Cebu City News October 2013

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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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Mormon Temple Lahug cebu city philippines

City to BFP: Go or get sued

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas


CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 to vacate within 15 days their building in Barangay Pahina Central so it can be fully converted as the temporary Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) site.

However, BFP 7 Director Ma. Luisa Hadjula said they cannot “surrender” the whole area because it serves as the command center for Central Visayas, with an estimated six million people depending on it for their safety from fires.

She pointed out the BFP has given up some 75 percent of its space to accommodate patients from the CCMC. Why, she asked, should the mayor treat the agency’s personnel like informal settlers?

Mayor Rama, however, said the City Government will file a case against the BFP if the agency refuses to heed his order.

Rama wants the BFP compound, including its building, parking area and sports complex, as the temporary hospital.

The 7.2 magnitude quake that hit Central Visayas last Oct. 15 weakened the hospital’s structure.

The quake has damaged an estimated P2.2 billion worth of public infrastructure, including hospitals, bridges and schools. The national disaster council also reported that the quake killed 222 persons, injured 796 and displaced some 370,000 persons in Bohol from their homes.

Emergency

Last Oct. 22, Rama sent a one-page demand letter that asked BFP to vacate the lot and building within 15 days after receiving the notice.

Hadjula received the letter on Oct. 25, which means that the 15-day notice will lapse on Nov. 9.

In his letter, the mayor invoked Section 455 of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, which allows local governments to carry out “emergency measures as may be necessary during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities.”

The entire city has already been declared under a state of calamity following the Oct. 15 earthquake.

Rama also said that Lot No. 2-B (7598-F and 7598), where the fire station presently stands, belongs to the City.

“In view of the recent natural calamity, the City intends to use the lot as an emergency relocation site for the CCMC. The said lot is the most preferable relocation site with regards to its proximity to the damaged hospital and easy accessibility at N. Bacalso Ave.,” he said.

In his letter, the mayor said: “May I rely on your cooperation and response, on the simple, time-honored principle that the welfare of the people is the supreme law?”

6M people

But on Oct. 24, a day before receiving the mayor’s demand letter, Hadjula already sent a letter telling Rama that the BFP 7 can’t vacate their building and transfer to the Cebu City Sports Center.

“Relocation of the office would disenfranchise almost six million people who are being served by the BFP. A sudden transfer, without proper coordination and preparation, especially in terms of the communications equipment, would put the lives and properties of Central Visayas susceptible to danger,” she said.

Hadjula also said that the BFP owns the lot where the fire station stands. She said it was transferred to them without interest by the Philippine Constabulary Integrated National Police way back in 1984.

Despite claiming lot ownership, Hadjula said, they still accommodated the patients from CCMC following the earthquake and have voluntarily vacated 75 percent of their area.

While she acknowledged the duties and powers of the chief executive, Hadjula invoked the Constitution’s provision that states “no person can be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law.”

“In our case, the BFP as an entity cannot and should not be deprived of its property without due process of law. An act contrary to this would be an illegal act. Any issue relating to this should be settler lawfully in the court,” she said.

Court

“We are of the opinion that we are being treated far less than informal settlers, a fate that is unfair to the men and women who are in service with the duty to save lives and property. We have done our part of the sacrifice. It is time that we stand for the benefit of the home of the men and women in service,” she said.

In his regular news conference yesterday, Rama said he will file a case against BFP if it insists on staying. The matter will be handled by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who is a lawyer like him.

“Gahi silag ulo (They are being bull-headed). We will bring this to the court and let’s see how the court will resolve the matter. We are under a state of calamity,” he said.

Rama pointed out that the use of the BFP building by the CCMC will be temporary.

In a separate interview yesterday, Labella said the City will file a case for unlawful detainer or ejectment against BFP if the bureau refuses to leave within 15 days.

Safe schools

“The City owns the lot, which means that BFP’s occupancy in the area is mere tolerance. Now that the City needs it, the City can demand and the City can enforce its right and its interest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Acting City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas yesterday said that the P103 million unexpended balance from the 2012 calamity fund cannot be used by the City to build a new CCMC, contrary to what the City Council believes.

Cuevas said the fund has already been earmarked to pay obligations of the City’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

If the council wants the money to be used for the rebuilding of the city hospital, Cuevas said the money should be realigned or reprogrammed.

Also yesterday, the council in its regular session passed five resolutions that seek to make the city better prepared for earthquakes.

They asked the executive department to acquire insurance for all City-owned buildings, require the Local School Board and the Department of Education to provide two access stairways on each floor of schools, and require them to conduct regular earthquake drills, among others.

City reaches out to earthquake victims in Cebu City and Bohol

By Aileen P. Refuerzo / PIO


The city government will donate P500,000 and will mount a fund and donation drive for earthquake-ravaged Bohol and Cebu.

The city council on Monday approved the allocation as agreed on by city officials during the department heads’ meeting led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan that morning.

Mandaue, Baguio’s sister city near Cebu, will be among the recipients of the fund assistance once the city establishes if it was among those affected by the temblor.

During the session, the body also approved the conduct of a fund and donation campaign at City Hall for citizens who want to give donations to the earthquake victims.

Several councilors volunteered to coordinate the drive which was proposed to be led by the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the Philippine Red Cross-Baguio chapter.

Last Monday, Domogan enjoined all City Hall officials and employees to submit voluntary contributions, in cash or in kind, for the earthquake victims.

The mayor said the donations should be submitted to their administrative officers for proper documentation and will later be forwarded to the Disaster Operations Center of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council for packaging and shipment to the recipient areas.

Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas said the city will announce the details of the fund drive once the procedures have been mapped out.

He said the city must ensure donations will reach the recipients on time.

Domogan earlier expressed the city’s commiseration with the victims of the temblor expressing belief that the people of Cebu, Bohol and other areas which devastation can rise from the ruins as Baguio did 23 years ago.

Voting precincts fused in quake-damaged schools

By Cebu Daily News


SEVERAL schools in Cebu City that suffered damage during the recent earthquake had to improvise for yesterday’s barangay elections. To deal with the classroom shortage, some clustered precincts fused seven precincts instead of three. Ten clusters in barangay Tejero had five precincts each instead of only three. For barangay Tinago, five clusters had four precincts each and seven clusters in barangay T. Padilla had four precincts each. Aside from barangay Tejero, barangays T. Padilla, Tinago and Parian were also in the campus. Marchel Sarno, election officer of Cebu City’s north district said they have resorted to having more voters in a clustered precinct rather than compromise the safety of voters and Board of Election Tellers in structurally unsound classrooms. He said it’s okay to fuse precincts in a room so as to accommodate the voters. School officials said that they prefer to combine precincts instead of using makeshift precincts like tents because it was easier to control voters coming in and out of classrooms compared to an open air environment. In Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School in barangay Apas, only the ground floor classrooms of the Arroyo building were used as precincts as the building’s second and third floors haven’t been cleared for occupancy two weeks after the devastating earthquake. “We planned to use the classrooms of the Apas National High School (located just across their school) but it was not approved by Comelec,” said school principal Teresita Manzanades. Instead, they used their school canteen and feeding center as alternative voting precincts. Manzanades said they still won’t be using the twelve classrooms during the resumption of classes on November 4. Grade 5 and special elementary, grades 2 and 3, and some grades 4 and 5 classes will have to share classrooms during classes. The rooms will only be used half-day by each class sharing. First half will be from 6:20 am to 12 noon while the second half will be from 12:20 pm to 6:20 p.m. Meanwhile in barangay Lahug, the barangay with the biggest voting population of 22,087 in the city’s north district, there were more than enough rooms even if some suffered minor damage from the earthquake. According to Lahug Elementary School principal Joelyza Arcilla, they have 106 classrooms while only 58 clustered precincts are assigned to their school. /Correspondent Jose Santino Bunachita

Margot O: Why wait? Funds available to build new hospital or renovate it

By Cebu Daily News


LET’S start building a new city hospital or retrofit the quake-damaged structure right away because funds are available, said Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña. She said either of these options can be pursued immediately even as the “Piso Mo, Hospital Ko” fund-raising campaign of Mayor Michael Rama to raise P1.5 billion for a bigger facility continues. As chairman of the budget committee in the City Council, Osmeña cited reports of the city accountant and treasurer identifying P103 million available from the calamity fund. Over 100 CCMC patients, mostly charity cases, had to be evacuated after the Oct. 15 earthquake. Many had to wait in tents or the lobby of the fire department for several days while transfer to private hospitals were negotiated by the city. “Why should we allow CCMC patients to stay in makeshift structures and temporary shelters?” asked Osmeña in a statement. “Please allow me to clarify and reiterate that I am not against the reconstruction of CCMC and the rebuilding of schools. In fact, I am saying there are funds that allow us to construct right away and not make our patients and students suffer longer,”she said. Unexpended balance

“To get everything started, let’s just transfer the money from the General Fund to the Trust Funds and let the DEPW submit the needed POWE. How difficult can that be?,” she asked. In her privilege speech last Wednesday, Osmeña said city accountant Josefina N. Gonzales and city treasurer Diwa Cuevas reported that Cebu City has P183 million available that can be used for rebuilding and repairing damaged buildings like the CCMC and public schools. The amount is from the P 103 million unexpended balance of the 2012 calamity fund and about P80 million from the Special Education Fund (SEF), both of which have yet to be transferred from the General Fund to the Trust Funds. Osmeña said the P103 million can be used to start building a new CCMC to save time or choose the retrofitting option at a lesser cost as suggested by the city’s structural consultant and private contractors. “Whatever the city decides, and I am not opposed to constructing a new, bigger and modern CCMC, I am proposing that since we have a total of P103 million of calamity funds available, then we can start building right away.” The Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) only needs a Program of Works and Estimates (POWE) to get everything started. Osmeña said this can speed up a solution while the “piso-piso” fund raising campaign continues. There is a separate P80 million form the Special Education Fund (SEF) that be used for the repair and construction of school buildings, she pointed out. The SEF represents one percent (1%) of the proceeds from the Real Property Tax collected by the city.






