Winds, floods wreak havoc on homes: Nature unleashes fury around Cebu
Two houses were literally blown away and several others were damaged when winds wrought havoc in several areas around Cebu Province yesterday.
Warrant issued vs. Joavan for skipping conference
Talisay City's Municipal Trial Court in Cities judge Mario Manayon yesterday issued a bench warrant against Joavan Fernandez after he missed yesterday's scheduled pre-trial conference for his grave threats case.
Governor Garcia to expel Mayor Loot from One Cebu party
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is expelling Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot from the One Cebu Party after Loot called her a dictator.
Gwen says Vice Governors League not challenging her
The draft resolution showed by Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez last Tuesday did not come from the Vice Governors League, said Governor Gwendolyn Gar-cia, who added the league told her they will come up with their own stand that they will not interfere in local problems.
Rama retains 90 percent of CH casual employees
Ninety percent of the 3,000 casual employees of City Hall temporarily heave a sigh of relief after Mayor Michael Rama renewed their contracts for the next two months.
City to cut phone allowances of 125 officials, employees
TO cut down on expenses and avoid abuse of the privilege, Cebu City Hall will suspend the post-paid and pre-paid celphone lines of some 125 city officials and employees effective end of this month, and will be restored only after they can justify the need for it.
City has no budget to pay Castro's allowance
The Cebu City government has no budget to pay for the P132,500 accumulated allowance of assistant city prosecutor Mary Ann Castro which she is now de-manding payment.
BIR has too few people to run after usurers
The officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Cebu City cannot act on the request of councilor Nida Cabrera to run after informal moneylenders unless the concerned local government unit will assist them.
2 inmates at CPDRC die of 'medical causes;' 1 stabbed
TWO inmates at the provincial jail died allegedly of medical causes and another one was reported stabbed.
In his report, acting warden Alito Gabuya said inmate Simplicio Ta-oy had a heart attack and was brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) where doctors pronounced him dead at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Another inmate, Angelito Cabalquinto, reportedly died of cerebral hemorrhage due to secondary head injury at 9:49 a.m Wednesday.
Gabuya's report said Cabalquinto was hanging his clothes when he lost his balance and hit his head and fell unconscious. He was brought to the CPDRC clinic but didn't reach there alive.
The third inmate, Pete Acosta, was stabbed and is confined at the VSMMC.
The governor said she will call for an autopsy on Cabalquinto and ordered the acting jail warden to investigate the deaths of the two inmates.
She wanted verified the information that Ta-oy and Cabalquinto were mauled inside the jail by fellow inmates, specifically by those led by Leo Suico, who has been convicted of murder and is awaiting transfer to the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa.
Elizabeth Francia, the governor's chief of staff, said Cabalquinto had a lacerated wound in his right eyebrow.
CPDRC jail guard Roberto Cabanag said Cabalquinto was not mauled but simply slipped and hit his head on the floor and fell unconscious.
Cabalquito's body lies in wake at the St. Anne Funeral Homes in Mandaue City.
Student alleges teachers "mauled" him
A second year Criminology student of the University of Cebu-Main Campus who was earlier detained for allegedly assaulting a college instructor yesterday went to the office of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Cebu City Police Office to deny the latter's accusations and have the "real" story recorded in the police blotter.
Edgardo Martinez, 20, told police that if something happens to him, there's only one person to blame and that is David Mark Maramba, who serves as com-mandant among Criminology interns of the school and happened to be an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Martinez, a native of Misamis Occidental, was released from the Cebu City Jail last August 11 after he was arrested last August 4 for allegedly assaulting Maramba while inside the school.
Still weak from fever, the student appeared before the media yesterday and said he wanted Maramba, if possible, terminated from the PDEA-7 and be held re-sponsible for anything that may threaten his life.
The reporters tried to get the side of Maramba but he was not available as he was allegedly out of town, according to his co-workers at the PDEA-7 office.
He, however, sent text messages to one of the reporters saying he was attending a hearing.
"What assurance imong mahatag nga dili mo biased? Kay mura'g lingaw kaayo mo sige'g duot nako. Inamigo ni nga hangyo kay dugay man kaha ta kuyog simbahan. Ambot ngano na inyong gidaginot," his text message reads.
