Cebu local news (daily update)

[Crimson_Viper]

s u b

[*sludge*]

50 ka mga 'esnaberong' mga drayber atol sa Pasko ang gireklamo

CEBU, Philippines - Moabot og 50 ka mga abusadong taxi drayber ang nadakpan sa mga deputized agents sa Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) hangtud kagahapon sukad sa pagpatuman sa programang Oplan Esnabiro nunot usab sa pagdaghan sa mga pasahero tungod sa Christmas Season.
Gibutyag ni LTO-7 regional director Raul Aguilus atol sa interbyu sa usa ka sibyaanan nga ang nadakpan nga mga driver sa taxi mao kadtong gireklamong mamili og pasahero ingon man sa rota nga ilang biyahi-an.
Gipasabot ni Aguilus nga kun mamatud-an ang kabalido sa reklamo batok sa nadakpan nga mga drayber pahamtangan nila kini og silot sama sa pagsuspenso sa lisensiya niini.
Sugod niadtong Disyembre 30 mas gipahugtan pa sa LTO-7 ang pagpatuman sa maong programa pinaagi sa pagpakatap og dugang mga deputized agents sa mga lugar dinhi sa Metro Cebu ilabi na sa downtown ug uptown area dinhi sa dakbayan sa Sugbo nunot ning pagdagsang sa mga pasahero.
Ang kadaghan sa mga pasahero karon maoy nakaingon nga migara ang mga taxi drivers nga mamili og pasahero nga ilang pasakyon ug kung asang destinasyon subay sa ilang gusto.
Gitambagan sa director ang publiko nga siguraduhon pagkuha ang plate number, body number sa taxi ug ilabi na ang pangalan sa drayber ug oras sa pagsakay niini diha pormal nga reklamo aron kahimoan dayun og imbestigasyon pagtino sa ka balido niini. (BANAT)

maayo ning balita-a

[tangadsangig]

Read it in Cebu Daily News today: Naa nay "Tourist Police" - a police officer in uniform roving around the tourists spots also giving info about the culture and heritage of Cebu. They took tourism seminars too. Aboitiz Foundation also helped in this project. They are mostly around City Hall-Sto. Nino. Hope they can do that too in Marcelo-Fernan Bridge and other spots too and hope dili ni mawagtang lang ug kalit after some time. I really like the idea of putting police in tourist spots ky mao na numero unong daghan mangingilad ug snatcher ug tulisan.

[AntitaniC]

Read it in Cebu Daily News today: Naa nay "Tourist Police" - a police officer in uniform roving around the tourists spots also giving info about the culture and heritage of Cebu. They took tourism seminars too. Aboitiz Foundation also helped in this project. They are mostly around City Hall-Sto. Nino. Hope they can do that too in Marcelo-Fernan Bridge and other spots too and hope dili ni mawagtang lang ug kalit after some time. I really like the idea of putting police in tourist spots ky mao na numero unong daghan mangingilad ug snatcher ug tulisan.

kuyaw napud ni sila mangutong adto sa mga tourists...

"tourist looking at a souvenir item..."

tourist: how much is this? (asking the tourist police)

t police: wet mam lit me ask pirst... (nakig sabot kadali sa tindira pila presyo... 100php ang item ge sabot....)

t police: oki mam I already ask d seller its 150 pesos onli mam......

baaaaaaaaang.....

[cobraKing]

----------------------------------------Jan.4,2011---------------------------------------


Police chief says there's proof: Digal: No apology to Mayor Ramirez


CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Erson Digal will not apologize to Medellin town Mayor Ricardo Ramirez, who he tagged as the prime suspect in the death of Edelberto “Delbi” Abao last week.
Digal said there is no need for him to apologize to Ramirez since they have strong evidence as well as affidavits supporting them at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 pointing to Ramirez as the suspect.
“No need to make an apology. What is the apology for? I say he’s a suspect but I did not say he is guilty,” Digal said.
He also said that he will ask assistance from the Police Regional Office director if Ramirez will withdraw his logistic support to the police.
“Being the mayor naa ra niya if dili na siya mo-support sa PNP if he thinks that’s the best sa lumulupyo sa Medellin kay the money spent came from the taxes of the residents,” he said.
Ramirez told reporters during his press conference that he will file an administrative case and a criminal complaint against Digal.
The word war between the two officials started when Ramirez broke his silence over the accusations that linked him to the death of Abao, who was the head of the Mayor’s Squad at the mayor’s office.
Abao was sustained a wound on his right leg on the afternoon of December 27 and was rushed to the Severo Verallo Hospital in Bogo where he later died after surgery.
The death certificate, which was released days after due to the outstanding bills of the victim, states that he died of diabetes and hypertension.
However, Digal will not have a hand in filing of the charges as the CIDG 7 will be handling the case.
CIDG 7 deputy chief, Flabiano Baltazar told The Freeman that one of the relatives of the victim allegedly went to their detachment office in Bogo City and requested for assistance in the investigation.
“That was the information I received but the investigation is not yet done so we have to wait for it,” he said.