Red Cross proposes ‘tent hospital’ for city

By Correspondents Norman V. Mendoza and Edison delos Angeles with Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac


As the Cebu City government moves to set up a temporary hospital setup in the City Fire Department’s lot, Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) chairman Richard Gordon proposed an alternative solution. “Just provide us with enough space and we will make a temporary hospital made of tents,” Gordon said at the sidelines of the PNRC’s 18th National Youth Congress held at the Crown Regency Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City. Gordon said the PNRC’s volunteers can coordinate with the Cebu City Medical Center’s (CCMC) staff in setting up facilities in tents at least until the city government finds a solution in the delivery of services to their patients. Gordon said they have done this in other areas hit by natural calamities. He said it’s time for Cebu City residents to pull together in helping the city’s indigent patients get proper medical attention. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants to build another hospital in place of the CCMC while the Cebu City Council wants to retrofit and rebuild the existing CCMC building in order to immediately resume serving patients. Engr. Ariel dela Cruz, the city’s structural consultant, said the CCMC building doesn’t conform to the requirements of the Structural Code of the Philippines. Dela Cruz said it lacks column confinement ties and only has vertical bars to support its columns. He recommended the demolition of the building and construction of a new one that complies with the code’s requirements. Dela Cruz said retrofitting would cost P25 million and will take six to eight months to complete. But this won’t assure the building’s stability because it doesn’t cover reinforcement of the structure’s foundation “which also deteriorates with age,” he said. He said a building normally has a life span of 50 to 70 years. The CCMC building is now 45 years old. Retrofitting works could extend its life span by another 15 years.

Café Marco’s homegrown chefs

By Aissa dela Cruz


HIGHLY successful chefs will not hesitate to reveal that they started at the bottom of the kitchen ladder. I have worked closely with several executive chefs in the first five-star hotel in Cebu City—the now defunct Cebu Plaza Hotel. At the same time, I came across many kitchen stewards (also called kitchen porters or helpers) with dreams of one day making it big as a chef. The kitchen steward is an all-around kitchen worker whose main task is to prepare and clean the kitchen area while running around to help the cooks. The position is an opening to anyone who desires to work in the kitchen even without cooking experience. It’s such a pleasure to know the varied personalities behind a dynamic kitchen. And since the popularity of Café Marco in Marco Polo Plaza Cebu in Nivel Hills is greatly attributed to the kitchen team, I didn’t pass the chance to meet two of its chefs after a much-awaited lunch get-together with Sales and Marketing Director Lara Constantino Scarrow. Junior Sous Chef Nestor Alcoseba Jr., who hails from Carcar, is a college graduate of the University of Cebu. He supported his studies by working in fast food restaurants Chow King and Jollibee. Here, he was exposed to the concept of serving food, the fast way. He developed a love for food and started as kitchen steward in Marco Polo Plaza Hotel Cebu in 2006. Gaining experience, he moved on as line cook and leaned the basics of cooking, from knife skills to sauces, stocks, deboning and portioning of meats, poultry and fish. His culinary specialty focuses on Western cuisine. His Paella Marinera and Lengua Estofado with Mushrooms are two of his stellar dishes. The other chef is 33-year-old Chinese Station Chef de Partie Carlos Dingding, who captured my attention because Lara and I enjoyed his “Taho” served from a unique cart that is wheeled around Café Marco. This popular snack I grew up with that’s peddled by vendors in the streets of Metro Manila is made of fresh silken tofu served with thick “arnibal” or syrup made from “panocha” or a chunk of cane sugar and sago pearls. Chef Carlos grew up in Cebu City, a high school graduate whose Chinese cooking skills were honed by his work experience in Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Big Mao, Rasa Marina, Lai Garden, and a few more Chinese restaurants. He also cross-trained in Marco Polo Hotel in Wuhan, Central China. His signature dish, Hainanese Chicken, is one of my favorite Chinese dishes. Chef Carlos also prepares Chars Siu or Pork BBQ and Dim Sum delights served in Café Marco’s Chinese station. These two chefs, being in their early 30s, have a long and promising career ahead of them. With their natural flair backed up by advance culinary education plus training, I could imagine them at the top of the culinary ladder someday.

‘Don’t exploit giving of aid during polls’

By Razel V. Cuizon


THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned barangay election candidates not to take advantage of relief operations for earthquake victims in Cebu and Bohol.

Comelec-Central Visayas Regional Director Temie Lambino said that giving money, food and services can be considered as an attempt to influence voters.

While the barangay election in Bohol has been postponed, Lambino said candidates should not use relief distribution activities to obtain votes.

For earthquake-affected areas in Cebu, the barangay elections will push through on Monday. Lambino said Comelec has not yet received requests to establish makeshift polling centers in places with damaged public schools.

Lambino said candidates might use the relief distribution to campaign.

Unlawful

Giving donations or gifts in cash and in kind are not allowed during the election period as provided by the Omnibus Election Code.

So that they would not be cited for violating the law, Lambino advised candidates to let their representatives or barangay officials who are not seeking elective posts to facilitate the distribution of relief goods.

He said bags with relief goods bearing the name of a candidate is not allowed.

Penalty

A person found to have committed an election offense may face imprisonment from one year to six years and perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

In a related development, Lambino assured that there will be no shortage of classrooms that will be used as polling centers on Monday, although some schools have been damaged by the earthquake.

He said he did not receive any request from Cebu election officersfor makeshift polling centers.

Makeshift polling centers can be used in areas where schools have been damaged by the earthquake.

The Cebu Province reported to Lambino that 549 classrooms have been seriously damaged by the the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Oct. 15.

But Lambino said there are 1,122 schools in Cebu Province so there should be enough classrooms that can be used as voting centers.

He assured that Comelec is 100 percent ready for the barangay election this Monday.

Councilors OK P80M fund for school repairs

By Joy Cherry S. Quito and Jose Santino S. Bunachita


The Cebu City Council has approved the allocation of P80 million to the city’s Special Education Fund (SEF) to fund the repair of the 531 classrooms that were damaged by the Oct. 15 earthquake. In yesterday’s City Council session, the councilors also signified their interest in joining the mayor’s Reduction of Danger Zones (REDZ) task force which received P4 million from the Supplemental Budget 2. Local School Board chief Ester Cubero said they bought P12 million worth of construction materials to jumpstart the repair of the classrooms. She said they need P30 million to complete repairs. The SEF gets its allocation from one percent of the proceeds of real property taxes collected by the city. As of December last year, the Local Disaster Risk Management Fund (LDRRMF) still has P105 million. Only P20 million of the fund was transferred to the Trust Fund leaving a balance of P85 million. The Trust Fund still has a remaining balance of P18 million. The council which is dominated by the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) bloc also signified interest in fielding some of its councilors into the REDZ task force. Councilor Gerry Carillo suggested the inclusion of Councilors Sisinio Andales, Alvin Dizon, Nida Cabrera, Margot Osmeña and himself in the task force. He said he will file a resolution for this. “There will be good synergy if they participate. It will be easier to approve plans and budgets if they will be part of the efforts,” said Joey Daluz III, REDZ project director. “We are still deciding if the (P4 million) will be used for the 5-meter access road in block 27 or for the start of riprap constructions along the river. We still have to sit down with the Engineering department,” Daluz said. For the 2014 annual budget, Daluz said they allocated P30 million for REDZ. Osmeña said REDZ should also access national funds to fund their projects. Dizon also supported the REDZ initiative to meet with settlers affected by the clearing operations in Mahiga Creek. “We must not be made to choose between the interest of waterways and the interest of the urban poor. It should be balanced,” Dizon said. In a later press conference, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he does not have a problem with the BO-PK bloc joining the REDZ task force.

Editorial: Listen and contemplate

By sunstar.com.ph


THE country has barely recovered from the aftermath of Zamboanga City standoff, the flood that hit it, Santi’s wrath and last week’s 7.2 magnitude that shook Bohol and Cebu badly. All these happened within a month.

Anxiety fills the people there as aftershocks keep rocking the two provinces from time to time.

The rehabilitation of these areas amounts to billions. Victims have been clamoring of poor assistance from the government. And always, the private entities like churches, nongovernment organizations, and this time people whose roots are from Bohol, and the Boholanos living in the other parts of the country and the globe have responded immediately.

Had the government been proactive, transparent and prudent in spending the people’s money, it could have easily mobilized logistics since money won’t be difficult as appropriation on calamities could have been in place and ready for distribution once disasters strike. However, corruption in the government has hindered it to act quickly because programs have not been prioritized, instead billions have been lost to corruption.

Perhaps, it is high time that the government heeds the messages that these calamitous whammies bring. A time for the government and everyone to decipher the messages these calamities bring.

We have been hit hard. A hitting whose impact we could have mitigated if only the government spent the billions siphoned to a few pockets to projects for climate change adaptation.

Our leaders must rethink on their values and priorities while we need to choose leaders who can represent and bring our voices loud and clear.

On October 28, the Filipinos are going to choose their barangay leaders. Choosing them isn’t difficult because everybody knows everyone in the barangay. The smaller circle gives one a better look at the kind of leaders a barangay should have. We can always start from the basic unit of our society to institute political changes.

If a barangay can show that collective action to fight corruption, then it can spiral toward becoming better barangays, cities, provinces, regions up to the central government.

Exercising true service from barangays to the national government would mean enforcing ordinances and the laws without favor such as prohibiting informal settlers to occupy danger zones, enforcing disaster risk reduction management programs, provision of basic health needs and other services to the electorates.

