Cebu local news (daily update)

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CITOM now strict on parking requirements

CEBU, Philippines - Traffic authorities in Cebu City will now strictly implement parking requirements in all establishments situated beside roads, particularly the newly-constructed buildings, after noticing that the wrong parking of vehicles has contributed to the traffic problem.

Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, chairman of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM), said they will ask copies of the parking plans of those who applied for building permits from City Hall for them to help monitor the compliance.

He is even thinking of asking Mayor Michael Rama and the CITOM Board that before the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) issues locational clearances to applicants for building constructions located along roads, it should be submitted to CITOM first.

But Councilor Ritchie Osmeña, chairman of the City Council’s committee on traffic management, strongly opposed the plan.

“Why will CITOM do the job of the City Planning and Development Office? If the new buildings fail to follow the building construction plans then the CPDO can coordinate with CITOM so appropriate action could be made,” Osmeña said.

Agreeing with Osmeña that CITOM should stick to its mandate to man and control the traffic in the city, Jakosalem said instead of requiring the applicants for locational clearance to first submit their documents to CITOM, his office will just ask for the parking plans.

Osmeña said CITOM will just monitor the non-compliance of the ordinance requiring building owners to have parking areas which should not be diagonal type and should be parallel to the building’s wall as well as for parking areas to have entrance and exits.

The purpose of the ordinance is to avoid traffic obstruction because instead of vehicles moving back from parking areas, they can go out by directly passing through the exits without hampering the traffic flow of vehicles.

But while this is what the ordinance provides, City Building Official Josefa Ylanan said there is an exemption that the diagonal type of parking would still be allowed only for buildings with limited space and situated in areas not considered as major roads.

Ylanan is requesting the public to report directly to her office if they know of any buildings whose parking spaces had been converted to other use. The FREEMAN has observed that a hotel along barangay Capitol Site had committed a similar violation and Ylanan said she will look into it. - THE FREEMAN

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Boy who fell off bridge during "Ramon" dies

CEBU, Philippines - One of the children who fell from a footbridge which collapsed at the height of typhoon Ramon last Wednesday in Toledo City died last Friday afternoon.

Jhunale Parba, 15, died of severe head injury at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

His younger brother, 12-year-old Jelmar Parba, who was luckily spared from a head injury, is now in a stable condition according to Elmer Canillo, leader of an indigenous group in Cebu and a friend of the victims’ uncle.

Before Jhunale, Wilfredo Sabroso, 27, their companion when crossing the bridge last Wednesday noon, died on the spot when he hit his head on a portion of the bridge which connected Barangays Magdugo and Cambang-ug.

Last Wednesday, the victims, who are coconut wine vendors, were crossing the steel bridge supposedly on their way to Barangay Ilihan to sell their coconut wine when the bridge collapsed. Canillo said they will go to the Office of the Ombudsman most probably today to study the possible charges that they can file against Toledo City officials who allegedly ignored precautionary measures for the said bridge. Canillo said unidentified people kept on extracting sand and gravel in the area which eventually weakened the foundation of the bridge.

“Nakita nato ang pagpabaya jud sa gobyerno sa pagproteher sa atong kinaiyahan,” Canillo said.

Police said the bridge weakened due to the continuous rain. The victims risked crossing the bridge despite an earlier warning from the barangay captain of Magdugo that nobody should cross the said bridge because it was dangerous.

Toledo City Police said the bridge, which was situated about 40 feet above a creek, was totally wrecked and no longer passable. Jhunale was the third fatality recorded during the tropical storm Ramon.

The other fatality was Sabroso who was with Jhunale when the bridge collapsed. Another casualty died in a separate incident and was identified as Beinvenido Cañete, 60, a tricycle driver from Barangay Poblacion, Cordova town who was electrocuted last Tuesday night. - THE FREEMAN

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2 Cebu schools to compete in 2011 national finals

CEBU, Philippines - Two schools in Cebu have entered the finals of the 2011 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The Simeon Ayuda Elementary School in Liloan and the University of San Jose-Recoletos-High School made it through the regional eliminations and will now compete in their respective categories at the national level.

Winners will be announced during the exhibition-cum-awarding ceremony that will be held on November 16, 2011 as part of the National Environmental Awareness Month.

Environmental Management Bureau Director Juan Miguel Cuna said the schools’ response to the call for entries was overwhelming.

