Cebu local news (daily update)

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Murder victim fetched pal prior to death 10/20/2011




MINUTES before boarding her Manila flight, Alice Cabalan bid goodbye to her friend Melinda Ponce who drove her to the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) at 2 a.m. last Sunday.

The 53-year-old Cabalan said she had no idea that it would be her last meeting with her best friend.

But even before, Cabalan said Melinda told her about her troubles with her husband Emmanuel Ponce.

Melinda, her children Ellaine Grace, Heather Joy and Emlin Bridge and their maid were gunned down by her husband at their home in Palm Village Subdivision, barangay Tangke, Talisay City at 8 a.m. last Sunday.

Cabalan said it was she who convinced Melinda, a gym buddy, to transfer to Cebu. She said she met Melinda through Emmanuel.

“My husband is also a seaman. I was Emmanuel's chaperon when he was courting Melinda,” Cabalan said.

A week before the massacre, Cabalan said Melinda asked her if she could stay at her home. She said Ellaine Grace later fetched her mother at her home.

Cabalan said she kept Melinda's domestic problems to herself.

“I was close to her. She even asked me once to tend to her children since she had no maid at the time,” she said.

Cabalan said she took care of Embrelaince “Ember” Ponce, the youngest child and only survivor, when she was still a child.

In a phone interview, Cabalan said the relatives of Ember Ponce agreed to let the family be buried in Sorsogon.

But she said Ember decided to have her father buried in Poblacion, Talisay City.

Elsewhere, neighbors of the Ponce family claimed that they saw unusual happenings outside the family home.

Barangay tanod Roberto Bacus said they would often hear dogs howling late at night.

He said the neighbors also heard a telephone ring even if the line was disconnected.

A taxi was also spotted stopping by the house and opening a door with no one coming out of the vehicle.

Fr. Roy Cabradilla of Mary’s Little Children Community said it's best for the neighbors to pray for the family.

SPO1 Mikie Espina of the investigator of the Talisay City police said they will also verify reports that Emmanuel used drugs.

He said Emmanuel's nephew Paul Redula and the husband of slain maid Anastacia Deniega told them that Emmanuel used drugs.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) also took blood samples on the Ponce house. /Correspondent Rhea Ruth V. Rosell and Gabriel C. Bonjoc

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Kenyan to have three witnesses testify on drug case 10/20/2011




THREE witnesses, including one from Kenya, will testify in the drug case involving a Kenyan woman who was arrested at the Mactan Cebu International Airport late last month.

“We will invite one witness from Kenya to prove my client’s financial capacity,” said Ricardo Amores, lawyer for Asha Atieno Ogutu.

During yesterday’s preliminary conference at the sala of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Toribio Quiwag, Amores said Ogutu has a clothing line in Kenya.

Amores said various evidence were marked in front of the court for the Kenyan’s upcoming case. Amores said Ogutu told him that her luggage had been transferred to six different planes before reaching Cebu.

From Kenya, Ogutu had stopovers in Benin and had a connecting flight from Dubai going to Doha, Qatar and then to Cebu.

Amores said Ogutu came to Cebu as a tourist looking for business opportunities.

Ogutu told reporters anew that she missed her two children and was saddened after the Kenyan embassy refused to help her.

Ogutu was arrested after three kilos of shabu were found in her travel bag at the airport by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

A pre-trial conference will be held at RTC branch 27 at 9 am on Oct. 27. /Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos

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Interpol lists Griffiths, asks police to prepare extradition 10/20/2011




Ian Charles Griffiths, the British national who is one of two suspects in the kidnap-murder of 6-year-old Ellah Joy Pique, is now in the Interpol Red Notice list.

The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) directed the Cebu Provincial Police Office director to process the papers for Griffiths' extradition to the Philippines.

“Prepare his extradition papers and request for provisional arrest to be sent to United Kingdom through the Department of Justice (DOJ),” said Director Felizardo Serapio, executive director of PCTC.

Griffiths and his Cebuana partner Bella Ruby Santos are facing kidnapping with homicide charges in relation to Ellah Joy's death.

However, Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba, said the DOJ has yet to finish processing the government-to-government request to send Griffiths to Cebu.

Petralba along with lawyers of the Children's Legal Bureau (CLB), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7, and public prosecutors convened to discuss the case.