Take it from Cagayan de Oro’s experience, when the former mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano relocated the informal settlers in an area identified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) as unfit for dwelling. He defied it and pushed through the relocation. The barangay leaders could have also stopped the mayor’s decision and insisted the imminent danger that awaits those who dare live in sitio Cala-cala. When Tropical Storm Sendong struck the city midnight of December 16, those who lived there were wiped out, mostly killed by the raging waters.

One does not have to be in a higher post to effect change. If everyone in the community listens to the messages behind these calamities, then we can help mitigate the impact of the acts of nature and the man-made could diminish as we consciously do our little share and for the government to do the big ones.

The time to listen and contemplate with the messages is now.

Davao brings P18M as help to Cebu, Bohol

By Davinci S. Maru, Justin K. Vestil, Oscar C. Pineda and Princess Dawn H. Felicitas


CEBU CITY -- Help continued to arrive for earthquake survivors in Bohol and Cebu, as Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte visited on Monday with a total of P18 million in checks for both provinces.

In Cebu, Archbishop Jose Palma and officials from the police and government’s earthquake monitoring agency warned against circulating false text messages and social media posts about a stronger quake ahead.

At 8:12 a.m. exactly one week ago, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 struck parts of the Visayas, with Bohol bearing the worst of the damage.

Government offices and nearly all businesses in Cebu were near-normal Monday, but classes will remain suspended until November 4.

At least 189 were confirmed dead as of 6 last night by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Central Visayas. Eleven people in Bohol remain missing, at least five of them minors.

Mayor Duterte of Davao visited Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III to hand over P5 million for Cebu and P13 million for Bohol.

Various private organizations have gathered cash and relief goods and continue to do so. In a benefit concert last Sunday in Cebu City’s Ayala Terraces, business and civic groups and performers raised at least P1 million cash for relief operations.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 said at least 45,763 houses in Cebu and Bohol were damaged by the tremor, nearly 45,000 of them in Bohol.

‘Cling to God’

During the mass in honor of the feast day of St. Pedro Calungsod on Monday, Archbishop Palma encouraged those affected by the earthquake to keep the faith.

“Our faith tells us, in moments like this, to cling to God,” he said.

He also warned against circulating a false text and social media message about an 8.0 magnitude that was supposed to hit Cebu. There remains no way to predict quakes.

“For those who are creating or making hoax messages, it’s sad enough that these things happen but why do they have to create fear? This is an uncharitable act. Nahadlok na gani ang tawo, imu pang dungagan (The people are already afraid; why make things worse?),” he told reporters yesterday.

In Cebu City, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) also appealed to the public to stop spreading and not to believe the hoax messages.

Jeffrey Perez, supervising science research specialist of Phivolcs, emphasized the message did not come from Phivolcs.

“So kung kayo po ay nakatanggap ng texts or message na iyan sa social networking sites, hindi po totoo yan. Klaro po yan. So sana wag nang i-propagate (If you receive those messages, rest assured that those are not true. I hope it doesn’t spread further),” he added.

Precaution

Speaking before hundreds of Cebu City Hall employees during the flag-raising ceremony Monday, Perez assured that the aftershocks are a normal part of an earthquake, and that these are expected for two to three weeks after the main quake.

He advised people to remove hazards that may fall on them in homes and workplaces.

“Ang lindol hindi nakakamatay. Ang nakakamatay ay yung mga nagbabagsakang bagay (Earthquakes don’t kill; it’s falling objects that are fatal),” he said.

The police plan to press charges against those people responsible for spreading hoax messages about a quake.

Central Visayas Police Regional Office (PRO) Director Danilo Constantino said on Monday they are investigating who made the text message that circulated after strong aftershocks struck Bohol and Cebu last Sunday.

“They could be held liable for disseminating false information and for causing public disorder,” the police official said in a press conference.

The television network to which the text was attributed, TV 5, has said it was not their report.

Not theirs

In its official Twitter account, News5Everywhere appealed: “Please stop sharing the ‘Blind fault located in Sagbayan, Bohol..’ (message). That report is not true. It causes panic to some Cebuanos and Boholanos.”

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, head of the Cebu City Police Office’s City Intelligence Branch, said some families evacuated from their homes after receiving the message.

The police, he added, went to those families, particularly on Urgello St. in Cebu City, to reassure them the message wasn’t true.

Santander said these families also saw the message on Facebook, where it was repeatedly shared by those who read it on the fan page of an actress.

“This is a time when help should come. Love should be the main consideration, especially for those victims,” said Archbishop Palma. He is also president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

He also clarified that the earthquake was not a form of punishment from God, as some people have been saying.

“Some of our churches have crumbled, but we will rise again,” he added.

Albay, too

During his visit Monday, Duterte explained that Davao’s assistance for Cebu is P500,000 for each of nine affected local government units (LGUs).

Governor Davide and eight of the nine mayors personally thanked Mayor Duterte for the gesture. The nine recipient LGUs are Argao, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Minglanilla, Tabogon, Boljoon and Toledo, Talisay and Mandaue cities.

“We wanted to help everybody,” said Duterte.

Governor Davide said the Province has sent water and food to Bohol, pending the Provincial Board’s discussion on how much cash to give.

On Monday afternoon, Albay officials also visited the governor to hand over donations.

Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Agua and PB Member Ralph Andes turned over P500,000 to Davide and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

Davide, too, warned people against believing the hoax warnings.

“Ayaw mo pagtuo anang mga text messages o manawag ninyo nga aduna na pud linog nga moabot ning orasa, dili kana tinuod (Do not believe text messages or calls about earthquake forecasts. Those are not true,” he said. (Sun.Star Cebu)

Courts in some Cebu cities remain suspended

By Virgil B. Lopez


COURT operations in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-lapu and Mandaue have yet to resume due to aftershocks from the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that jolted Central Visayas a week ago, the Supreme Court said Monday.

"OCA (Office of the Court Administrator) officials are scouting for areas where hearings may temporarily be held but pending such identification, hearings and work at these Halls of Justice are suspended," said Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez.

In Cebu City, the SC official said there is still no work because the Hall of Justice was severely damaged.

In Lapu Lapu City, it appears that the building only has minimal damage but still has to be checked by structural engineer.

"In the cities of Lapu-lapu and Mandaue, the offices of the clerks of court are open to receive pleadings. In all three places, hearings have been suspended," said Marquez in a text message.

Marquez said work in Tagbilaran City courts resumed. For the rest of Bohol, he said it is up to the executive judges to assess the situation.

State-run Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 2,193 aftershocks, 46 of them were felt, since the tremor occurred on October 15.

The quake has killed 186 people while damage to property climbed to P867.24 million on Monday morning. (Sunnex)

Rama questions ‘reclaimed’ lot

By Jujemay G. Awit



NOT another Balili property.

This was the tenor of the letter Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama sent to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) informing the agency of a titled property that used to be submerged in water.

Rama cited the example of the controversial Balili property in the City of Naga, which was purchased by the Cebu Provincial Government and for which titles were issued despite part of the area being submerged in water.

“It’s like taking advantage of the weakness and sobriety of the government,” Rama told Sun.Star Cebu referring to his letter addressed to DENR 7 legal division head, Atty. Fernando Alberca.

Rama’s letter was labeled, “Controversial titling of submerged area and subsequent reclamation without authority of law.”

“It has come to our attention that a sizeable area, which used to be part of the municipal waters offshore of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City was issued a title by the Register of Deeds in spite of the fact that it used to be a submerged portion of Cebu City’s municipal waters,” read Rama’s letter to Alberca.

The subject property was described as Lot 3987, with certificate of title 130140, and with a total land area of 35,486 square meters.

Photos

Rama said the property has been fenced without a fencing permit from the Cebu City Government.

Attached to the letter are two satellite photos taken of the property in question.

One was taken in 2005 and another was taken just this year. In the 2005 photo, the property in question was submerged in water and considered part of the “municipal waters” of Cebu City.

In the 2013 photo, the property was already reclaimed.

But Rama said there are no records of clearances and permits secured for the reclamation.

A permit from the Philippine Reclamation Authority is also needed in any reclamation project.

In a press conference last Friday, Rama said he wants a cease-and-desist order issued against further reclamation of the property.

He has tasked former councilor Jose Daluz III and Janeses Ponce to investigate the matter because the property is said to be “for sale” as can be gleaned from the sign posted in the area.

The two are lawyers and work as executive assistant IV under the Office of the Mayor.

Rama likened the matter with that of the Balili Property of the Provincial Government wherein DENR 7 filed a reversion case before the Office of the Solicitor General.

“To this end it is imperative for us to know what actions, if any, that your office will undertake towards the cancellation of this title and reversion of the property back to the people of Cebu City,” was Rama’s plea.







BFP-Central Visayas office ordered to stay in HQ

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas


THE national headquarters of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has ordered its regional and Cebu City office not to vacate their building on N. Bacalso Ave., contrary to Mayor Michael Rama’s wish.

The mayor asked BFP 7 and the City Fire Department to transfer to the Cebu City Sports Center and Parian Fire Station, respectively, as their offices will be converted into a temporary hospital.

Rama ordered the demolition of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) based on the recommendation of engineers who reported that the structural integrity of the hospital building has been affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Tuesday.

In his one-page memorandum, BFP National Headquarters Officer-In-Charge Carlito Romero ordered BFP 7 and BFP Cebu City to stay in their offices.

“You are hereby directed to stay in your post and continue to perform your duties and responsibilities as firefighters until further advice from the Office of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. For strict compliance,” read Romero’s memorandum.

BFP 7 chief legal officer Karlo Benito Cruz said they will comply with the order.

