Cheaper meds law 'useless'
MCWD to build five water reservoirs to ensure 24/7 supply
The Metropolitan Cebu Water District will be constructing five water reservoirs in Cebu City to ensure a continuous water supply even in elevated areas starting next year.
Almendras to tackle power supply crunch
This is not an easy task for the new man at the helm of the Department of Energy, but Almendras is fast tracking his learning curve, setting aside every Monday as power outlook review day.
"Unfortunately, the solutions are not short and coming. It takes a few years to build power plants. It takes a few years to put new energy sources in place. The plan is to move as fast as we can, as soon as we can," Almendras said in an interview with Alvin Elchico of ABS-CBN News.
Cebu customs collector denies rampant sugar smuggling
"We don't tolerate any sugar smuggling here in Cebu," Silvestre told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in reaction to the complaint of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) that smuggled sugar proliferated in Cebu.
NFSP president Enrique Rojas had sent a letter to Bureau of Customs officer-in-charge Alexander Arevalo informing him about the alleged sugar smuggling occurring in Cebu.
Silvestre said on Tuesday he met with the Cebu Customs intelligence agents after he read the report on the INQUIRER to discuss the complaint but the agents maintained that there was no sugar smuggling in the province.
"That's their general conclusion. That report was unfair to us," Silvestre said on Tuesday afternoon.
However, he said he would be willing to meet Rojas if the latter was willing to provide information on the alleged sugar smuggling.
In his July 5 letter to Arevalo, Silvestre said that since he assumed the position on December 15, 2009, he has ordered Customs personnel, particularly the Enforcement and Security Service and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, to be more vigilant to ensure there would be no smuggling of sugar.
Silvestre also said that he had also established continuing coordination with Jose Escobañez, the representative of the Federation of Philippine Industry based in Cebu on the monitoring of sugar shipments.
The Cebu Customs Bonded Warehouse (CBW) division had also been tasked to ensure that imported sugar intended for Customs bonded warehouses (CBWs) would not be diverted to local consumption, he said in his letter.
Silvestre added that the Cebu Customs has also maintained its linkage with the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrative Director Bernardo Trebol in order to address the sugar smuggling issue.
He also urged Rojas to file a report with the Cebu Customs office so they could discuss his complaint.
In a report submitted to Silvestre, Elizabeth delas Llagas, chief of the Cebu Customs Bonded Warehouse Division, said that they did not find any discrepancy in the imported sugar stored in the Customs bonded warehouses in Cebu.
Erap: Davide appointment as SC chief a favor for Lucio Tan
"Ang totoo, noong ako ay presidente inimbitahan ako niLucio Tan sa penthouse niya sahotel niya. Sabi niya magdi-dinnerlang kami. Inimbita lang ako. Pero pagpasok ko sa penthouse,nandoon na si Chief Justice Davide. Iyan (Tan) ang lumakad para ma-promote iyan at maging chief justice," said Estrada in a dzMM interview.
(When I was President, Lucio Tan invited me to a dinner at his penthouse. There I saw Chief Justice Davide. It was Tan who worked to get Davide promoted to chief justice.)
Estrada did not say when and where the meeting took place.
He said he heeded Tan's request and appointed Davide.
GMANews.TV tried calling Davide for comment, but he was not answering his phone.
In 2002, Davide was conferred the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service — a singular honor that is often viewed as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. He was also recognized for his life of principled citizenship and his profound service to democracy and the rule of law.
Doubts
During the interview, Estrada expressed doubts on whether Davide, now retired, could be trusted to lead the Truth Commission since he knew that the former Chief Justice and Tan were always doing favors to each other.
"Noong in-elevate ko sa Supreme Court [ang kaso], ang ginawa niDavide ni-remand sa lower court.Hindi na nag-apela kaya na-dismiss ang tax evasion case," said Estrada, whose administration was cut short by a corruption scandal.
(When I elevated the case to the Supreme Court, Davide remanded it to a lower court. There was no appeal so the tax evasion case was eventually dismissed.)
Estrada said Tan asked him to no longer bring the tax evasion case all the way to the Supreme Court, but he said he turned him down. "Alam kong interes ng gobyerno ang nakataya, kaya hindi ko na siya pinagbigyan at in-elevate ko," he said.
