THE dance showcasing the Cebuanos’ resiliency and faith during calamities won in the Sinulog sa Kabataan (SK) sa Lalawigan at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) yesterday.

The downpour did not stop the students from Cebu Province to dance for the Señor Sto. Niño. Yesterday’s competition had nine contingents.

But the event, which was supposed to start at 1 p.m., was delayed for one hour due to the rain brought by a low-pressure area hovering over Mindanao.

Due to the rains, Sinulog Foundation Inc (SFI) executive director Ricky Ballesteros said the Department of Education 7 suggested to him to postpone the activity. But he preferred to wait for the rain to ease up.

The rain stopped at 2 p.m. The parade from the Cebu Provincial Capitol to CCSC then started.

But Ballesteros said they did not push through with the street dancing for the safety of the students, considering that the roads were wet.

“The safety of the contingents is really our main concern,” he said.

In yesterday’s competition, the Talisay Central School won the SK sa Lalawigan elementary division.

They earned their back-to-back win after defeating four other contingents.

Talisay danced their way to the top by using as its first backdrop the life-size front pages of local newspapers in Cebu that headlined the different disasters that hit the Visayas in recent months.

These included the collision of two vessels last August near Lawis Ledge in Talisay City, the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last October, typhoon Yolanda last November and four fires that hit five barangays in the city last December.

The contingent moved the backdrop and the dancers acted as survivors of the tragedies. The survivors then offered prayers to Sto. Niño and thanked him for sparing their lives.

The dancers went on with their dance routine and used as backdrop the Talisay City Hall, Magellan’s Cross and the other tourist spots in the city.

Marvie Caño, choreographer of the Talisay contingent, said he was happy they defended their title.

“We just really wanted to show Cebuanos’ faith despite the tragedies and that Cebu remains the Queen City of the South and the premiere province in the country,” he said.

Caño said his 100 dancers and 400 props men started practicing in October last year.

Noemi Bellosillo, chairperson of the board of judges, said Talisay earned the judges’ nod because the storyline was presented clearly.

“Their performance as a whole was very good, including the costume, their props, and the dancers were very coordinated,” she said.
For the SK sa Lalawigan secondary level, the top spot was earned by Tuburan National High School from the town of Tuburan.

Surprises

They defeated three other contingents with their dance routine that thanked Señor Sto. Niño for a good coconut harvest.

Bellosillo said Tuburan presented their storyline well. She also said they have a lot of surprises.

The group’s choreographer Fernando Cabrillos said they practiced their routine for three months. They have a total of 100 dancers and 278 props men.

Cabrillas welcomed their victory yesterday after finishing second in last year’s competition. The first place was earned by Carcar City. Carcar did not join this year’s SK sa Lalawigan as they decided to directly participate in the grand parade on Jan. 19.

Other winners in the secondary level are La Paz National High School from Bogo City (4th place), Sabang National High School from Danao City (3rd place) and Uling National High School from Naga City (2nd place).

The best in costume was won by Uling National High School while the best in musicality was won by Tuburan National High School.

For the elementary level, the other winners are Taytay Elementary School from Danao City (5th place), Langtad Elementary School from Naga (4th place), Ginatilan Elementary School (3rd place) and Mandaue City Elementary School (2nd place).

The best in costume and best in musicality was won by Talisay Central School.

The first placer in yesterday’s competition earned P300,000, P150,000 for the second place, P100,000 for the third place, P75,000 for the fourth place and P50,000 for the fifth place.

The best in musicality and best in costume winners were given P50,000.

All the nine contingents in yesterday’s SK sa Lalawigan earned a spot for the grand parade on Jan. 19.

Police described the event as generally peaceful, and estimated the crowd at 80,000.

Senior Insp. Michael Angelo Beltran said there were only minor problems in the crowd at the Cebu Sports Center.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III told the crowd to be thankful for the blessings they received from Señor Sto. Niño.

THE Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has started its inquiry into the 2009 Dodge Charger with a Cebu City Government seal that was being kept in the house of Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district).

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol yesterday said he directed lawyer Carla Juris Tanco, acting director of the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureau, to conduct a fact-finding based on newspaper reports and an anonymous letter sender.

“Wala kaming pinapaboran rito. Basta lumabag sa batas, iimbestigahan natin (We don’t play favorites. If an official breaks the law, we will investigate that official),” he told Sun.Star Cebu.

During the preliminary investigation, the ombudsman will gather documents pertaining to the donation of the vehicles by Bigfoot Entertainment chairman Michael Gleissner to Osmeña, former Cebu City mayor, Apostol said.

Admissions

Apostol also said they will gather testimonies of witnesses to aid them in their preliminary investigation.