Digal denied allegations that he was not able to inform Ramirez regarding the relief of Senior Inspector Bonifacio Arriesgado, former chief of the Medellin town police. He also said that he did not fail to inform Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia about the incident, but just could not do so, immediately, as she was out of the country.
“I called Ramirez that Arriesgado will be relieved for the investigation, which he agreed and how can I inform the governor, when she was out of the country during the incident,” Digal said.

GWEN KEEPS MUM

Governor Garcia has kept mum on the incident and said that Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda has already stated her position.
“That’s a police matter and I do not think any comments whatsoever or statement for that matter would help in the investigation of this case. I would rather leave that matter to the police,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.
Garcia learned about the incident when she came back from her vacation abroad in the evening of December 31.
She was made aware of a lot of statements that have been swirling around, which she believes would not help.
“I do believe that when a matter under investigation we should be more circumspect in our statements,” Garcia said.
While she is not commenting the case per see, Garcia said as governor she will have to see to it that peace and order will not be compromised at the local government level considering that Ramirez has threatened to pull out his support to the police force. — with Gregg M. Rubio/NLQ (FREEMAN)

[cobraKing]

Pyro trader mulls raps vs. city government

CEBU, Philippines - The camp of businessman Brian Lim, owner of Pyroworks Pyrotechnic Perfection, is mulling filing a case for grave abuse of authority against Mayor Michael Rama for the destruction of P3 million worth of pyrotechnics earlier seized for being sold in an undesignated area.
Lim’s lawyer, Noel Archival, said he is only awaiting the decision of his client to go on with the filing.
Grave abuse of authority will be filed against Rama and the police for destroying the pyrotechnic devices without the knowledge of the owner and permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Archival said that the permission of the DENR is needed because the devices contain toxic substances that can be dangerous to public health if not handled properly.
The lawyer also believes that since the confiscation of the products was done on the basis of an ordinance and resolution, the city government should have filed a case against his client first. The judge will then be the one to decide if the destruction of the devices is necessary.
Prior to the destruction, Archival said that the police should have invited the owner to witness the destruction. This is to make sure that everything was destroyed and none of the devices were stolen or hoarded to be sold again.
He also said it would have been better if the mayor just allowed his client to donate the products to the city government for a fireworks show during the Sinulog celebration.
Rama, in a news conference yesterday, said that he is ready to face the charges that might be filed against him by Lim.


“I have my legal office that will have to take care if there are charges to be filed. I was only exercising what I ought to do,” Rama said.
Rama also said he does not believe that Lim was not aware of the resolution which banned the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices in the sidewalks or anywhere outside the designated firecracker zone.
City fire marshal Aderson Comar said that Lim was present during their meeting held in the last week of November where the latter allegedly had a presentation on the firecracker zone at the South Road Properties.
Lim was designated as the point person for the firecracker zone.
Comar said that the meeting was held at the office of Councilor Augustus Pe and was attended by the BFP, the City Treasurer’s Office and Lim among others.
The resolution was discussed and made clear during the meeting that no firecrackers and pyrotechnics must be sold outside the SRP, Comar said.
Last Sunday, Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña accused the mayor of bullying Lim for not giving him a warning before the products were destroyed.
Osmeña said that Lim was not aware of the violation he committed so he is entitled to a warning.
Rama said that he is not worried if Lim will stop donating fireworks to the city for the Sinulog Festival.
He said that through the years that Lim has been donating free fireworks shows for the Sinulog, the latter’s business is also earning free exposure.
“There’s no such thing as ‘pamoyboy’ if you earned exposure. If he will stop donating, we will pay. Why not?” Rama said. —BRP (FREEMAN)

[cobraKing]

Landslide destroys 2 houses in Kalunasan

CEBU, Philippines - Two houses were damaged in Barangay Kalunasan while the road going to the mountain Barangay Pamutan in Cebu City was impassable because of the landslides brought about by the continued downpour since Saturday.
About 200 houses in Sitio Upper and Lower Awihaw, Kalunasan experienced brownout after an Ipil-Ipil tree fell into the power lines because of the landslide. The houses of Eddie Macaldo and Guillermo Lawas were also damaged by the fallen tree.
The Macaldo family was evacuated for awhile by Kalunasan Captain Nunilon Monares but returned home after some repairs of their house were made. No one was hurt in the incident.
Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) Executive Director Alvin Santillana said that the Parks and Playground Committee immediately cleared the area.
In barangay Pamutan, two separate portion of the road going to and from the barangay were temporarily made impassable after two separate road erosions last Sunday evening and yesterday morning.
The route was detoured to an alternative road while the Department of Engineering and Public Works is clearing the area.
The CCDRRMC held an emergency meeting last Sunday to prepare for the next days should the bad weather continues.
Santillana said that their 24-hour monitoring was intensified since January 2 as per order by Mayor Michael Rama.