(I knew the government's interest was at stake so I didn't give in to his request and the case reached the Supreme Court.)
Estrada said the two incidents became the catalyst for Davide to "gang up on me." He said he would be baring more details about these incidents in his upcoming memoir, which he is planning to finish by December.
"Lalabas po iyan kapag natapos iyong memoirs sa libro ko. Lahat yan dokumentado at nakasulat (This will go public once I finish my memoirs. All these are documented and written down)," he said.
Indebted to Arroyo
In the same radio interview, Estrada said it would be hard to believe Davide would pin down Arroyo since he is indebted to her for appointing him as Philippine ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York.
"Paano niya ipo-prosecute ang isang taong may utang na loob sya (How can he prosecute someone he is indebted to)?" he said.
Aquino earlier named Davide to head the Truth Commission, although he has not yet issued an executive order creating the investigative body and defining its parameters.
Esteada also maintained that Davide committed an illegal act in 2001 when he took the oath of then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as new president following his departure from Malacanang by boat at the height of the People Power 2 revolt.
"Bakit siya magsusumpa sa pagka-presidente, wala namang vacancy dahil presidente pa ako noon (Why would he swear in a president when there's no vacancy as I was still the president back then)?" he said.
Davide was the presiding judge in the impeachment trial against Estrada in December 2000. Arroyo assumed the highest post in the land after a mass uprising - similar to the 1986 People Power Revolution – put an abrupt end to Estrada's reign.
Estrada was convicted of plunder in September 2007 but was granted executive clemency by Arroyo a month later.
Estrada also pointed out the impeachment complaint filed against Davide in 2003 for allegedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. He was then accused of disbursing some P47.6 million to purchase curtains, furniture, luxury vehicles, and to construct vacation houses in Baguio City for members of the high court.
Gullas mulls inquiry into spate of bus accidents
Alarmed of the spate of accidents involving buses in Cebu which has already claimed at least 40 lives in a short span of time, First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas mulls a possible congressional investigation into the matter.
Supporters of Quiño hold rally: Tension flares in Compostela
Tensions flared yesterday afternoon as supporters of Joel Quiño, who was declared winner of the mayoralty race in the town Compostela, but hasn't been able to sit due to a protest, milled around the municipal hall and staged a rally.
Reluya asks court to clarify order denying her motion to dispense with PCOS authentication
Defeated mayoralty candidate Lakambini Reluya has asked the court's clarification to its order denying her earlier motion to dispense with the authentication of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines relative to her election protest against San Fernando Mayor Antonio Canoy.
New memo to "unburden" PB members, secretary
Doing away with Provincial Board (PB) resolutions releasing financial assistance charged against their discretionary funds saves time and a lot of papers, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia explained yesterday.
Gwen orders review on Greg's use of 'pork'
IF THAT was a truce, it lasted only a day. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said yesterday she will pursue the investigation on projects funded by legislative funds assigned to Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr.
Greg gives in, turns over vehicles
Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. yesterday agreed to turn over the vehicles assigned to him, in response to an order of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia recalling the vehicles charged against the Office of the Governor but were being used by the Office of the Vice Governor.
Sanchez to file disbarment vs. provincial legal officer
Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. yesterday confirmed that he is planning to file a disbarment case against Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla for allegedly coercing witnesses against him.
Ex-fiscal gets 10-year jail term for graft
The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former prosecutor to suffer a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when he failed to immediately file the information of a case assigned to him in 1991.
In a 21-page decision promulgated last June 2, 2010, the Sandiganbayan third division found former assistant provincial prosecutor Crispulo Truya guilty of violating Section 3(e) of the Republic Act 3019.
The decision penned by Associate Justice Alex Quiroz meted Truya a minimum imprisonment of six years and one month to 10 years and one day as maximum. The anti-graft court also imposed upon him perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
The anti-graft court ruled that Truya's failure to immediately file the proper information of the case assigned to him in 1991 constitute a "gross inexcusable negligence" on his part. The case stemmed from an indictment issued by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas against Truya. The anti-graft office investigated Truya and found probable cause to charge him before the Sandiganbayan because of his failure to file the information of the case against Jesus Gelig Sr. who was charged with direct assault with attempted homicide in 1991.
