmer Escultor told The FREEMAN that the victim was previously arrested for snatching but was later released because he was a minor.

“Snatcher na siya atong una unya kay minor man siya gihatagan siya og second chance,” he said.

Investigators recovered from the crime scene a deformed slug from an undetermined caliber and four empty shells which they believed to be from a caliber 45.

The victim’s cadaver was brought to St. Francis Funeral Homes for autopsy.

Meanwhile, Grace Go, 46, and Josefina Jejam, 51, both residents of Banawa Hills, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City were robbed in broad daylight inside a public utility vehicle yesterday at 11:45 a.m.

Investigators said the two victims who were on their way home boarded a PUJ bound for Barangay Banawa near Cebu Business Park a few minutes prior to the incident.

When the PUJ they were riding passed near the Provincial Capitol, two unidentified men boarded the vehicle and sat near the victim.

When the vehicle reached Forest Hills in Banawa, the two men declared a robbery.

“Ang among gikinahanglan inyo ra nga cell phone (we only want your cell phones)”, the suspects allegedly told the victims.

Immediately, the two robbers got off from the vehicle and boarded a motorcycle for hire, locally known as habal-habal and fled.

The victim sought help from bystanders who reported the incident to the police.

However, the information which reached the police was that a cell shop has been robbed which confused responding policemen from the Mobile Patrol Group and the motorcycle riding units. The police also conducted hot pursuit operations but to no avail.

They later found out that the robbery happened near a cell shop.

The victims lost two cell phones with a total amount of P7, 000 and a diamond ring worth P10, 000. (FREEMAN)

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Cops, gangs discuss peace and order for Nov. 1 and 2

CEBU, Philippines - As All Souls Day and All Saints Day approach, the police have met with the leaders of gangs to discuss peace and order in Cebu City.

Cebu City Police Office Intelligence Branch head, Chief Insp. Romeo Santander told The FREEMAN they recently met with leaders of the Crips and Bloods to discuss their plans in order to prevent any possible incidents concerning their members during the long holiday.

“Amo gi-meeting ang ilang mga leaders aron makalikay ug maka discuss mi-nila aron sa kalag-kalag,” he said.

Aside from this precautionary measure, the police also had a “coordinating conference” with all station commanders in the city to finalize their preparations.

The police will be focusing more on major cemeteries, namely Calamba Cemetery, Queen City, Cebu Memorial Park and the Chinese Cemetery. “Mas daghang pulis atong ibutang sa mga dagko nga sementeryo pareha sa Calamba,” he said.

Santander said there are a total of 23 cemeteries in Cebu City which they need to secure, adding that they don’t have enough men.

However, through their force multipliers, like barangay tanods and other volunteers, they will secure every cemetery. They are also asking the public to be more cautious with newcomers in their respected barangays.

“We ask the help of the barangay. At least kun naay bag-o nga nawong, kami nalang ang mo-validate,” he said.

This will also be the first time the newly-formed Motorcycle Riding Unit of the CCPO will survey areas surrounding major cemeteries where large volume of people are expected to flock.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has also promised to deploy some of their men to Cebu City while the Police Regional Office will augment Cebu City and other major cities in the region.

Santander also reminds everyone to be careful especially during November one and two where criminals are expected to strike. (FREEMAN)

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Guard kills company driver

CEBU, Philippines - A company driver died after he was accidentally shot dead by their new security guard Thursday afternoon inside the premises of Islander Foot Works in Barangay Inayagan, Minglanilla.

Now detained at the Minglanilla police stockade is the 19-year-old suspect, Alandre Alegado, of Barangay Guadalupe, Carcar City who is under the Centurion Security Agency.

Alegado admitted the crime but claimed that what happened was only an accident.

The victim, 22-year-old Brian Gabinete, of Barangay South Poblacion, Naga City was the driver of the company’s forklift. He died after he was shot on the head.

Their co-workers tried to rush the victim to the South General Hospital but he did not make it.

Alegado, who was on his eighth day as security guard of the company, said that he was just cleaning his .38 revolver service firearm while at the gate inside the company while Gabinete was also manning the forklift that time when a loud gunfire was heard.

It took Alegado a few minutes before he noticed the bloodied Gabinete who was already hit on the head.

Police recovered one empty shell of the .38 revolver and three live ammunitions.

Police Officer 3 Rolando Camillo, Minglanilla police investigator, said they are trying to get witnesses and are conducting further investigation despite Alegado’s admission.

The revolver used by Alegado was submitted to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory at the Camp Sotero Cabahug for ballistics examination as criminal charges are being prepared against him.

Meanwhile, a 31-year-old woman was shot by an unidentified man while inside the house of her live-in partner Thursday evening in Sitio Malayahay, Barangay Lingigon, Argao.

Raquel Magbanwa, married but not legally separated with her husband, was hit on her right leg after a man shot her when she was about to get a glass of water downstairs.

Police said that Raquel was watching her child on the second storey of her live-in partner’s house. A moment later, she decided to go downstairs to get a glass of water without knowing that the man was already monitoring her moves.

She was on the stairs and was surprised upon hearing two gunshots and noticed that she was hit on the leg prompting her to seek help from their neighbors.

She was taken to the Isidro Kintanar Memorial Hospital and was later transferred to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for further treatment.