Santos, who was arrested in Manila on Oct. 7, is now detained at the Naga City police detention cell.

In dismissing the complaint, Alburo said the pornographic items were not included in the items mentioned in the search warrant of the police.

Alburo said there are no allegations or evidences presented to prove that Santos distributed such pornographic materials.

Defense lawyer Rameses Villagonzalo said the recent ruling “is just the start of a series of victories that we are aiming for.”

Santos’ lawyers intend to file a petition for bail on Monday. /By Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter with Correspondent PATRICIA ANDREA PATEÑA

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Rama wants to cancel gym contract 10/20/2011




IN response to what he called unfavorable “public clamor,” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wanted his membership with the Holiday Gym and Spa “withdrawn.”

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the mayor can no longer withdraw his membership because it is part of a package that the gym management offered the city.

Young said Rama approved the gym contract when he signed the notice of award to Holiday Gym and Spa.

The vice mayor earlier said the city will not renew its contract with the fitness center because the councilors don’t go there regularly.

The City Council passed a resolution that authorized the release of P360,000 as payment for the one-year membership fee of the mayor, vice mayor and 18 councilors.

For a fee of P18,000 a year of P1,500 per month, city officials are entitled to use the fitness center's facilities and join group exercise sessions.

Rama said since the resolution authorizing the release of payment of Holiday Gym and Spa have been approved by the council then payment would have to be released to the gym management.

However, Rama is hopeful that the council would also listen to the public sentiment on their gym contract.

Councilor Jose Daluz, a third-term councilor, said if council members agree, they could still opt to cut short their gym contract to only six months, which would expire on Oct. 31, and pay only a gym fee of P18,000.

The council has a verbal agreement with the management of the fitness center for a six-month trial before they continue their contract for another six months.

Daluz said the city officials’ gym privilege was part of their health and wellness program.

“After we had our executive checkup in January or February, we thought of going to the gym. I really believe in this program because investing on the health of city officials is a good program,” Daluz told Cebu Daily News.

He said the city government allocated P50 million for the physical fitness program of barangays and another P5 million for their sports tournaments.

“City officials are also stakeholders of the city. If your city officials are fit, it will also redown to the benefit of the organization,” he said.

Rama said he earlier planned to put up a gym in the fourth floor of the legislative building for use of city officials and employees.

But the gym plan was canceled because of lack of space.

Daluz said it was also difficult for the city to maintain its own gym. /By Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of the Reporters

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City misses P4.6-billion tax target 10/20/2011




Even before the year ends, the Cebu City government admitted that it failed to meet its collection target of P4.6 billion.

As of Oct. 15, the City Treasurer's Office raised P3.2 billion, which is P1.4 billion short of the collection target.

City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo said they only expect to raise P500 million more in revenues to raise the city's revenue collection to a total of P3.7 billion.

The failure in hitting the collection target also means the city faces the risk of running short by at least P800 million of its P4.5 billion budgetary requirement for this year.

“We still have collections to make pero dili na nato makuha tanan,” she told the city council in a budget hearing held yesterday afternoon at the council's caucus room.

Camarillo told the council that the city fell short in their revenue targets from the South Road Properties (SRP), Citom, real property taxes and ecozone revenues.

“So far we have already identified the shortage because of over estimates,” said Councilor Margot Osmeña, the council's budget committee chairperson.

Councilor Jose Daluz said the shortage occurred because “we were planning more than what we are collecting.” Despite this, City Budget Officer Nelfa Briones said the city will not run short out of funds even if they fail to meet its collection target of P4.6 billion.

She explained that while P4.5 billion have been budgeted for 2011, about P4.1 billion have been obligated so far. Briones also said even with the shortfall, the city can intensify its tax collection efforts.

New revenue sources have also been identified and Briones will reveal these to the council when they call for a budget hearing to discuss the 2012 executive budget.

CTO would fund the 2012 budget from revenue targets, which they hope to earn from its economic enterprises, P4 billion; opening a credit line, P2 billion; sales of properties, P1 billion.

Camarillo has also identified P4.8-billion worth of revenues from taxes and other income including the city's Internal Revenue Allotment share of P1 billion.