Truya's failure to immediately file the information in court against Gelig within the reglementary period has resulted to the detention of the accused for more than five years without the proper charges in court.
City inspects 100 vehicles
MORE than a hundred of service vehicles and response units from the different barangays in Cebu City were inspected yesterday at the city's motor pool.
City provides free vaccination for hogs
The Cebu City Veterinary Office will provide free vaccination for hogs raised in backyard piggeries as part of their intervention program to prevent the classical swine fever or hog cholera.
Ermita has biggest number of malnourished kids in city
Barangay Ermita, this city has the most number of severely underweight or malnourished children according to the latest monitoring by the Cebu City Health Department this year.
Public elementary and high school students up
The number of students who enrolled in the various public elementary and high schools in Cebu City for this school year has increased to 146,177 or 1,880 more compared to the enrollees last year, education officials announced yesterday.
City administrator to hold office at CH ground floor
Newly appointed Cebu city administrator Jose Mari Poblete will hold office at the ground floor of the City Hall building as ordered by Mayor Michael Rama.
Cortes reveals priority projects
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes revealed his priority projects and said he expects the full support of the City Council.
Paz won't impose new taxes, to improve collection efforts
LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza assured her administration will not impose new taxes.
However, she said it could be a last resort.
Rama wants Malacañang sa Sugbo
CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama is interested in taking the Malacañang sa Sugbu if the Aquino administration won't use the building anymore.
Aquino frowns at 'holiday economics' - spokesman
DOTC to draft measure penalizing sale of blinkers, sirens
PSG chief: Aquino may have to use 'wangwang' if there are security threats
US ambassador won't use 'wang-wang', too
Binay convoy beats red light
New office for VP Binay up to Congress: Palace
DepEd chief gets an education in media manners
De Lima vows to speed up wheels of justice
DOJ to give priority to cases of political, media killings
MANILA, PhilippinesThe Department of Justice will give priority to cases involving political and media killings, said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
She said the DOJ would coordinate with Task Force 211, which was formed to curb political killings, to determine the status of cases of extrajudicial killings the presidential task force is handling.
De Lima issued the statement following the death of Fernando Baldomero, a Lezo town councilor and militant leader killed in Aklan, and Jose Daguio, former radio broadcaster killed in Kalinga.
Meanwhile, Task Force 21 chairman Ian Norman Dato said the Task Force Operations Group has been deployed to Tabuk City, Kalinga Province to investigate and get vital leads on Daguios death.
The investigating group is joined by members of the National Bureau of Investigation Special Investigator.
Aquino won't tolerate political killings - Lacierda
PNP chief assures more active campaign vs media killings
PAGCOR probes P21-M 'midnight disbursement'
Ex-DA chief back in RP, urged to bare all in fertilizer scam
Trillanes seeks court permission to attend Senate opening session
Panfilo Lacson back in Metro Manila?
NBI admits trail for Lacson has gone cold
Aquino, LP hold seminar on priorty bills
NDFP asks Aquino to free all remaining political prisoners
Gov't to CPP-NPA: Don't impose conditions on talks
RP forms peace panels, says Palace
DOJ chief: Something wrong in Ampatuan Sr.'s transfer
Maguindanao Massacre suspect chauffered to hospital
Aquino has 'political will' to crush private armies - spokesman
SC proposes changes in bar exam
SC Associate Justice Roberto Abad, Bar Exams Committee chairman, proposed that the exams be divided into two parts, where the first part will be multiple choice and the second part will be in essay form. The present format of the bar exam is mostly essay form.
SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said Abad proposed that all questions pertaining to law codes be done in multiple choice to accurately test the student's familiarity with the law.
He said the second part in essay form is supposed to test how well the student can argue.
Marquez said the SC made the announcement so that law schools can prepare their students in advance.
SC on Facebook, Twitter
The SC, meanwhile, opened its own Facebook and Twitter accounts, in the hopes of bringing the high tribunal closer to the masses.
Marquez said Chief Justice Renato Corona proposed the idea but denied that it is a reaction to the controversies that have hounded the court in recent months, such as the controversy over midnight appointments to the high court.
"It is hoped that through technology, people will get news and information about the courts faster and complaints can be messaged directly to the SC," he said.
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