Osmeña admitted receiving two 2009 Dodge sedans from Gleissner, but clarified that these were registered to his older sister, Maria Victoria “Minnie” Osmeña, and her son Paolo.

One of the cars was painted black and white and it has a siren. It is also marked “Cebu City Police,” although it was not donated to the City Hall or the city police.

Osmeña, in previous interviews, also admitted he lobbied before the Congress and the Senate to grant German-born Gleissner Filipino citizenship.

Gleissner was granted Filipino citizenship by the Senate enabling him to invest in the South Road Properties (SRP).

Apostol yesterday said his office launched the preliminary investigation on the criminal, and not the civil, aspect of the case. This is pursuant to the provision of Republic Act (RA) 6770, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, which provides that the ombudsman has disciplinary authority over elective and appointive public officials except members of Congress and the Judiciary.

Assurance

In case an administrative complaint is filed before the Ombudsman-Visayas, Apostol said he will refer this to the speaker of the House of Representatives.

The anti-graft office may also entertain any complaint and initiate an inquiry and an investigation for alleged irregularities of public officials.

Apostol assured that any public official accused of irregularity will be given the opportunity to answer the charges during the formal investigation.

Under existing rules, the anti-graft office has at least 25 days to terminate the preliminary investigation, a legal procedure where the investigator determines whether there is sufficient ground to engender a well-founded belief that a crime has been committed.

Willingness to help

Interviewed over ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol Central Visayas, Apostol also denied singling out Osmeña in the investigation.

Apostol said documents relating to the case–whether from political critics of Osmeña or concerned taxpayers–will help the ombudsman fast-track the inquiry.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Rama yesterday welcomed the anti-graft office’s inquiry against Osmeña.

Rama said the City Government is willing to cooperate in the fact-finding, if needed, particularly in tracing documents regarding the two vehicles.

He said the investigation will enlighten the public on the propriety of the congressman’s possession of the Dodge Chargers that Gleissner originally wanted to donate to the City.

“I am happy. This is the only way to put this (controversy) to rest and for the people to be aware of what really is going on. This is the proper and legal way (of handling the matter),” he said.

The ombudsman will look into Osmeña’s possible violation of Section 7 of RA 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which prohibits public officials from soliciting or accepting gifts.

Gleissner had reportedly wanted to donate the vehicles to the City during the time of Osmeña in 2009. Bigfoot is a lessee of a two-hectare lot at the SRP.

Upon learning that Osmeña’s term was ending, Gleissner reportedly decided to give the vehicles to Osmeña instead.

However, Osmeña had said he didn’t want the vehicles so his sister and nephew bought these.

Records of the Land Transportation Office state the vehicles were only bought last June. The vehicles had been used in films by Bigfoot.

While Osmeña said it would be unfair to also subject his sister and nephew to an investigation, Rama said it’s part of having a relative who is a politician.

Rama said his whole family was affected when he was accused of being a drug protector.

“Wa na siya’y mahimo. Naabot na man na (There’s nothing he can do. It has gotten to this point). It goes with the position,” he said.

The City Council rejected former mayor Don Durano’s appointment as city administrator because the appointment violates the Local Government Code (RA 7160). The council also said that Don concealed a material fact in his personal data sheet.

Nito endorsed Resolution No. 112-11 to the Office of the Mayor for Boy to sign.

The Council cited paragraph B, Section 94 of the Local Government Code, which prohibits a candidate from being appointed to any government post within one year after the election.

Don also declared in his data sheet that he has not been formally charged with any case in court.

But the City Council obtained records from the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in Danao City, which showed that Don has three pending criminal cases for grave coercion, obstruction of justice and resistance and disobedience to persons in authority.

Incident

The cases stemmed from an incident during the 2007 local elections, involving members of the Danao City police.

Among other documents, the council got a certification issued by MTCC Clerk of Court Cheryl Bulalague dated May 10, 2011, stating that according to the records available in their office, a person named Jesus “Don” Durano, et al, of National Road, Poblacion, Danao City has been charged.

The cases were filed by Danao City policemen led by SPO1 Ramerito Ramoneda last July 16, 2007.

Concealment

In the resolution, the councilors said that Don’s declaration under oath constitutes concealment of a material fact.

Ironically, Don was appointed by incumbent Mayor Boy Durano, who defeated him in the last election.

Don, Nito and Boy are brothers, and sons of the late Rep. Ramon “Mano Amon” Durano Sr., who was considered a political kingpin during his time.

Don replaced his nephew Oscar “Boying” Durano Rodriguez who was city administrator from July 1, 2010 to March 2011.

Boying said he was replaced after he criticized his uncle Boy for delaying the implementation of the Danao City Bulk Water Project for months, resulting in the loss of millions of pesos in interest payments for the P30-million loan for the water project.