But councilors Daluz and Osmeña warned the administration against spending more than what it could afford. /By Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters

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NEWS BRIEFS 10/20/2011




Lapu fluvial procession


LAPU-LAPU City will hold its yearly fluvial procession in honor of the Virgin of the Rule on November 12, 2011, the first day of the novena in honor of the patron saint.

It will start at 7 a.m. from the Pacific Cebu Resort Wharf at Suba-basbas to Muelle Osmeña.

Following the 5:30 a.m. Mass at the Marigondon Parish Church, the icon of the city’s patron saint will be brought to Pacific Cebu Resort on a yacht.

The image will sail along the coastline of Mactan to Punta Engaño and to the Mactan Channel passing the first and second bridges and finally to the Muelle Osmeña wharf.

The Philippine Air Force will drop petals during the fluvial parade.

The most decorated and most symbolic pump boat will be given prizes. Participating pump boats must register with the Tourism Office. /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA



Radaza scolds barangay officials

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza reprimanded her barangay captains and solid waste management personnel for negligence in their waste disposal and garbage collection.

The mayor said she saw uncollected garbage in the streets of nearly all barangays, including some barangays that have their own dump sites.

Earlier, citation tickets were issued to some barangay captains for noncollection of garbage.

Since it took them long to settle the fines, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) had to endorse the matter to the fiscal’s office.

Other barangay captains had to pay the fine using their personal funds as it cannot be charged to the barangay funds.

ABC president Leo Mercado of barangay Pajo was one of those summoned by the city fiscal’s office to pay his fine.

During the meeting yesterday, some barangay captains explained that their garbage trucks are defective and they also lack personnel to do the collection.

The barangay captains asked Radaza to give them three days to clean up.

Radaza also appealed to her constituents to do their share in keeping their areas clean. /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA

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Seguridad sa terminal gihugtan

CEBU, Philippines - Gisugdan na sa kagamhanan sa lalawigan sa Sugbo ang pagpahugot sa seguridad sa Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) agi og pagpangandam alang sa pagsugwak sa mga pasahero atol sa pagsaulog sa kalagkalag karong Nobiyembre 1 ug 2 sa kasamtangang tuig.

Kini pinaagi sa pagbutang ni Governor Gwendolyn Garcia og dugang 10 ka mga Security Personnel ngadto sa CSBT.

Si Carmen Quijano, ang manager sa CSBT, miingon nga may giandam na usab sila nga pamaagi aron mas hapsay ang paglinya unya sa mga pasahero nga mouli ngadto sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka lungsod sa habagatang bahin sa Sugbo.

Gitug-an usab ni Quijano nga aduna usab silay gi-andam nga breast-feeding corner sa maong terminal aron nga dili mauwaw ang mga inahan sa pagpasuso sa ilang mga masusong anak sanglit may dibisyon man ang maong lugar.

Midugang si Quijano nga sama sa iyang naandan, mobisita ang gobernador sa terminal aron personal niining susihon kun maayo ba ang pagpahimutang sa mga pasahero uban sa pagpangumusta niini.

Usa sa labing gipabantayan sa gobernador mao ang mga kargamento sa mga pasahero sama sa mga bomba, gidiling drugas ug uban pang mga butang nga makadaot sa biyahe ug sa kinabuhi sa mga pasahero. (WC) (BANAT)

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Mga tig-vandal giregalohan

CEBU, Philippines - Human ipakita sa mga batan-ong miyembro sa gang kaniadto sa lungsod sa Minglanilla ang ilang tinud-anay nga pagtabang sa kampanya batok sa graffiti, nakadawat sila og pahalipay gikan mismo sa gobernadora.

Personal gayud nga gihatod ni Governor Gwendolyn Garcia didto sa maong lungsod niadtong Oktubre 18, ang iyang regalo ngadto sa maong mga batan-on.

Kini agi og pasalamat sa gobernador sa maong grupo kinsa kaniadto maoy responsable sa mga vandalism o mga hugaw nga suwat-suwat sa mga pader daplin sa kadalanan apan karon kaabag na sa gobernador sa paglimpyo sa maong mga pader.

Ang maong mga regalo nga gidalit sa gobernador sa maong mga kabataan, mao ang mga T-shirt ug pagkaon.