“We were amazed by their creativity and their commitment in implementing eco-friendly practices,” Cuna said.

The nationwide contest is a direct response to Republic Act No. 9512 also known as the Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008. It is also the Philippine Initiative in support to the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan (2008-2012) that calls for the establishment of sustainable schools in every ASEAN member-state.

The contest was also organized to highlight achievement of schools that are committed in implementing various environmental programs.

Now on its second run, the nationwide competition aims to recognize educational institutions from the elementary, high school and tertiary levels with the best sustainable and environment-friendly programs and activities.

“We need to start teaching our kids as early as we can to take responsibility in safeguarding our environment. Schools are dynamic focal points of learning and powerful vehicles of change. Parents and teachers can work together to spread the wonders of living an environmentally-smart lifestyle,” Cuna said.

Smart Communications has joined the activity for the second year as part of its corporate social responsibility and community service program called Kabalikat.

Ramon Isberto, head of Smart Public Affairs, said Smart has been taking measures to practice environmental sustainability in its day-to-day operations and to promote ecological awareness and preservation to the publics.

“We encourage the youth to do the same and we know we can do this by working through their schools,” Isberto said as he expressed hope that the search will inspire more schools to go green and will influence participants to adopt an environmentally-friendly lifestyle. - THE FREEMAN

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Four Alcoy policemen accused of illegal detention, unlawful arrest

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas was asked to investigate four police officers assigned at the Alcoy Police Station for illegal detention.

Businessman Jose Earl Plando of Barangay Daanlungsod, Alcoy, Cebu filed a complaint for unlawful arrest and illegal detention against PO1 Leon Gesim, PO2 Raniel Cartin, PO1 Gerlito Estremos and PO1 Abrraham Quijano.

Plando told The FREEMAN that he was arrested and detained by the police officers without investigating if indeed he was an accomplice in stealing the goats of his neighbor. The complainant is engaged in the buying and selling livestock.

He said on October 6, 2011 when he arrived at their house at 7:00 p.m., he was surprised when his father, Priscilo, a retired teacher, told him that he has an invitation letter from the Alcoy Police Station.

“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 accused me of stealing their four goats,” Plando said.

Plando added he went to the house of his aunt to ask where the house of Jackson but he was told to go back in the morning as it was very far.

While having a conversation with his aunt, he saw the police patrol car pass by and parked. Plando said he approached three policemen - Cartin, Estremos and Gesim, to ask why they sent him an invitation letter.

Plando said because he had no knowledge about the loss of the neighbor’s four goats, he told the policemen to check and verify the goats he bought from costumers, which were on stock at his house.

But the policemen declined and instead advised him to go to the station.

During the interrogation, he said the police asked him where he was at 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on October 5, 2011. He replied he was in the house of his customer in Dalaguete, Cebu.

Plando said Eduard Abanilla, who was also being investigated, told the police that they were responsible in stealing the goats of Jackson, together with a certain Amelito Estellori.

However, when Estellori was presented by the police before Abanilla, Abanilla said it was not him.

Plando said he was pressured by the police officers to admit to the crime, but he did not. He added he was advised by the police officers to sleep one night at the jail as it was already past 9:00 p.m.

Plando said that despite his innocence, on October 7 he agreed to settle the case and paid P12,000 to Jackson.

“Because of the incident, I suffered from sleepless nights because my reputation and also my family’s was damaged due to the unlawful arrest and illegal detention done by the abusive minds of police officers in Alcoy Police Station,” the complaint reads.

Meanwhile, The FREEMAN tried to contact the police officers for their comments but they could not be reached. - THE FREEMAN

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Labella urges Congress to check all jails

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council is expected to pass a resolution on Wednesday urging Congress to evaluate the jails all over the country.

Councilor Edgardo Labella said jails should be designed to fulfill the thrust of our penal system “to be corrective and not afflictive, to be reformatory not punitive.”

“I believe that even criminals have an inherent goodness in them. They should therefore be given a second chance if they reform and live a new life as law abiding citizens,” he said.

Labella said the detention facilities should have livelihood trainings for the inmates to have a good chance to earn a living and become useful citizens when they get out.

“We should also consider the fact that because of some defects in our judicial system, not all of those who are in jail are really guilty, especially the poor who cannot avail the services of a good counsel,” Labella added.