Martinez narrated that around 4 p.m. last August 4, he was on his way to the comfort room after attending his class when a Criminology intern confronted him and told him to take his earring off. Martinez said he took off his earring and was about to proceed to the CR when the intern demanded for his identification card to which he refused.
The intern, who was largely-built, suddenly choked him and dragged him towards the nearby Criminology intern office. The intern then called up Maramba, who is their commandant.
"Miabot si Maramba 'nya gisumbag ko dayon. Gisumbag sad ko sa intern ug ni Dennis Chiong. Si Maramba iyang gibira ang duha nako ka kamot dayon gi-yatak-yatakan akong ulo. Gi-tunob-tunoban akong likod, hasta akong paa gitamakan," Martinez disclosed.
Martinez said the intern, including Dennis Chiong, also a Criminology instructor, punched him but claimed most of the attacks came from Maramba. Chiong is allegedly the son of Crusade Against Violence chairperson Thelma Chiong and a personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation.
"Ingon pa g'yud siya (Maramba), 'Wa ka kaila nako? Taga-PDEA ko. Commandant ko sa UC 'nya nag-cock-cock pa g'yud siya sa iyang armas. Gusto nako ma-tangtang siya. Dili lalim iyang gibuhat nako. Gipakaulawan ko niya," Martinez added.
Two policemen from the Carbon Police Station then came, handcuffed him and brought him to the police station for detention. He was committed to the city jail on August 7 and was temporarily released four days later.
Martinez said he never did fight back at Maramba, Chiong and even at the intern who took turns in attacking him.
Maramba was also accused of leading a team of PDEA agents who reportedly harassed sharpshooters of the Cebu City Police Office who were partying at a beach resort in Pinamungajan September last year.
PDEA-7 Deputy Regional Director, lawyer Mauro Licen, said he still has to hear the side of Maramba and if the evidence warrants, they will conduct an inves-tigation against him.
"We will look into that in what context he used or if ever he uttered the word PDEA in the course of the incident. That will be part of the investigation. We want to assure the public, the complainants that we will not tolerate such kind of behavior in our organization," Licen said.
Licen said they will forward the case to the agency's Internal Affairs Office then to the national office if proven that there is probable cause on the incident. He said this is the first time they received a complaint lodged against an operative for maltreatment or physical injury.
For Chairman, Vice Chairman: Regional Development Council sends nominees to Malacañang
Four governors and a mayor from Central Visayas were nominated yesterday for the chairmanship of the Regional Development Council 7, while two private sec-tors were also nominated for the selection of vice chairman.
Nominated were Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Governor Orlando Fua of Siquijor, Governor Edgardo Chatto of Bohol, Governor Agustin Perdices of Negros Oriental and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.
Meanwhile, Jose Ng and Argeo Melisimo, both from the private sector, were nominated for the position of vice chairman.
During yesterday's full council meeting, a debate ensued after Cebu second district congressman and Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia, who is a member of the advisory council, moved that they vote for the selection of the new RDC chairman and vice chairman before the list is submitted to the President.
This way, Rep. Garcia said, the President would know the ranking of the nominees.
But Gov. Fua also moved that the list of nominees be submitted to the Office of President Benigno Aquino III without going through a votation, so the President will have a free hand on whom to appoint.
Since both officials insisted that their motions be carried, this prompted the presiding officer Marlene Rodriguez to call for the division of the house.
During the voting, at least 40 members favored Fua's motion while only nine favored the motion of Rep. Garcia.
The RDC also yesterday confirmed the inclusion of 16 private sector representatives, who shall comprise one-fourth of the council.
The following nominees were chosen during the elections held in each province and were confirmed as private sector representatives of the four provinces: Engr. Jose Mari Bigornia, Teresa Fernandez, Robert Go, Jose Ng, Emmanuel Rabacal, Abundio Gultiano Jr and Fr. Margarito Alingasa for the Province of Cebu.
For the Province of Bohol, these are Mr. Argeo Melisimo, Panfilo Asares and Marietta Gasatan while Negros Oriental has Gregorio Uymatiao Jr., Engr. Ed-gardo Pedrosa and Atty. Gloria Futalan.