“We will stay put. As of the moment, yan po ang aming pinaninindigan kasi po siyempre (that is our stand because) we are governed by orders. We are just obeying the lawful order issued by our superior,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Cruz said they cannot just leave their building and hold office at the sports center as they have many files and equipment.

He said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cebu City, which has jurisdiction over BFP, has been negotiating with the City Government since last Thursday so BFP 7 will be allowed to stay in the building.

Displacement

"Di rin naman maganda na bigla kaming ma-didisplace (It’s not fair to kick us out) and to think that we are also public servants performing our duties particularly when the earthquake happened," he said.

When the city was hit by the earthquake, Cruz pointed out that BFP personnel were the ones who helped CCMC officials transfer patients to BFP's parking area, chapel and sports complex.

He added that the City Fire Department already gave up the ground floor so CCMC patients will be accommodated.

“Willing naman kaming mag-share. Wag lang kunin yung buong building kasi maraming madi-displace sa amin (We’re willing to share. Just don’t get the entire building because many of us will be displaced),” Cruz said, adding that the regional office alone has 70 personnel.

Temporary

If the City insists on transferring them, Cruz said, they should secure an order from the DILG.

In his regular news conference yesterday, Rama said use of the BFP offices to accommodate CCMC patients is just temporary.

He said he is looking for other areas for the patients, such as the Central Command.

While the hospital building is being demolished, Rama said the CCMC can only provide out-patient services.

City residents who need to be confined will have to be referred to other hospitals, he added.

The mayor said he will ask for the help of the National Government so that work on the CCMC building can start sooner.

Until the new hospital is realized, Rama is asking BFP to make a sacrifice.

“Kinsa man diay magtinabangay kun di silingan ra? Pero di tamo biyaan (Who else would help each other but us, neighbors? I will not abandon you)” he said, addressing the BFP.

he BFP building is located across CCMC.

‘Cebu bridges remain strong’

By Elias O. Baquero and Justin K. Vestil


THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is checking bridges and public buildings in Cebu for damage caused by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Tuesday.

DPWH Regional Director Ador Canlas said initial safety inspections by engineering districts in Central Visayas revealed that there is less damage on infrastructure in Cebu compared to Bohol.

Cebu bridges remain strong and passable, he said.

In Bohol, three bridges in Maribojoc and Loon became impassable. Damage was also observed on 13 other Bohol bridges, although these are still passable.

Materials

Canlas said materials for the reconstruction of the three destroyed bridges in Bohol will be delivered from Iloilo City next week and DPWH will construct the steel bridges in one month.

Canlas said members of the Structural Engineers of the Philippines will help DPWH check public schoolbuildings, markers, and municipal and city halls as ordered by President Benigno Aquino III the other day.

The Commission on Higher Education (Ched) 7 urged heads of colleges and universities in the region to ensure that their facilities remain safe for their students and faculty.

Dr. Amelia Biglete, Ched 7 director, urged school administrators to ensure that precautionary measures are undertaken once classes resume.

Classes

She also said make-up classes should be conducted.

Classes in all levels in public and private schools have been suspended since Wednesday while schoolbuildings and facilities are being assessed for damage.

Most schools will resume classes on Monday.

As this developed, Sen. Bam Aquino proposed the establishment of a P15-billion rehabilitation fund to help Cebu, Bohol and other parts or the country which were affected by the earthquake.

Fund

Sen. Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, said the bulk of the fund will be used to rehabilitate old churches and other tourist spots, such as the Chocolate Hills in Carmen town and the centuries-old colonial churches in the municipalities of Loboc, Baclayon, Dauis and Loon.

He said the fund will also be used to rehabilitate establishments and other infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake in Cebu.

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) 7 based at Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr. reported that aside from the two bell towers of Basilica del Sto. Niño, the earthquake also damaged the Dalaguete Church, St. Francis de Assisi Church in Dumanjug and the church in Bogo City.

OCD 7 reported that the offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) 7; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 and DTI Cebu; the city halls of Talisay and Bogo Cities; municipal halls of Alcoy and Pinamungajan; buildings at the Cebu Capitol compound; the Cebu International Convention Center; and the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.

The Boljoon Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) building reportedly collapsed during the quake.

OCD 7 also recorded the collapse of the Budget Builders building on Natalio Bacalso Ave. in Cebu City; and damages at Gaisano Capital in Talisay City, and Gaisano Grand Mall and Prince Warehouse Supermarket in Minglanilla town.

Classes suspended in Cebu

By Christine Emily L. Pantaleon


The Department of Education (DepEd-7) advised public and private schools in the province to suspend classes until Monday next week. DepEd-7 Regional Director Carmelita Dulangon said she issued the advisory after receiving reports of damages sustained by the school buildings following last Tuesday’s earthquake. “Even if the school children are trained in earthquake drills, we cannot control their emotions. We are thankful to God that it occurred on a holiday and there are only minor damages to school buildings,” she said. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama declared classes in all levels suspended until Friday this week. “Those who disobey will be held liable if something happens to their students,” Rama said. Dulangon said all teachers should assess the damage to their classrooms. Cebu City school division Supt. Rea Mar Antod said Apas, Labangon, San Nicolas, Gothong, Barrio Luz and Inayawan Elementary Schools sustained major damage and were prioritized for repairs. Talisay City school’s division Supt. Woodrow Denuyo said San Roque and Bulacao Elementary School, Tangke and Pook National High School in Talisay City should be demolished due to the big cracks on its walls and flooring. In Bulacao Elementary School, Denuyo said 15 classrooms have been rendered unusable, six needs to be repaired and nine should be replaced. About 22 public elementary and national high schools and five private elementary schools in Talisay City also sustained minor cracks and fissures on the ceilings and walls. Denuyo said Talisay City Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes declared all classes in both private and public schools in all levels suspended until Monday. DepEd Provincial Division Supt. Arden Monisit said classes at all levels of public schools are suspended until Friday. However, those enrolled in private schools should verify with their school officials if there are classes this week. University of San Jose – Recoletos (USJ-R) president Fr. Enrico Silab, OAR declared that classes in high school and elementary levels are suspended until Friday. Those enrolled in the Balamban Campus will resume their classes on Thursday, October 23. The University of San Carlos (USC) and University of Cebu will resume classes on Monday. With Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Correspondent Edison delos Angeles






Most business back in quake-jolted Cebu

By SIEGFRID O. ALEGADO and DANESSA O. RIVERA


Commerce in Cebu Province is recovering from Tuesday's 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Central Philippines, with most establishments back in businesses Wednesday despite the social impact of the tremor that killed at least 107 people and affected more than 2.8 million people in 879 villages in 27 towns and seven cities.

“Most of our members have resumed operations, actually,” Lito Maderazo, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, told GMA News Online.

For government, it is still to early to place a price on the economic cost of the latest havoc induced by nature.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the Philippine economic team is still assessing the economic toll on the hardest hit areas in Central Visayas.

“We may be able to come up with an initial assessment by tomorrow,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Cebu City – the second most populous Metropolitan area in the Philippines after the National Capital Region – is “lucky enough to sustain only minor damage,” Maderazo said.

Other than two “badly hit” public markets and two hardware stores in low-rise buildings in Mandaue and Cebu Cities, commercial and industrial buildings sustained “superficial” damage, he noted.

Cebu utilities restored

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management council, at least 144 were killed and 558,390 families or over 2.84 million people in 879 villages in 27 towns and seven cities were affected by the earthquake. Work in Cebu's business process outsourcing and manufacturing sectors were suspended Tuesday after a quake struck neighboring Bohol province.

At least eight economic zones and industrial and IT parks are located in Cebu Island.

But water, electricity, and communications were restored in Cebu hours after the deadly quake, Maderazo said.

In a statement Wednesday, state-run National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said operations in Leyte, Cebu, Negros, and Panay are normal.

Several lines that tripped on Tuesday were restored within hours, except for the Tagbilaran Carmen line servicing portions of Bohol province which is still being restored.

Business officials in Bohol could not be reached as of this posting.

Malls open, banks stay closed

Operators Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and SM Prime Holdings Inc. early Wednesday announced the re-opening of their respective shopping mall, but banks opted to suspend operations for the second straight day.

SM City Cebu ans SM City Consolacion were opened Wednesday, 12 noon, SM Supermalls noted on its official Twitter account.

In an e-mailed statement to news outfits, ALI affiliate Cebu Holdings Inc. said Ayala Center Cebu will resume operations Wednesday after consultants declared the property as “structurally safe and sound.”

The buildings were given clearance, but Ayala Land said mall hours were shortened to 5 p.m. as safety precaution.

However, it will be up to the managment of business process outsourcing companies renting the premises to decide on when to resume operations, ALI added.

Lenders Citi Philippines, East West Banking Corporation, and Bank of the Philippine Islands announced that their branches in quake hit areas remain shuttered for safety reasons, according to separate bulletins.

Maderazo said businesses were making decisions to open or stay closed based on recommendations of structural engineers' that reflect on the integrity of the infrastructure and whether there are enough employees reporting for work.

While not all companies in the Mactan-Export Processing Zone have resumed operations, because “some of the people are still worrying for their safety,” most retail shops have opened for business, he added.

Flights resume

Airlines reported that operations in Cebu and Bohol were stalled for a few hours Tuesday until the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) gave the Mactan-Cebu and Tagbilaran airports the green light to resume full operations.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its budget carrier unit PAL Express were not gravely affected, according to to a PAL official who asked not to be named, saying flights were merely put on hold.

“Our Cebu and Bohol operations only had slight delays for a few hours... but no cancellations. After CAAP checked the structural integrity of the airport building and runway, we were given the go signal to resume our flights,” the PAL official said.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific Air said it canceled its Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila flight after operations at the Tagbilaran Airport were suspended Tuesday morning.