While Labella supports the pending bill sponsored by Senator Chiz Escudero that seeks to address issues on “dilapidated facilities, congested prisons and archaic operational system” and structure at the Bureau of Corrections, he said a similar move should also be conducted in jails manned by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The north district councilor said he observed that some of the BJMP-manned jails are substandard and contrary to penology criteria of being “remedial and curative.”

Labella said the main purpose of imposing a penalty is reform and thus the “basis of criminal liability must consider that man is inherently good but the offender is socially sick.”

“Such theory supports that a criminal is a product of the environment, and as his thoughts and actions are strongly influenced by his upbringing, social environment and association, he or she must be punished by penalties that are corrective or curative, to reform him,” he said.

As of yesterday, the Cebu City jail in barangay Kalunasan houses 2,040 inmates, according to jail warden Maria Victoria Jimenez. It only has 139 jail guards, or one jail guard per 14 detainees.

Labella said the correct jail guard-prisoner ratio is one jail guard for every six prisoners.

He supports Escudero’s bill because it will provide “a degree of protection for inmates” that will include decent provisions of quarters, food, water and clothing in compliance with established United Nations standards.

Section 19 (2) of Article III of the 1987 Constitution provides that the “employment of physical, psychological, or degrading punishment against any prisoner or detainee or the use of substandard or inadequate penal facilities under subhuman conditions shall be dealt with by law.”

“The City of Cebu is consistent with its pro-life stance in matters relating to the value of human life and dignity to promote measures that uphold full respect for human rights,” Labella added. - THE FREEMAN

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ABC gets P3M aid from City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has authorized the release of the P3-million assistance to the Association of Barangay Councils-Cebu City (ABC) to cover the latter’s maintenance and other operating expenses for this year.

During last week’s session, the council gave Mayor Michael Rama the go signal to sign a memorandum of agreement with the ABC headed by T. Padilla Captain Michael Ralota.

Being supportive of the barangay activities, the City is willing to provide financial assistance to the group for its operations and other programs.

The P3 million shall be specifically spent to defray the expenses of ABC on the purchase of supplies and materials worth P1.02 million, the souvenir pictures (framed) of 80 barangay officials worth P160,000, the upcoming year-end general assembly of barangay captains to cost P300,000 and the cost of ABC seal at P150,000.

The signage for barangay captains cost P120,000, the customized bulletin board cost P80,000 or P10,000 each barangay, the signage containing barangay profile with penal city ordinance cost P300,000 and the repair and renovation of ABC building cost P150,000.

The financial assistance shall be charged to the Barangay Aid Account.

The Local Government Code allows the league to receive assistance from local government units.

ABC has been receiving aid from the City Government but it was put on hold since last year for failure of the previous officers of the ABC to liquidate some transactions.

ABC apparently needs the financial assistance more this time because some barangays still fail to pay their proportionate share to the group.

During the latest general assembly of ABC, Ralota disclosed that about eight barangays have yet to pay their dues.

The board has decided to make the barangays sign a MOA with the ABC to compel them to pay their annual membership fee and other dues.

Some barangays however still said they will not sign the contract like barangay Basak-San Nicolas whose captain, George Rama, said he does not need the ABC because the money he is supposed to give to ABC as proportionate share was also spent to enroll his barangay workers and tanods in health and life insurance.

Rama said the ABC could not also stop them from availing of projects from the City Government. - THE FREEMAN

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Greg's daughter to run for office in 2013?

CEBU, Philippines - The daughter of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Engr. Grecilda Zaballero, is not closing her doors to politics in 2013, but said it is not her priority at this point in time.

Zaballero said she is focusing on her involvement with the Kabalikat Civic Communicator Association, Inc. (KABALIKAT), which is being headed by her husband Bob.

Kabalikat, a non-stock and non-profit group, is said to be the largest active radio communications network that taps on all means of communication systems from among its members. It has almost 700 chartered groups nationwide.

The group is engaged in public assistance particularly during disasters and natural calamities.

“I feel I can do more even if I’m not in public service but it doesn’t mean I don’t like public service. It just that I feel I can best serve not necessarily in that office,” Zaballero said during the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza.

Zaballero replaced her father as chief executive officer of the LactoPafi Probiotic International that the former vice governor founded.

Zaballero said she would rather focus on her present responsibilities. Likewise, she also has personal issues that need attention and priority after her father passed away last April.