As continuous rains may trigger landslides in upland areas, Santillana said that they are calling the mountain barangays from time to time to check the situation. They have instructed all barangay officials to immediately report any untoward incident related to disaster.
CCDRRMC advised those living in low lying areas to move to safer grounds once the water in creeks or rivers rise to higher than the usual level.
Last year, Santillana said, the disaster council has performed well in terms of response and rescue. He said that the Mayor has been very active in making sure that they are quick and prepared all the time.
Santillana said that this year, they hope that the Mayor will grant their request for additional personnel to improve their operation.
He said that though they are efficient and quick in responding to disasters, they are sometimes delayed by the lack of personnel who will work on documentations and other necessary papers. — (FREEMAN)

[cobraKing]

Sinulog stage to be ready next week

CEBU, Philippines - The preparation of the stage facing the grandstand of the Cebu City Sports Center for the holding of the Sinulog grand mardigras and finale on the third Sunday of this month is expected to be completed on January 12.
Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director Ricky [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]Ballesteros[/COLOR][/COLOR] has assured that all the preparations will be finished before the holding of the Grand mardigras on January 16.
“Gipaspasan namo ang pagtrabaho pero sigurado nga mahuman na nila kini pagpanday sunod semana,” Ballesteros said as he showed the media the ongoing work.
Carpenters were busy building Chinese architectural designs because the second stage background that will be shown in the evening will have a Chinese look, while the one that will be used as background in the morning until the afternoon will have a natural design.
SFI will be spending between P1.5 million to P1.7 million for the construction of the stage alone, including the lightings and props. Ballesteros said the stage will also feature a small lake with some pyrotechnics floating on the water.
At 8 p.m., Cebu City north district Rep. Rachel “Cutie” Del Mar will dance during the grand finale.
Cebu City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, the wife of Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña was invited to dance with Del Mar, but Margot told The FREEMAN: “Dili na, retired na lagi ko.”
Ballesteros assured spectators will enjoy this year’s grand mardigras and finale.


“Karong tuiga mora ni og battle of champions kay daghang mga nangagi nga champions nga out-of-town contingents nga mipahibalo na nga moapil sila sa Sinulog mardigras,” he said.
The out-of-town contingents that have already confirmed to join the Sinulog mardigras are from Tangub City, Ormoc City, North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Dumaguete City, Tacloban City, Placer, Masbate, Bayawan in Negros Oriental, Bacuag town in Surigao del Norte and the Buyogan Tribe in Abuyog, Leyte.
Ballesteros also said the contingent from Daanbantayan town already informed him that they will join this year’s Sinulog mardigras after several years of absence from the event.
“Dinhi sa ato daghan usab og mga maayo sama sa Lumad Basakanon ug sa contingents gikan sa Don Sergio Osmeña National High School nga kanunay nga modaug sa miaging katuigan,” Ballesteros said.
The SFI, headed by Mayor Michael Rama, has already hired the services of famous persons from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to judge the events at the grandstand.
The local judges, to be composed of dance experts, will be fielded along the parade route.
Some local contingents have already conducted their rehearsals at the sports center’s stage. Ballesteros said the local contingents are given only until January 13 to practice at the stage, because January 14 and 15 are for the out-of-town contingents.
Meanwhile, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said she hopes she will be invited to perform again in this year’s Sinulog grand parade.
“I hope I will be invited by the Sinulog Foundation. I would love to dance again at the Sinulog,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.
In the first few years she was invited by the SFI the provincial government sent its own contingent led by the governor, but later Garcia danced with the town festival of her choice.
Garcia danced with the Haladaya Festival of Daanbantayan in 2006, the Palawod Festival of Bantayan in 2008, the Tostado Festival of Santander in 2009 and the Ani-anihan Festival of Tabuelan last year.
Garcia did not mention yet what town festival she will dance with as no invitation has come yet from the SFI. Aside from dancing, the provincial government will have its own float that will feature queens of different festivals in the province.
Garcia usually dances during the opening of the Sinulog after the performance of Cebu City government dancers and also during the closing ceremony. — (FREEMAN)

[cobraKing]