Flights to and from Cebu resumed by noon Tuesday, but passengers were given the heads up on possibles delays as a consequence of the chaos, Cebu Pacific said.

Budget carrier AirAsia Zest canceled a couple of Cebu-Bohol-Cebu flights, said executive vice president and COO Joy Caneba.

“For flights that we canceled, we offered service recovery options,” she said in a text message to GMA News Online. “To those passengers who were affected and could not make it to the flight, we offered free one time move of flight.

“We were able to manage our operations yesterday to ensure no stranded passengers at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Tagbilaran Airport,” Caneba added. – VS, GMA News

Scores killed in Philippine quake (Updated)

By Regional


CEBU (Philippines) (AFP): A powerful earthquake killed at least 73 people on Tuesday as it tore down modern buildings, destroyed historic churches and triggered terrified stampedes across popular tourist islands in the Philippines.

Fifteen of the confirmed fatalities were in Cebu, the country's second most important city and a gateway to some of its most beautiful beaches, the national disaster agency reported.

The 7.1-magnitude quake killed another 57 people in the neighbouring island of Bohol, famed for its rolling "Chocolate Hills", while one other person died on nearby Siquijor, which attracts tourists with its pristine white sands.

"I was thrown to the ground by the strength of the quake. Broken glass rained on me," Elmo Alinsunorin, a guard for a government tax office in Cebu, told AFP.

"I thought I was going to die."

Authorities said the death toll could still climb, with authorities struggling to assess the extent of the damage in the worst-hit areas of Bohol where roads were impassable and power was cut.

Nevertheless, they expressed relief the earthquake occurred on a public holiday, meaning there were fewer people than normal in many of the major buildings that suffered damage.

The quake struck at 08:12 (0012 GMT) near Balilihan, a town of about 18,000 people on Bohol, at a depth of 20km (12 miles), the USGS reported.

The town lies across a strait about 60km from Cebu.

Cebu, with a population of 2.5 million people, is the political, economic, educational and cultural centre of the central Philippines.

It hosts the country's busiest port and the largest airport outside of the capital Manila. It also has a major ship building industry.

A university, a school and two shopping malls, public markets and many small buildings sustained damage in the quake.

Mass panic sparks stampede

Three of the people who died in Cebu were crushed to death in a stampede at a sports complex, where poor people had gathered to collect regular government cash handouts, according to the provincial disaster council chief, Neil Sanchez.

"There was panic when the quake happened and there was a rush toward the exit," Sanchez said.

He said two other people were killed when part of a school collapsed on a car they had parked in, while four others died at a fish market that crumbled.

The Philippines' oldest church, Cebu's Basilica Minore del Santo Nino, was badly damaged, according to Balido, the civil defence spokesman.

It was first built in the 1500s by Spanish colonisers, although its current stone structure dates back to the 1700s.

A church on Bohol that was first built in the early 1600s also collapsed, according to Robert Michael Poole, a British tourist who was visiting the area.

"It's absolutely devastated... the entire front of the church has collapsed onto the street," Poole told AFP by telephone.

However he said there was nobody in the church at the time of the quake.

Aside from its beaches, Bohol is famous for its more than 1,000 small limestone "Chocolate Hills" that turn brown during the dry season.

One of the main tourist venues there, the Chocolate Hills Complex, was severely damaged and may be beyond repair, according to Delapan Ingleterra, head of a local tourist police unit.

"There are huge cracks in the hotel and there was a collapse of the view deck on the second floor," Ingleterra said, adding that no-one was injured at the complex.

There were no reports of foreign tourists being killed anywhere in the disaster zone.

Tuesday's quake was followed by at least four aftershocks measuring more than 5.0 in magnitude.

The epicentre was 629km from Manila.

The Philippines lies on the so-called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where many of Earth's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

More than 100 people were left dead or missing in February last year after an earthquake struck on Negros island, about 100 kilometres from the epicentre of Tuesday's quake.

The deadliest recorded natural disaster in the Philippines occurred in 1976, when a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake devastated the Moro Gulf on the southern island of Mindanao.

Between 5,000 and 8,000 people were killed, according to official estimates.

Remember the elderly

By newsinfo.inquirer.net


Coincidence or not, the campaign period and barangay elections falls on the same month when we pay tribute to senior citizens. In recent days, much was done to honor those who have given the prime of their lives to serving the country whether as workers, traders or, not least, parents and grandparents who nurtured and continue to support today’s youth. Cebu City’s annual cash gifts to elderly residents is a practice that other locales in the country can emulate. The allowance should continue regardless of who sits in City Hall. While the policy started with then mayor Tomas Osmeña as a P2,000 dole, generosity – or is it political one-upmanship – has driven it up to P10,000 a year. Mayor Michael Rama made the release more convenient with his standard of distribution “at your doorstep. ‘ Treasury personnel fan out to barangay halls, where chairs are set up to reduce the agony of standing in line. The seniors who still can’t find time or energy to show up are tracked down at home. We hope the mayor continues to find ways to ensure that distribution of financial aid is hassle-free for those 60 years old and older who are not so mobile. The distribution of cash aid shouldn’t be used as a political football but village politicians and aspirants know there’s goodwill and votes to be earned in being extra helpful to 60,000 registered seniors in Cebu City in the runup to the barangay polls. The elderly may not be a vote-rich group, but they have families and extended relatives, who know how to be grateful to the giver. Last Saturday, Oct. 12, officials of the Commission on Elections took service a step further by preparing a chosen set of senior citizens to use a special precinct dedicated to the elderly and People with Disability. The pilot precinct in SM City will be used by 97 senior citizens and three PWDs from barangay Mabolo on Oct. 28. The pilot test gives teeth to the law that mandates setting up “accessible polling places” for the aged and physically challenged who request for them. AgeWatch, an international organization monitoring conditions of the elderly across the world, recently ranked Sweden as the best place in the world for one to grow old. Afghanistan ranked as the worst. The Philippines has a long way to go to institutionalize better care of seniors, beyond a 20 percent discount in medicine and services. Cebu City has a good headstart. Now if only barangay officials would continue to remember the welfare of senior citizens in between the thrice-a-year distribution schedules of the city’s financial aid.

"Old school"-bred Info Officers spend time to learn social media

By Marcelo Pedalino


CEBU CITY, October 13 (PIA) - Some fifty information officers of the Philippine Information Agency from the three Visayas regions gathered in this city October 10-11, to familiarize themselves with the new tools of the trade, courtesy of a private partner, Smart Communications, the co- sponsor of the two-day event. Many of the info officers, however, especially the young ones, were already familiar with the new battle field on using the internet, the social media, in transmitting and communicating news, but the “young once” have to catch up as well. This writer belonged to the young once, a group that needed a mindset transition from the old to the new media, said Mr. Max Limpag, a staff at Sun Star Cebu, who lectured on the topic, well, “Print Versus Online Media.” “From using the typewriter, which has no ‘delete’ key, we now face computers, laptops, even our mobile phones as our medium in sending news,” Limpag said, confessing that he can relate with the confused side of the audience, a minority, for he, too, had the same feeling back in 2006. Limpag emphasized that as “digital immigrants” the old school journalists -- me, for one -- had to adapt to the new digital environment, being not born in a digital world. At the opposite end of the technology divide are the “digital natives”, or today’s generation of children who grew up with computers, the internet; who received information real fast, did multi-tasking, and preferred graphics before text, Limpag said -- truly a new frontier to conquer. “Be open to change – use tweets, links, facebook, etc. -- and take time to learn, or else we will be left behind. Also, be willing to experiment – at no cost using the new media,” Limpag advised. With that advise, this writer is trying . . . starting with this thing called “blogging.” Be a guest, and you are very much welcome, to my blog, www.pia-pedalino.journ.ph., or to the blog sites of other PIA writers. This writer will be excited, the other PIA writers too, to read your comments there.

Rama’s chief of staff runs for brgy. capt

By Jose Santino S. Bunachita


CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama’s chief of staff, Philip Zafra, resigned from his post to run for barangay captain of Tisa. Meanwhile, Lemar Alcover, son of former party-list representative Jun Alcover, is also running for barangay captain of Sambag 1. Zafra and Alcover were among the 184 candidates who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) in Cebu City yesterday. Zafra filed his COC in the morning accompanied by his whole barangay council slate and some supporters. They wore green and yellow shirts, the campaign colors of Team Rama. Alcover arrived at 2 p.m. In his application for transfer of voter’s registration, he said he has lived for 38 years in Sambag 1. Alcover ran for mayor of Tabogon town last May but lost. He has a pending criminal case with the City Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly falsifying documents claiming that he had lived for over 37 years in Tabogon.

JVR: I’ve done a lot for Talisay

By Justin K. Vestil


CEBU -- When he assumed office last July 1, Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes felt he had inherited a dilapidated house.

“Nidawat ko og balay nga walay hagdanan, walay tubig, walay butang (I took over a house that did not have stairs, water supply, nothing),” said de los Reyes, the owner of Canker Sore Drops.

After several attempts to be elected to different posts in previous elections, de los Reyes was elected mayor last May, defeating veteran politician and former first district representative Eduardo Gullas.

Now on his 100th day in office, the 62-year-old inventor-turned-city mayor said he was able to implement many programs in a short time, despite criticisms from different sectors in the city.

After overcoming the challenges of his three months in office, de los Reyes plans to implement his most ambitious plan yet: turning Talisay into the tourism center of southern Cebu.

But before that, he said, he wants to focus on poverty alleviation and bring basic services back to the people.

One of the programs he implemented during his first 100 days in office was the Adopt Talisaynon program, which requires business establishments in the city to prioritize indigent residents of the city when hiring workers.

He also facilitated the hiring of poor Talisaynons by different companies across Cebu.

In a speech he delivered at the City Hall Thursday night, de los Reyes enumerated the programs and projects that he implemented in his first 100 days in office.