This time, the Liberal Party with which Sanchez ran for vice governor last year, is considering Zaballero for the 2013 elections. This was confirmed by Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez, LP’s chairman in the fourth district.

At this point in time, LP’s provincial chairman, Hilario Davide III, is the party’s first choice for governor. Davide ran but lost to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia last year, but Garcia is no longer running in 2013.

“Sa pagkakaron, mura’g si Jun mao pay molansar sa Liberal Party but depende sad na sa national unya,” he said.

Martinez said the name of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale is also being floated, but nothing is confirmed just yet.

“She is being invited, but wa ko’y kalibutan gyud. Mura’g daghan kaayo ang possible candidates for vice governor,” Martinez said. - THE FREEMAN

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"Unfaithful" hubby shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - A taxi driver was shot dead by three unidentified motorcycle-riding men while waiting for his girlfriend outside a disco bar in Barangay Kamagayan Sunday dawn.

Aguinaldo Mangubat Lorono, 37, driver of R and F Taxi, succumbed to gunshot wounds on his right chest and right side of the body.

Police investigators believe that “love angle” could be the motive behind the killing because Lorono is married and has two children. His wife works abroad.

Police Officer 3 Ruth Violango of the Homicide Section said the incident happened at 4:30 am outside the Bottom’s Up bar. The victim was waiting for his girlfriend, a certain “Shenell”, who works as a dancer in the bar when one of the three assailants shot him.

The assailants speed off towards Barangay Pahina Central immediately after shooting the Lorono.

Nicanor Alquizar, 35, also a taxi driver and a friend of the victim, said he was sleeping at the back seat of his friend’s cab together with three other fellow taxi drivers when they were awakened by the gunfire.

Alquizar said he noticed that Lorono was bloodied prompting him to rush the victim to the Cebu City Medical Center but he died few minutes later.

The responding policemen recovered two empty shells which were turned over to them the by onlookers in the crime scene. A deformed slug was also retrieved inside the car. - THE FREEMAN

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Shooting mars Talisay Fiesta

CEBU, Philippines - A “siomai” vendor was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay San Isidro, Talisay City yesterday dawn.

Anthony Rapada, 21, a native of Siaton, Negros Oriental, succumbed to a single gunshot wound on his left forehead.

He was with his two other companions in Ramona Village having revelry for the city’s fiesta when the shooting happened.

Senior Police Officer 1 Mikee Espina said the victim was about to close the gate of a house in the village where he also work as a houseboy when one of the three assailants fired at him.

Rapada was rushed by his two companions to Talisay District Hospital but he was later transferred to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where he died.

An empty shell of caliber .45 ammunition was recovered by homicide investigators at the crime scene.

The police are yet to establish the motive of the killing. Rapada’s companions will be invited by the police for questioning. - THE FREEMAN

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Man faces raps for allegedly raping 17-year-old cousin

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office indicted a 22-year-old man for allegedly raping his 17-year-old cousin at a golf course in Sudlon, Lahug early this year.

Prosecutor Dixon Fuentes elevated the case against the accused in court after he failed to submit his counter affidavit. No bail was set for the accused’ temporary liberty.

In an affidavit, the victim, a resident of Tophill, Sudlon, said the accused had asked to meet her at the golf course around 10:30pm on March 30. He reportedly had problems and wanted to speak with someone.

“That because he is a cousin and a friend to me, without thinking anything against him, I accepted his request and so I went to the said area,” the victim said.

There, the accused reportedly offered her beer and, while they were drinking, the accused started talking about his problems. However, after a few bottles, the accused allegedly started holding her and touching her.

“That after consuming some bottles of beer, I got drunk and the suspect started to hold me and touch me specially the sensitive and private part of my body,” the victim said.

The girl said she tried to stop her cousin, but the accused was too strong and successfully abused her sexually.

Fuentes said that in the absence of controverting evidence, he found probable cause to indict the accused to a formal case of rape.

“Taking into consideration the presumption of regularity in the performance of duty in favor of the government postal employees, it is safe to conclude that at this point of time, the respondent had already received the subpoena but opted to ignore the same,” Fuentes said.

He said the incident traumatized the victim physically, emotionally and psychologically, especially that she had trusted the accused as a cousin and as a friend. - THE FREEMAN