Gawas niini pakuyogon pa gayud ang nahisgutang mga batan-on sa Suroy Suroy Sugbo Southern Heritage Trail ugma, Oktubre 21 ug i-tour usab sila sa gobernador ngadto sa Isla sa Camotes.

Ang maong lakang sa gobernador gidayeg kaayo sa mga ginikanan sa maong mga batan-on ug sa mga opisyales sa lungsod sa Minglanilla. (Chester Abadilla/WC) (BANAT)

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Drug prevention week saulogon

CEBU, Philippines - Saulogon sa Nobiyembre 13 -20, 2011 ang Drug Abuse and Prevention and Control Week dinhi sa Sugbo ug tibuok Central Visayas uban sa tema nga “Mahalin ang Kalikasan Ingatan ang Kalusugan, Druga ay Iwasan”.

Si kanhi Dangerous Drugs Board DDB Undersecretary Paul Clarence Oaminal sayo nga mipahibawo niini aron makapangandam ang mga local nga kagamhanan sa gitakdang kalihukan.

Nunot niini gi-awhag usab ni Oaminal ang mga Non Government Organization (NGO) nga moduyog ning maong kalihukan aron labi pang molig-on ang kampanya batok sa gidiling drugas.

Gihagit usab ni Oaminal ang mga opisyal sa local nga kagamhanan sa pagkab-ot og mga lig-on nga programa nga haom sa kampanya pagsumpo sa suliran sa drugas.

Miingon si Oaminal nga gikalipay niya ang katukoran sa Anti Drug Abuse Commission sa probinsya sa Sugbo nga makapalig-on sa kampanya batok ning nagkagrabi nga suliran sa drugas dinhi sa lalawigan.

Usa sa gisugyot ni Oaminal mao ang pagsagop sa drug rehabilitation center aron makurehian kadtong nagumon sa dautang bisyo.

Naglaraw usab siya nga makigtagbo kang Gobernador Gwendolyn Garcia aron hangyoon kini nga maoy mangulo sa kampanya batok sa gidiling drugas dinhi sa Visayas Area. (Darrel A. Carumba/WC) (BANAT)

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Pag-suplay og karne sa luzon gitun-an

CEBU, Philippines - Maglisod pa ang mga lokal nga tigpamuhi og baboy dinhi sa Central Visayas aron maka-suplay og daghang karne sa baboy ngadto sa kaulohan gumikan sa kakulang sa pasilidad nga makadawat sa gidaghanon sa ihawon.

Si Roland Tambago, ang presidente sa Central Visayas Pork Production Cooperative (CViPPCO) nga bisan og gustohon nilang makasuplay og karne ngadto sa Luzon dili nila kini mahimo gumikan sa kakulang sa pasilidad dinhi.

Sukwahi kaniadto nga buhi nga baboy ang dad-on pagbiyahe sakay sa mga barko, karne na karon ang gipangita didto sa Luzon. Kini tungod sa kadako sa alkanse sa mga suppliers dinhi sa pagbiyahe sa mga buhing baboy.

Usa sa mga makaalkanse kanila mao ang pagkamatay sa mga baboy samtang gibiyahe ug ang pag-usab usab sa panahon maong mas dako ang mawala kanila kumparar sa ginansyahon tungod kay parehas ra ang presyo dinhi ug didto sa baboy.

Sumala pa ni Tambago nga sa pagkakaron ginagmay palang gyud ang mapadalang carcass kon inihaw nang daan nga baboy didto sa Luzon gikan dinhi gumikan kay dili pa maapupa sa mga ihawan dinhi sa Central Visayas ang pag-ihaw og dinaghan gawas lang sa panginahanglan sa lokal nga merkado dinhi.

Matud pang Tambago ang pagpadala sa ilang grupo og mga ‘carcass’ (tibuok karne) didto kasamtangan pang gitun-an kun makatubag ba sa gipangita sa mga pork suppliers sa Kabisay-an.

Ang CViPPCO nag-suplay og 55 toneladang karneng baboy matag adlaw sa kamerkadohan sa Sugbu.

Kagahapong adlawa ang CViPPCO nagselebrar sa ilang labing unang anibersaryo sukad nga sila naghugpong sa milabay’ng tuig ug ilang pinasidunggang dinapit si Kong. Angelo Palmones.(EIM) (BANAT)