Among other programs, he said that he has provided skills trainings and job opportunities within City Hall, such as allowing masseuses and barbers to provide their services for a fee there.

He also started the free burial program for indigents where everything is free, from the coffin to the hearse.

But De los Reyes jokingly pleaded constituents not to abuse the City’s free burial services.

“Ayaw lang sad mo og sige’g kamatay ha?” he said in his speech.

He also instituted a weekly “Barangayan,” where the City brings services to the 22 barangays, including approval of licenses and permits, free health and veterinary services, among others.

The mayor recently inaugurated the City’s Indigent Pharmacy, which offers free medicines to residents who can prove that they live below the poverty line.

For those who can afford, the pharmacy sells the medicines at lower prices.

He also implemented infrastructure projects such as the asphalting of barangay roads and the construction of drainage facilities in flood-prone areas.

De los Reyes even challenged the rain to pour to test the drainage system.

He also approved the purchase of police cars and ambulances to improve law enforcement and medical services.

The mayor also ordered the repair of non-serviceable vehicles, including a speedboat donated by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources so the Fisheries Sea and Ecological Care, the City’s Bantay Dagat team, can use it.

De los Reyes thanked his older brother, Joel, for instituting reforms in the city motorpool.

“When I started, the motorpool did not have a single equipment, not even a screwdriver. Now whatever we need is there,” he said.

He also revived policies such as the plastic ban.

Establishments in the city caught violating the plastic ban will be penalized.

Even after office hours, de los Reyes said he continues to help poor constituents. But he clarified that the money he shells out are proceeds of his canker sore drops business.

De los Reyes advised indigents to pray for him, that he will continue to have the strength to help them.

After his first 100 days, de los Reyes said he will focus on new infrastructure projects that will boost the city’s tourism.

Amid the criticisms during the first 100 days of his administration, de los Reyes said he is glad that his allies in the City Council and the department heads supported him. (Sun.Star Cebu)

People’s initiative launched vs pork barrel

By Elias O. Baquero


THE Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System yesterday launched a campaign to gather 5.7 million signatures, for a people’s initiative to end the pork barrel allocations.

“In addition, we will also need at least three percent of all the registered voters in each legislative district,” said businessman Marc Canton in a press conference yesterday.

A people’s initiative is one way to introduce amendments to the Constitution or propose new legislation, such as the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or other forms of the pork barrel.

Canton, Dr. Rowena Burden, Msgr. Rommel Kintanar and lawyer Ernesto Francisco pointed out in the press conference that the 1987 Constitution requires that for the initiative to move forward, at least 10 percent of the national registered voters should sign the petition.

To achieve these numbers, they said that a “massive, extensive and thorough campaign” of compiling vetted voters’ signatures will be implemented, starting with each parish in the 86 dioceses around the country.

Each school, college and university in every town, city, province and region will also be canvassed, the organizers said. They will also count heavily on the employees of allied business groups, chambers and companies.

“The coalition aims to reach at least 5.7 million signatures nationwide,” read their press statement.

Calls to abolish the pork barrel have been made since allegations surfaced that billions in PDAF went to fake non-government organizations and non-existent projects.

At least 38 people, including three senators and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, have been charged with plunder and malversation of public funds.

Kintanar said the pork barrel issue involves the interest of the entire country so that they can ask all the parishes to help.

“We will come up with a primer to be distributed to the people so they will understand why any form of pork barrel must be abolished,” Kintanar said.

When asked if the coalition has proposals to effectively deliver basic services if the PDAF is abolished, Burden said they have to come up with alternative, but the focus at the moment is on the abolition of the pork barrel.

The coalition officials said that under the Constitution, the Comelec is obligated to allocate funds for the people’s initiative and to verify the signatures of the voters who will sign the petition against the pork barrel.

“The beauty of this thing is that this is a constitutional process,” Canton said.

Francisco said that within 15 to 20 days, they will be finalizing the petition against the pork barrel, which will be filed before the Supreme Court.

“We want to be sure that the petition will not be dismissed on a technicality. The national consultation will be on Nov. 9. This is an initiative of the people acting as congressmen and senators,” Francisco said.

Rama wants a new stadium to rise at SRP

By Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac


Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is seeking investors to build a new stadium at the sprawling South Road Properties (SRP). “Our concept here is that it should not only be a super dome but a super multi-purpose structure (on a build-operate-transfer scheme),” he said yesterday. Rama made the announcement as he cited the near commotion last week at the Cebu Coliseum during the championship match between the University of the Visayas (UV) and the Southwestern University (SWU). He said the coliseum, which was the venue of a world title bout between Bogo’s pride, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde and Japanese Teuo Kosaka in the early 1960s, was bursting at the seams during the Cesafi final match. The commotion due to the overcrowding at the coliseum prompted Rama to intervene and appealed for calm by speaking through a public address system. “It’s not a question of having a market for it. If we want to continue to be competitive as a highly urbanized city, we don’t have to think about (whether or not we have) a market for it,” he said. Rama said his planned stadium should not be compared with the provincial government’s Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) which is barely used. Roberto “Bo” Varquez, the SRP manager, said the city government could accommodate the mayor’s planned stadium on a seven-hectare lot located near the Cebu City Hall block. About two-hectares of the property will be developed into a park while the remaining five hectares will be set aside for the proposed stadium. An alternative site, Rama said, is the vacant lot located after the Mambaling bridge before the SM Prime Holding’s project site. Varquez said Cebu City’s stadium won’t be competing with the convention center which SM will also be building at the SRP because it will cater to different markets. Rama said he wanted the city’s stadium design to be similar to the Kaoshiung stadium in Taiwan in which the structure can be converted into function areas.

CH meets with establishments near Mahiga

By Razel V. Cuizon


THE Cebu City Government yesterday met with some owners and representatives of business establishments near the Mahiga Creek.

This, as members of Reduction of Danger Zones (Redz) also inspected the construction of an access road between the Mahiga Creek and Block 27 at the North Reclamation Area.

Issues such as garbage and drainage were the center of the group’s discussion.

Atty. Jose Daluz III, Redz chief, said they wanted to get ideas from stakeholders on how the City might prevent flooding in the area.

“Political will”

The meeting was the City’s way to inform stakeholders that the City is addressing the issue, he said.

The City also plans to remove illegal settlers and structures within the three-meter-easement of the waterway.

City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo said the City is serious in removing obstructions.

“We have the political will on this, case has been filed and we stand our ground,” he said.

The stakeholders, for their part, expressed to the City their concerns and suggestions.

Malou Ortiz, a representative of an inn in Barangay Mabolo, said garbage collectors in the barangay don’t college waste if they’re not paid.

Ortiz said they follow the City’s waste segregation policy.

A representative of a gasoline station in the barangay echoed her sentiment.

Establishment owners in Mabolo have reportedly hired street kids to collect their garbage.

“We will take actions on this. (The) tendency is these little boys might throw all these garbage in Mahiga Creek,” Castillo said.

Denial

Mabolo Barangay Captain Reynaldo Ompoc, who was present at the meeting, denied that the barangay is collecting payment to collect garbage.

He clarified that even if the establishments are private the barangay is still in charge of their waste.

If the same scenario happens again, he said, establishments should call and report it to the barangay.

Ompoc then assured them that their garbage will be collected.

Daluz said the Mahiga Creek is a showcase and a pilot area for improvements the City wants to implement in all of its waterways.

He said flooding remains a constant threat that’s why they are intensifying their move.

The group is scheduled to meet within the week around residents that will be affected by clearing operations.

Envoy in land row

By Ramon Tulfo


Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe Lhuillier continues to claim ownership of a piece of land in Makati City despite a Supreme Court order awarding the land to his opponent. The high court has ruled that Roberto Santos, 74, a retired San Miguel Corp. employee, owns the 346-square-meter lot on Nicanor Garcia St. corner Kalayaan Ave. in Barangay San Miguel. Lhuillier bought the land from a person who allegedly forged Santos’ signature. When Santos protested, a court battle ensued between him and the owner of 1,500 Cebuana Lhuillier pawnshops throughout the country. A Makati regional trial court favored Santos over Lhuillier, who elevated the case to the Court of Appeals. The appellate court affirmed the Makati court’s decision, prompting Lhuillier to go to the Supreme Court. The high tribunal ruled the land belongs to Santos, but Lhuillier has not abandoned his claim to the lot. Santos fenced the property after the high court decision, but the ambassador reportedly destroyed the fence and posted guards on the land. Cases of trespassing, malicious mischief, grave threats, grave coercion, robbery and slight physical injuries (Santos was allegedly manhandled by Lhuillier’s guards) have been filed against the ambassador. Lhuillier countered by filing trespassing charges against Santos. How can one be charged with trespassing on his own property? Clearly, Lhuillier is using his power and influence against an ordinary citizen.

  • * *

Janet Lim-Napoles is not the only one involved in manipulating the pork barrel and turning it into a multibillion-peso scam. She was the only one caught with her finger in the government jar. There were three others who had been dipping their dirty fingers into the government jar, but were not caught. One of the alleged culprits is a road contractor in Bicol who has built a multimillion-peso resort and casino complex in Albay province, which has acquired international stature. The guy is also one of the owners of a five-star hotel on Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. One of my sources in Albay said the owner of the resort complex is a crony of Mike Arroyo, husband of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. If the allegations are true, compared to this contractor, Napoles is a small fry. One can just imagine how much money has been defrauded from the government through the pork barrel and other scams.