Siquijor, for its part, has Mr. Carmelito Bulaybulay. Two of the 16 seats also have Josefina Lim, appointed representative for the labor sector while Carmelito Canoy Sr. was appointed for the basic sector.
DOH: Dengue is no longer a 'rainy season disease'
PhilHealth claims rise with increase in dengue cases
An increase of PhilHealth claims filed was noted with the rise of the number of dengue cases in the country.
Move to postpone barangay polls still tops House agenda
Eddiegul convinced polls will be delayed
With more than 15 House bills filed plus the collective opinion of his colleagues, first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas believes that the October synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be postponed to a later date.
Even if Brgy polls moved, P3.4-B budget stays with Comelec - lawmaker
PPCRV warns vs SK being used by political dynasties
Judges undergo defense training in Cebu
Legacy Group owner transferred to Ormoc jail
De los Angeles isolated from other inmates
'Torture cop' says he is not a criminal, denies knowledge of video
Ombudsman forms task force to probe cop torture
More torture reports in Tondo emerge
'Torturer-cop' exposes flawed justice system: Rosales
Angue vows to keep his mouth shut, for now
Angue to 'speak it out' in House probe on military promotion
Drilon asks Aquino to suspend excessive perks of GOCC execs
Solon: P100K monthly is enough for Cabinet execs with GOCC seats
Recto urges Ombudsman to focus on disallowed expenses
SC reminds state execs: double compensation is illegal
The high court's reminder came on the heels of investigation on the alleged excessive bonuses and other perks received by several officials of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs)
"The Constitution provides that no elective or appointive public officer or employee shall receive additional, double or indirect compensation, unless specifically authorized by law, nor accept without the consent of the Congress, any present emolument, office or title of any kind from any foreign government," the high tribunal said, quoting Section 8 Article IX-B of the 1987 Constitution.
In a decision, the high court, through Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta upheld the findings of the Commission on Audit that the right to compensation of the board of directors of the Philippine International Convention Center Inc. (PICCI), who were also officers of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), is limited to a P1,000 per diem for every meeting under the PICCI by-laws.
The PICCI corporate auditor on June 7, 1999 issued a notice to Araceli Villanueva, one of the PICCI board members, disallowing the payment of representation and transportation allowance (RATA) worth P1.565 million to petitioners Villanueva, Gabriel Singson, Andre Navato, Edgardo Zialcita, Tyrone Reyes, Jose Clemente Jr., Federico Pascual, Alejandra Clemente, Albert Fenix Jr. and Melpin Gonzaga.
The P1.565 million was the total RATA received by petitioners from January 1996 to December 1998 or P1,500 per month as member of the PICCI board.
The COA explained that the PICCI By Laws prohibits the payment of salary to directors in the form of compensation or reimbursement of expenses. Neither could the payment of RATA be legally found on Section 30 of the Corporation Code or the voting of the stockholders, it said, adding the board resolution allowing a RATA of P1,500 is a violation of the PICCI By-Laws.
The high court agreed with the COA but took note that the passing of the board resolution granting additional RATA does not violate any laws. As such, the high court said there is no need for the petitioners to return the P1.5 million to the PICCI.
House inquiry sought into stock options in lieu of land redistribution
Lawmakers agree to take shorter breaks
In the last regular session of the 14th Congress, lawmakers only worked for 136 days from July 27, 2009 to June 4, 2010.
The legislative calendar includes session breaks. Congress has three regular sessions on one three-year term.
"There are many things to take up on the floor... All vacations were shortened except for the Holy Week break, giving us more time to do our mandate. Shortening the break will give us chance to do more legislation," Senate Majority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III said in a statement yesterday.
Congress will be on recess in the following dates: Oct. 16 to Nov. 7; Dec. 18 to Jan. 16; March 26 to May 8; and June 10 to July 24.
Mr. Sotto said the Senate is expecting the House of Representatives to pass the proposed 2011 budget on second reading on Oct. 16.
President Benigno C. Aquino III is expected to submit the budget to the House on Aug. 25.
Meanwhile, Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio A. Abaya (1st district) toldBusinessWorld that the Lower House will target an Oct. 16 deadline to approve the budget.
"Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad has said the President doesn't want a reenacted budget. We want to have the 2011 budget as proposed to be signed before [the year ends.] No re-enactment [in the budget] is a reflection of good government," Mr. Abaya, who has yet to be appointed appropriations committee chairman, said by phone.
In a separate statement, Senator Franklin M. Drilon said the longer working schedule will give the Senate enough time to scrutinize the budget.
"This will, perhaps, allow us to make sure that every single centavo will go to deserving projects, and not the pockets of dishonest government officials," he said.
Mr. Drilon, finance committee chairman, said shorter breaks would prevent a repeat of experiences in the previous administration wherein the previous year's budget was reenacted due to failure of Congress to pass the budget bill on time.
The government fiscal year is from January to December. The 2010 budget was enacted only last March 14.
"We hope that we will be able to do away with the practice in the past administration of reenacting the previous years' budget because Congress failed to pass the current year's budget on time," Mr. Drilon said.
Police nab Samar town mayor linked to private army
Senate bill seeks compensation for wrongfully accused
CHED urged to act on nursing school scam
Former RN Learning Center student Leticia Nicasio is worried that other schools, knowingly or unknowingly, may be involved with the center's alleged scam.
"I just want them to be aware of Mr. Jun Enterina transacting business to schools over there. Schools in Manila, schools in the Philippines, I'm not mentioning any schools, but I hope the CHED will issue a circular being explicit about the distance learning especially about nursing," said Nicasio.
Nicasio sent complaints to the Attorney General's office and the Board of Registered Nursing since last year, angry about the RN Learning Center.
Last winter, Luisa Najera spent $20,000 and joined a group of students along with the school's founder Junlou Enterina for a month long trip to the Philippines.
She was expecting hands on clinical training, but instead, she found herself in the classroom.
"When we got there, they told us they're not going to give us clinical. They give us algebra, they give us chemistry, both those classes, and they didn't give us clinical," said Najera.
When Najera returned to California, she said the school recommended she needed to take more classes to get her RN license. She quit the school instead.
Though one flier says the school is not accredited, former students claimed that school officials verbally promised them chances to take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) test and get their RN (registered nurse) licenses.
Chau Nguyen said he was already skeptical about the school when they offered him a chance to go to the Philippines.
"They promised me after I finish over here; you can do the NCLEX, go to the Philippines, come back, and then take the NCLEX over here. But I don't want to take too much risk because they told me you had to pay $20, 000," Nguyen said.
Enterina denied any wrong doing, but has agreed to pay back $500,000 dollars to students. That penalty may increase as the attorney general continues to investigate the case. However, the attorney general's office says Philippine schools are out of their jurisdiction and will not investigate the relationship that Philippine schools had with Enterina.
$1: P44.990
$1: P44.990 (P45.10)
Euro 1: P58.0460
Probe into smuggling in oil industry underway
DOF eyes purge of erring BIR, Customs personnel
Senate to probe P16B in 'non-remittance' by BSP
Flight attendants: PAL has enough savings for bigger pay hike
Latest China mudslides leave 14 dead, dozens missing
Pakistan flood survivors struggle to save livestock
Last US combat brigade pulls out of Iraq
Margarito denied California fight license
Foreman: Pacquiao doesn't need Mayweather
Bachelor P-Noy rejects divorce; mum on Kris' woes
James, Kris to meet in Makati court
Posibleng magkaharap muli sa Biyernes ang celebrity couple na sina Kris Aquino at James Yap sa pagdinig ng apela sa visitation rights kay Baby James.
Ninoy assassination a closed book for Aquino sisters
HK judge scolds Lovi Poe for loud 'yes'
Chavit says son could have been set up
Kuya Kim diagnosed with hypothyroidism
Dulce adapts gospel lyrics to her signature song 'Paano'
Miss Universe judges to pick top 15 semi-finalists
Pinoy nabbed for 'semen' in co-worker's drink
Michael Lallana was nabbed on Tuesday. Friends and classmates of Lallana confirmed his ethnicity as Filipino.
Lallana was said to have committed the lewd acts in January and April of this year.
According to the district attorney, the unnamed victim felt sick after drinking out of the contaminated water bottle.
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