Prior to the incident, witnesses only saw a man wearing a bonnet outside the house.

Relatives of Raquel said that they could not think of anyone who has a grudge on her except her husband.

Police said they would not discount the said possibility but are also considering other angles. (FREEMAN)

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DOLE gives P2M livelihood assistance

CEBU, Philippines - Over P2M in livelihood assistance were released by the Department of Labor and Employment to 10 community based enterprises (CBE’s) in Cebu under the agency’s Integrated Livelihood program.

Labor secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who was in Cebu recently for the Visayas leg of the DOLE-AFP-Labor Summit on Freedom of Association, said 451 workers will benefit from the P2,194,290 in livelihood assistance to CBE’s.

Baldoz said the agency envisions the small and medium-sized community enterprises engaging in productive entrepreneurial activities and creates employment opportunities for people in local communities.

“Under the principle of good stewardship, we expect you to make use of the government’s meager financial resources wisely and for the purpose for which they are being given, and that it, ensure that your small businesses will flourish to create and sustain employment and thus improve your socio-economic condition,” Baldoz said.

Among the recipients of the DILP assistance are Maguikay Women’s Organization, Inc. who received P200, 000. They are which engaged in catering services in Mandaue City and has 30 women member-workers.

The Guba Farmers’ Association, which is engaged in goat-raising in Brgy. Guba, Cebu City, has 29 farmer-beneficiaries and also received P100,000.

The Toong Volunteer Farmers’ Association, which operates a bakeshop in Brgy. Toong, Cebu City, and has 31 farmer-beneficiries got P200,000; San Jose Livelihood Association, engaged in food processing and catering services in Brgy. San Jose, La Libertad, Negros Oriental with 29 informal workers, P233,000; Brgy. Liplong Small Coconut Farmers’ Association, which produces virgin coco oil and processes coconut by-products in Valencia, Negros Oriental, with 130 coconut farmer-members also received P760,000.

The Quezon Vegetable Planters Multi-purpose Cooperative which is engaged in eggplant farming in Bilar, Bohol, with 25 farmer-members received P112,000 while the Corella Farmers Scientist Association, which is engaged in vermin-culture and vermin-cast production in Corella, Bohol, with 28 farmer-beneficiaries also received P120,850.

Other recipients are the St. Vincent Neighborhood MPC, engaged in catering services in San Vicente, Liloan , Cebu and has 54 informal women workers; Lazibay Workers’ Association, engaged in integrated maintenance and repair shop in Brgy. Simacolong, Lazi, Siquijor, with 45 skilled workers, P153,740; and SUBASPA Multi-purpose Cooperative, which operates a bakeshop in Subabasbas, Lapu-Lapu City, with 50 informal sector workers, P200,000.00. (FREEMAN)

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Milk brand brings Venus Raj to Cebu for nutrition campaign

CEBU, Philippines - Highlighting the need for school children to drink milk everyday, Nestle once again brought to Cebu the Laki sa Gatas Nutrition Education Advocacy.

Yesterday, one of the company’s milk brands, Bear Brand, brought to Cebu Miss Universe Fourth Runner-Up Maria Venus Raj to help campaign for milk drinking. Raj is Bear Brand’s newest milk ambassador.

Bear Brand believes that the failure of parents to emphasize the habit of drinking milk is one factor that has contributed to the malnutrition problem in the country. Milk is considered nature’s “most perfect food” because it contains almost all essential nutrients.

In yesterday’s nutrition forum at the Lahug Elementary School, Raj shared with the students how better nutrition and better education helped her pursue her dreams.

“Alam niyo po nong bata pa po ako, gusto ko na po talagang maging beauty queen. Nagsimula akong sumali sa mga beauty contest noon grade five pa ako. At noong mga panahong yun palagi nila akong tinutokso na maitim, payatot at hindi normal sa kanila ang mataas kong height,” Raj said.

“Pero hindi ako nagpadala sa panunukso nila. Kasi po naniniwala po ako na hindi imposible basta’t positibo ang pananaw mo sa buhay, at malusog ka, lalo nang laki ako sa hirap at puro gulay ang kinakain namin noon sa Bicol at dahil mahilig ako sa gatas. At palaging sinasabi ng mga magulang ko na wala silang maipapamana sa akin na kahit anong material na bagay kun di ang edukasyon lang,” Raj added.

With a scholarship from a foundation, Raj said she worked her way up to college until she graduated Cum Laude.

Despite her newfound fame and stature in life, Raj said she still never fails to eat vegetables to get the right nutrition.

“Opo, hanggang ngayon, pinagluluto pa nga po ako ng nilagang saging ng Ate ko at steamed na gulay tuwing umaga bago pumunta sa taping ng Umagang Kay Ganda, at may baon rin po akong gatas na inilalagay ko sa maliit kong termos,” she said.

Grade 2 and 3 students participated in the “Ambition Glasses” activity wherein they were made to draw their ambition on pieces of paper using the coloring materials provided to them. The drawings were then inserted around drinking glasses to serve as a reminder that they are never too far from their dreams if they stay strong and healthy.

During their interaction with the beauty queen, some students told Raj they would want to be policemen or actors. Others said they would want to be teachers or beauty queens. Some still even want to be president.

Raj advised them to always eat healthy and to study hard. (FREEMAN)