  • * *

Newly elected Puerto Princesa City Mayor Cecilio Bayron doesn’t seem to have a word of honor. In a dialogue last month between him and former Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Bayron said he would keep the political peace in the city after defeating Ellen Hagedorn, Edward’s wife. This columnist, who owns a farm in “the city within a forest,” and businessman Roque Breboneria sponsored the dialogue in a bid to keep the city’s momentum of progress. Hagedorn has made the city known to the rest of the world as a tourist destination. Because of it, visitor arrivals are at their peak. Bayron broke his promise and fired the opening salvo by telling constituents in his “state of the city address” that Hagedorn left the city bankrupt. How could Bayron accuse Hagedorn of leaving the city bankrupt when he was Hagedorn’s vice mayor? Every move Hagedorn made when it came to finances needed the approval of the city council, of which Bayron was the presiding officer as the town’s vice mayor.

5,000 evacuated to avoid flood

By Davinci S. Maru, Princess Dawn H. Felicitas and Rebelander S. Basilan


CLOSE to 5,000 people from two communities in Negros Oriental were evacuated after prolonged rains triggered landslides and caused two rivers to overflow yesterday.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) 7 Director Minda Morante said early warnings were given to the local government units a day before the disaster cut a destructive swathe across 19 barangays in Bayawan City and Siaton town.

The Cebu City Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) is considering a plan to send a team of doctors to Bayawan City to help attend to the evacuees.

Cebu’s residents were told to expect thunderstorms until Friday because of an inter-tropical convergence zone affecting Palawan, the Visayas and Mindanao, a weather specialist said yesterday.

Two of the largest rivers in Bayawan City in Negros Oriental overflowed after more than 12 hours of heavy rains, which also caused landslides in several areas and forced residents from 13 barangays to evacuate.

Gyms, schools

The OCD 7, Director Morante said, issued advisories on Saturday night after being informed by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) that Negros Oriental will experience heavy rain.

“All local response assets were dispatched to transfer the residents to evacuation centers,” Morante told Sun.Star Cebu.

According to a report from OCD 7, some 500 individuals were placed in the city gymnasium while 50 were brought to Pagatban Elementary School.

In Bayawan City National High School, 2,523 residents were evacuated and 350 were transferred to Negros Oriental State University (NORSU).

About 1,000 individuals were evacuated to Integrated Business Center in Bayawan City while 20 were placed in Napit-an Elementary School.

In Siaton town, 390 individuals were brought to the gym near the municipal hall.

Bridge blocked

The affected barangays in Bayawan City were identified as Banga, Maninihon, Poblacion, Villareal, Nangka, Suba, Ubos, Pagatban and Kalumboyan.

In Siaton town, the affected barangays were Poblacion I, Poblacion II, Poblacion IV, San Jose, Caticugan, Maloh, Cabangahan, Giliga-on, Bonawon, Apoloy.

A bridge leading to Bacolod City was impassable for heavy vehicles because of a crack. The Bayawan City Memorial Park was also damaged.

Immediately, the response assets of Bayawan City were deployed, together with the local police.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided food, water and medicine to the evacuees.

Morante, during the interview, said the local government should also watch out for typhoons in case the flood water will subside.

“In the last quarter this year, daghan pa gyud ang mosud nga bagyo (we can expect several typhoons),” she said.

As of 7 last night, Inez Padao of OCD 7 said there has been no report of casualties in the disaster.

Doctors

The information came from Allen Cabaron II, who is their provincial coordinator in Negros Oriental.

In a phone interview yesterday, Cebu City LDRRMC operations officer Alvin Santillana said they were trying to contact some doctors, particularly those who went with them when they extended medical assistance to Compostela Valley, the area hit hardest by Typhoon Pablo last year.

That time, the City sent 30 medical personnel to Compostela Valley.

Santillana said they are also coordinating with Negros’ Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council to know if there are other forms of assistance needed in the areas hit by the flood.

Heavy rains in Metro Cebu yesterday afternoon were brought by the inter-tropical convergence zone and Typhoon Ramil, which hovered near the Batanes Islands.

The weather bureau’s Mactan, Cebu station recorded 6.2 millimeters of rainfall from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Typhoon Ramil was spotted 1,170 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes. It had maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour, and moved northwest at 26 kilometers per hour.

Rainy week

Saletrero said the typhoon is expected to leave the country this afternoon.

Rains for the past few days have caused flooding in Negros Oriental. Saletrero said the weather bureau has issued rainfall advisories for the province since Oct. 1.

“For the whole week, there’s a big possibility for thunderstorms, especially during afternoons,” said Nedz Saletrero, Weather Specialist I at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) station in Mactan.

Though there will be sunny periods, Saletrero advised the public to always bring an umbrella or raincoats, and to seek shelter during thunderstorms.

In Negros Oriental, Adrian Sedillo of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said heavy rains caused major rivers to rise to critical levels. Canaway and Siaton Rivers are being closely monitored.

Local DRRMC teams were dispatched to monitor the situation and the water levels of various rivers and also alerted residents at risk.

Stranded

As of yesterday afternoon, government and non-government agencies were conducting search and rescue operations in Bayawan City, where some areas were already flooded with knee-deep up to waist-high water, said Provincial Police Director Alet Virtucio.

“So far, no casualty has been reported,” he said.

Landslides have been reported in the barangays of Villareal and Pagatban in Bayawan City. Two other landslides in the adjacent town of Sta. Catalina, specifically in Barangay Alangilan, were also cleared by bulldozers and payloaders from the Department of Public Works and Highways and from the local government.

Virtucio said some residents were reported to be on the roofs or the second floor of their homes. A lone rubber boat has been rescuing people in the affected areas.

Sedillo said that Gov. Roel Degamo sent an engineering team yesterday to help in the clearing operations after the landslide along the national highway in Barangay Alangilan, Sta. Catalina.

In Barangay Nagbalaye, also in Sta. Catalina, vehicles were stranded because of fallen trees that blocked the road.

The Philippine Army has also sent two trucks and two squads from the 79th Infantry Battalion to help in rescue operations in Bayawan City, said Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade. (PNA/Sunnex)

Seniors spent aid for meds; indifferent to pols’ presence

By Michelle Joy L. Padayhag


Barely a few hours after they received their P2,000 cash assistance from City Hall, some senior citizens already spent it all for their needs like medicine. “Even if I’m not married, the money that I received was used for my medicine and part of it was given to my grandchildren,” said Florita Arcipe, a 64-year-old retired government employee of Barangay Sambag I, Cebu City. Arcipe bought maintenance medicines for her heart ailment and paid part of the utility bills of a relative’s house where she’s staying. Upon arriving at the Katangkungan Sports Complex, she wondered where the cash aid was distributed. “The barangay captain (Jerry Guardo) was there shaking the hands of everybody who came in,” she said in Cebuano. Guardo wore green and yellow Team Guardo shirt as he greeted people. “Well we could not also avoid that some people have doubts about why they distribute the money since the election is coming,” Arcipe said. She said the cash doleout from City Hall won’t influence whom she will be voting for in the barangay elections. “I will choose who deserves my vote, someone who has the passion and can be trusted,” she said. Another beneficiary, was 78-year-old cigarette vendor Esmeralda Fernandez of bBarangay Kamagayan. She used the money to buy food and medicines for her husband, who has a lung ailment. “His medicines are very expensive and I only earn a little,” Fernandez told Cebu Daily News. Fernandez helps collect garbage in the evening for P50 a day. The cash dole which she got after 10 minutes of waiting supplements her monthly income of P1,500. “I did not see any person there running for the barangay elections, I just saw people from the municipal hall,” she added. Distribution of the cash assistance to the 59,600 senior citizens is almost complete. Ester Concha, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services, said P4,000 will be given to the seniors in December. Flaunting it Among those who objected to the manner on how the cash aid was distributed was former Cebu City mayor and congress man Tomas Osmeña. “The people should see for themselves that this is what they are doing. He (Rama) is abusing, using City Hall funds to his advantage. And he is flaunting it before his constituents,” Osmeña said. Osmeña said the setup which allowed Team Rama candidates to give out priority numbers caused anxiety among some seniors who supported his Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) camp. “But I’m glad that all these are being pointed out in public. It’s all a matter of fairness. A matter of using the seniors. I feel it’s very distasteful. It’s a way of terrorizing them (elderly),” he said. Osmeña said Rama’s refusal to give out copies of the seniors master list to BO-PK-allied barangay captains is suspicious and was done to prevent transparency. “It’s easy to implement a ghost payroll. There is no list. He (Rama) says that you just have to trust him when he can’t even be trusted. We all know he is not honest anyway,” the former mayor said. In the absence of a copy of the seniors master list, Osmeña said there is no way for barangay captains to determine if all those listed were legitimate recipients. Rama denied that he furnished copies of the seniors master list to his allies. He reasoned that since the distribution was a City Hall affair, only the designated department heads were allowed to oversee the distribution. With Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac






Rama: Narcopolitics issue dates back to Tomas’ time

By Chito O. Aragon, Doris C. Bongcac


CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said insinuations that narcopolitics is prevalent in some Cebu City barangays is an insult to barangay officials. The mayor challenged barangay officials to speak and dispute the “irresponsible” claim of his political rival Tomas Osmeña, the city’s former mayor and congressman. Osmeña told reporters last Thursday that at least 20 percent of the city’s 80 barangays could be considered as hotspots in the coming election because of strong political rivalry and narcopolitics. Drug trade, he said, is especially common in at lease seven barangays, namely Day-as, Ermita, Pasil, Duljo, Suba, Sawang and Inayawan. “In issuing the statement, Osmeña may have forgotten that until 2010, he was mayor of the city,” Rama said. Rama said that the narcopolitics was an issue in the 2010 election. “What he is saying is an insult to the barangays,” Rama said. Meanwhile, the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO) would not confirm if the drug problem has infiltrated politics. Chief Inspector Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB), said however that the drug problem in the barangays mentioned by Osmeña is serious, but added that they are not yet in the position to identify candidates who are involved in narcopolitics pending the filing of certificates of candidacy for the October 28 barangay elections. “It’s an open book nga kining mga lugara affected with drug problem,” Santander told reporters yesterday. This was confirmed by the CPPO and Regional Intelligence Division (RID) – 7. They may have received reports of political aspirants who are believed to be involved in illegal drug activities or being supported by people in the illegal drugs trade, Santander said, but these need evidence.