Meat importers fail to get restraining order vs AO 22

CEBU, Philippines - No temporary restraining order was issued to the 17 meat importers who filed a petition for injunction against the Department of Agriculture seeking to stop the implementation of an administrative order that sets rules and regulations in the handling of frozen and chilled meat products.
Regional Trial Court Branch 7 Judge Simeon Dumdum submitted the petition for resolution yesterday without ruling on the prayer for the issuance of a TRO.
Dumdum instead gave DA officials and the petitioners until Wednesday to submit their respective memoranda as he will already resolve the application for preliminary injunction.
In yesterday’s hearing of the petition filed by the meat importers, Dumdum said he will directly rule on the application for preliminary injunction.
Lawyer Kristan Carlos Cristobal from the Office of the Solicitor General who represented the DA officials, defended the issuance of the Administrative Order no. 22 saying it was not meant to curtail the trade of the importers but rather to regulate in order to protect the interest of the consuming public.
Cristobal cited Section 4.1 and Section 4.2 of the said order which states that it is just regulatory.
But lawyer Ricardo Amores, counsel for the petitioners, said the order does not merely regulate the trade but also provides power to confiscate.
“To regulate and to confiscate are two different matters,” Amores said.


Meat importers earlier questioned the implementation of the AO 22 claiming it singles out imported meat products.
Meat importers said there was also no implementing guidelines issued that governs its implementation.
They further argued that it is illogical for the policy-making authorities to issue unjust and discriminatory regulation against frozen meat products on the basis of public health concerns claiming that it is the local “meat product” that is more at risk.
Meat importers likewise questioned the legality of the delegation of the implementation of the order to the Local Government Units by the National Meat Inspection Service.
According to them, the power to implement it was already delegated by the Department of Agriculture to the NMIS. Under the Constitution a delegated power cannot be re-delegated to a third person on party.
The complainants named DA Secretary Proceso Alcala and the DA regional director and officials in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay were named respondents of the petition.
Local meat dealers Estrella Laderas Meat Trading, Judphilan Foods Corp., Meatcore Corp., Three Dragons Devt. Corp., Ludens International Trading Corp., Jesus Escaño Devt., Corp., Kitchen Solutions, Alfa All Foods Asia, Inc., LJC8 Enterprises, DPO Philippines, Inc, Corazon Sepra, Dolores Nuñez, Wivina Abad, Versan Tecson, Romeo Maturan, Zenaida Tampos, Lilibeth Tanilon and Dioscora Mancao were likewise impleaded. — (FREEMAN)

[cobraKing]

--------------------------------Jan. 6,2011-------------------------------------------


To Settle 93-1 Issue, Gwen gives city one last chance



CEBU, Philippines - Capitol won’t be talking to the City Hall negotiating team to settle the issue on the lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1, but only to city administrator Jose Mari Poblete in what is called the “last chance” to resolve the matter.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced this yesterday morning and has tasked lawyer Rory Jon Sepulveda to talk with Poblete on behalf of Capitol.
This is the last chance that Garcia is giving to settle this thorny issue once and for all.
Thousands of city residents, who occupy lots owned by Capitol and have failed to pay for their lots through the scheme presented in Ordinance 93-1, face the threat of eviction if the matter would not be resolved.
The governor, whose third and last term would end in 2013, also reiterated her commitment to settle this before she steps down from office.
Referring to a statement by Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña that the issue be settled with the next governor, Garcia said she will do it with or without the city.
“Mr. Tomas Osmeña does not need to wait for the next governor because this present governor will resolve the issue with or without the city,” Garcia said.
She pointed out that Capitol will have to be circumspect in handling the issue as thousands of lives depend on it.


“Sugdan ta una og one-on-one pareho sa nahitabo namo ni Mike (Mayor Michael Rama) para way mga misinterpretation pud and we could both say what needs to be said without anyone else listening to give his or her own opinion about what he said,” Garcia said.
The governor pointed out that the negotiating team created by Mayor Rama can go on and do what they want to do, but talks would have to be done one-on-one for now.
She also said that whatever will be done with regards to negotiation has to be made carefully.
“I hope we are all proceeding from good faith kay kami we really have nothing to lose but they have everything to gain as far as the city officials are concerned,” Garcia said.
After both parties shall have firmed up their commitment to the resolution of the issue, Garcia said that their commitment is to bring to a higher level and a more harmonious level of the relationship between the Province of Cebu and the City of Cebu.
Garcia pointed out that while Rama is extending his hands to the province to consider the resolution of the issue, he cannot dictate upon her.
“We can set the condition not them. It’s ironic that those who are not in the position to set conditions are noisier and more talkative than the very institution or personality or person holds all the aces here,” Garcia said.
Garcia belied the statement of Osmeña that she would agree to a deal on condition that the province would be allowed to continue the Ciudad project in barangay Apas.
The governor said that the agreement on Ordinance 93-1 is between the residents and Capitol, but Osmeña, who was then mayor, came into the scene in 2004.
She also said that the present set of city officials would benefit most if this is resolved as it will help them get re-elected in 2013.
“This can be an opportunity for both the Province of Cebu and the City of Cebu to rise above the dredge and the pit that our relationship has sunk into,” Garcia said. — /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)