Not enough teachers for poll duties

By Christine Emily L. Pantaleon


THE lack of public school teachers in Cebu will prompt the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to hire over 14,000 people from the private sector to fill up the vacant slots in the Board of Election Tellers (BET) during the October 28 barangay elections. Data from the Comelec provincial office shows that 22,797 teachers are needed to man the 7,599 clustered precincts in the province. In Cebu City, 4,671 teachers are needed to serve as BETs in 1,557 precincts. But Cipriano Balili, education program supervisor in charge of election matters at the Department of Education in Cebu City, said that they only have 3,000 public school teachers available for election duty in the city. In Cebu province, only about 10,000 teachers are in the list of possible BETs, said DepEd Cebu provincial superintendent Arden Monisit. This leaves about 14,468 BET posts that needs to be filled. There are more clustered precincts in this month’s polls which will be done manually. Last May, with the use of the Precinct Count Optical Scanner, voting precincts had a maximum of 1,000 voters but for the barangay elections, the Comelec limited it to 400 voters.

Personal grudge seen in assault on office chief

By Jose Santino S. Bunachita


What could have provoked a Cebu City Hall contractual worker to hit his former boss in the head with a steel bar? Dominic Diño, head of the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) of Cebu City Hall, said the motive behind Wilson Kilat’s attack on Engr. Emiliano Cruz, head of the Building Maintenance Services (BMS) office, may even be personal. “Although department heads can recommend. Cruz is not directly involved. Murag gipersonalan nato niya (Looks like it became personal),” Diño said. The BMS is under the General Services Office (GSO) which is headed by Rolando Ardosa. Kilat worked as a plumber in Cebu City Hall for 24 years. Cruz’s assistant Danilo Caraceno said working relations between Kilat and Cruz have been sour. “Naa man sad siya’y batasan nga masuko dayon kung dili matuman ang iyang sugo. Medyo strikto pud siya (He has an attitude of easily getting angry when orders are not met. He’s quite strict.),” Caracena said of Cruz. Two of Kilat’s six children work as an engineer and a call center agent. His salary is above minimum wage. Diño said the minimum wage in City Hall is P9,000. Diño said if Kilat talked to him, he would have questioned the decision at the mayor’s office. Kilat’s six-month contract ended last August and wasn’t renewed for September and October. The Cebu City police’s homicide section filed charges of frustrated murder against Kilat yesterday. “Inquest has started (yesterday) and will be continued (today),” said PO1 John Eric Samosa of the city police’s homicide section. Cebu City Market Administrator Raquel Arce said Cruz is now in stable condition. “He has been transferred to a private room,” Arce told reporters. She said she witnessed the incident outside the BMS office. “I was in the area during the incident. I personally saw him (Kilat) hit a uniformed city hall employee, who I later realized was Engr. Cruz,” she said. Kilat was arrested by PO1 Christopher Mariot, Arce’s police escort.

Vidal’s travel plans on hold due to tests

By Justin K. Vestil


CEBU Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal wants to go to Rome this month and next year, but he is not sure if his doctors would allow him to travel.

Vidal told reporters that he needs to undergo a second CT scan this month and the results will be used by his doctors to decide whether or not to allow him to travel.

Still, Vidal is grateful he survived a mild stroke two weeks ago.

“Thank God, I’m still alive,” he told reporters who visited him at his home in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

Stroke

Vidal admitted that he might suffer another stroke if he is not careful.

“I am already old. I don't know whether I will still live long even though my father lived for 103 years,” he said.

The 82-year-old prelate said he plans to travel to Rome this month to attend the blessing of the mosaic of St. Pedro Calungsod at St. Peter's Basilica and in April next year for the canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII.

Vidal said that Pope John Paul II, who was beatified in 2011, was the one who appointed him Archbishop of Cebu. The late pope was also instrumental in appointing Vidal as the first Filipino to preside the World Synod of Bishops back in 1986.

Doctors

Doctors have advised Vidal to rest and avoid holding masses and parish visits. He was also advised to avoid eating fatty and sweet foods.

Vidal joked he will continue to eat Cebu “lechon” or roast pig.

He thanked those who visited him in the hospital and those who prayed for his recovery.

More than two weeks ago, Vidal was brought to the Perpetual Succour Hospital in Cebu City after suffering from a transient ischemic attack or mild stroke.

Cebu's ‘masiao boss’ caught again

By Davinci S. Maru


CEBU CITY -- A suspected big-time masiao financier in this city and 10 others, including a dismissed policeman, were arrested by the police in Barangay Pasil before Monday midnight, in an attempt to stamp out the illegal numbers game.

Seized from Randy Boliboli’s houses were P150,000 worth of gambling machines and paraphernalia when the Central Visayas Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) of the Police Regional Office (PRO) raided his properties.

A search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 Judge Raphael Yrastorza Jr. against Boliboli and his son Richie authorized the operation.

Superintendent Rex Derilo, head of the RSOG, said the operatives first raided the house of Boliboli on F. Rallos St. and arrested 10 workers, who were caught making adjustments on the bets.

They were identified as Jose Fernandez, 49; Butchie Lendio, 46; Rush Cabaltera, 28; Richard Garcia, 37; Reynaldo Santos, 49; Edward Abejo, 42; Joseph Dahuya, 25; Renadel Calinawan, 38; Betty Saavedra, 53; and Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Angel Saavedra, 50.

son at large

They are residents of Barangays Pasil, Suba and Labangon.

Three fax machines, four calculators, staplers, ballpens and sheets were recovered by police inside the house.

The operatives then proceeded to Boliboli’s house on Espelita St., where they caught the alleged financier.

Another set of gambling paraphernalia, P12,000 cash, a .22 revolver with two live bullets, two live bullets for a shotgun and an undetermined firearm were also recovered by police.

The operatives went to Richie’s house on Tupaz St., but he was not around.

Senior Supt. Edward Carranza, chief of PRO’s directorial staff, said that Boliboli surrendered to the police this year during the time of Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr. and promised to stop operating masiao.

Record

This came after Boliboli’s house was raided by the police last December 2012, when they arrested 32 people who allegedly worked for him.

“There was intense pressure at that time maybe for him because the police were running after him. However, apparently, he broke his promise,” Carranza said.

During the press briefing, he revealed that Boliboli’s name always appeared in the order of battle, a list of personalities who are believed to be involved in illegal activities.

The alleged gambling financier reportedly earns P200,000 per day, but this has lowered to P100,000 because of many police operations.

Boliboli allegedly operates in all areas in this city and some towns in Cebu province and Negros Oriental.

Though the alleged gambling financier was arrested, Carranza said the illegal numbers game will not stop because there are also other financiers still operating.

“That’s why we’re asking for the support of local chief executives and even the lowest form of government to not tolerate this and report to the police immediately,” he said.

Police received reports some barangay officials are allowing this illegal activity in their area, as a way to ask for support for their political plans.

No longer PNP

As to the case of SPO1 Angel Saavedra, Carranza said the policeman had been dropped from the rolls for going absent without official leave (AWOL).

“He is not anymore under the PNP,” he said.

Saavedra, in an interview, said he grew tired of reporting to work last year after he was investigated for his absences. He was assigned in Cebu City.

“Gikapoy ko sige ug sulod (I grew tired of showing up for work there),” he said, adding he used to report to the Regional Police Holding Administrative Unit (RPHAU).

Confiscated from Saavedra was a .45 pistol.

Boliboli, when sought for comment, said he admitted being involved in illegal numbers game, but has since stopped.

“Taud-taud na ko niundang. Pagka-February (I have stopped operating since February),” he said.

Boliboli said he knew of the other financiers, but refused to divulge their names. He sought police assistance last March after his house was strafed by an unknown person.

Police filed complaints for violating Republic Act 9287, which increased the penalties for illegal numbers games.

Penalties

Under this law, any person who participates in any illegal numbers game shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment from 14 years and one day to 16 years, if such person acts as a financier.

Imprisonment from six years and one day to eight years will be imposed if the person works for an illegal numbers game operation.

Separate complaints for illegal possession of firearms and violating the election gun ban will be filed against Boliboli and Saavedra.

Under a Commission on Elections resolution, violation of the ban on carrying firearms and employing security personnel will be fined with one to six years imprisonment, permanent disqualification to hold public office, and deprivation of the right to vote.

According to a report from the PRO, the number of financiers and operators in Central Visayas region has dropped as a result of the intensified drive against the illegal numbers game and illegal video game machines.

Most of the towns and barangays in the region, though, are not yet gambling-free.

Clearing

As of March this year, the same report said the number of active financiers dropped from 120 to 108, while the number of operators and ushers or coordinators dropped by 372 to 313.

In Bohol, the number of affected areas dropped from 34 to 20.

The report also showed that all the towns in Negros Oriental are affected by illegal gambling.

In Siquijor, illegal gambling affected only one area.

In Cebu, illegal gambling was said to be present in all towns, but the number of financiers reportedly went down from 74 to 68.

In Metro Cebu, the report said, the police have cleared five barangays in Mandaue City of illegal gambling, but 22 of its barangays are still affected. In Lapu-Lapu City, illegal gambling is present in only seven barangays, while 24 barangays are gambling-free.

In Cebu City, 62 barangays have reportedly been cleared of illegal gambling, but 18 are still being operated by financiers.

Most of the affected areas are in coastal barangays, particularly depressed areas. (Sun.Star Cebu)

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