Sun.Star Cebu tried to interview Boy and Don but they could not be reached for comment yesterday afternoon. (Sun Star)

By doing this, Boy Durano would be violating the election ban on appointing election losers within a year from the election.

Effective today, April 15, Jesus “Don” Durano is the Danao City Administrator, a position vested with the trust and confidence of the mayor.

Don took over Oscar “Boying” Durano Rodriguez Jr.
Rodriguez saw a political motive behind the termination of his services.

He said he is the last remaining ally of Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III, whose presence at City Hall is seen by the mayor as a threat to his administration.

Sun.Star Cebu called Boy on his mobile phone and also texted him but did not get
replies.

Nito, Boy and Don are brothers and have been holding various elected positions in Danao City. Nito had served as Danao city mayor for three terms as well as congressman of the fifth district, also for three terms.

Boy was Nito’s vice mayor then.

Mayor Boy has made Don’s appointment as city administrator official in Memorandum no. 11-226 dated April 11, an act that Rodriguez said violated the Local Government Code and Civil Service Law.

Boy’s act of appointing his brother Don is nepotism, Rodriguez said.

Because Don ran but lost in the May 10, 2010 elections, he is still not qualified to be appointed to any public post until after May 11 this year.

Don lost the mayorship to Boy.

Rodriguez said Nito has always been considered as the one with wider appeal to the people and with more supporters than his brothers.

This is why in the 2010 elections Boy “begged” Nito, who did not want to run anymore, to be his runningmate lest he lose to their brother Don, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said Nito and Boy parted ways in October last year when Boy broke his promise not to field candidates for barangay officials.

Since then, the mayor has been issuing termination orders to Nito’s close allies at City Hall including to the city engineer who is the husband of Nito’s daughter, Provincial Board Member Carmen Durano-Meca.Rodriguez said, “I think (Boy) is an incompetent mayor. That is why we are now finalizing our recall petition against him.

He is not worthy to continue as mayor.”

The election law allows a recall election against an incumbent mayor between one year after his last election and one year before the next election. (Sun Star)

In a press conference Wednesday, Magdamit said the hostages were abandoned by the tribesmen on Sitio Baleta, Barangay La Purisima in Prosperidad town at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Released were Department of Education district supervisor Narciso Oliveros, principal Apolono Alibangbang, property custodian Joel Sausa, teachers Manuel Mordano, Felipina Quitoy, Allan Gallano, Mary Jane Bedrijo, Arnold Quitoy, Pido Dolorito, Girlie Monticalbo, Marical Lagnazon, and Diosdado and Shen-shen Cabagtac.

The mayor clarified the 13th captive, Diosdado, was earlier freed by the tribesmen but returned to offer himself as hostage in exchange for his son Shen-shen.

He said the hostages were freed after Jobert “Ondo” Perez, a jailed tribal leader who is their relative, convinced them to release the victims.

He also said the assurance of fair treatment to the hostage-takers may have contributed to the peaceful end of the hostage crisis.

"This is a result of a dialogue… They clarified their demand was for them to be treated fairly… We believe these assurances along with the mounting pressure from the troops on the ground forced the abductors to leave their hostages," he said.

All of the freed hostages were "in good physical condition aside from minor insect bites" and were subjected to medical exams and debriefing upon their release, Magdamit said.

The mayor, however, said: "Basta pinakawalan na lang yung mga hostages. Hindi namin alam nasaan yung hostage-takers."

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo affirmed the report, saying government troops are now on hot pursuit operations for hostage-takers, who are reportedly minors.

Robredo added the hostage-takers will be facing criminal charges.

He also said officials met Tuesday with Ondo Perez who asked to be treated fairly in his case.

Robredo said officials assured Perez that his case will be treated fairly.

However, he said: "This is not a fight between him and government. This is just a fight between two families. He cannot demand to be absolved of his cases."

Palace elated

Meanwhile, Malacañang was delighted by the peaceful ending of the Agusan del Sur hostage crisis.

“We are very pleased about the peaceful resolution of the hostage taking at Agusan del Sur,” Presidential Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang said.

"Throughout the ordeal, the safety of the victims was President Aquino’s paramount concern and he is happy to know that they are safe and free,” added Carandang.

He thanked officials who contributed to the peaceful resolution of the crisis, particularly Agusan del Sur Governor Adolf Edward Plaza, Mayor Albin Magdamit, National Police Chief Raul Bacalzo, and provincial social welfare officer Josefina Bajade.

The Palace also lauded the local crisis management committee composed of the local police, the Armed Forces and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples.

He also noted the efforts of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who flew to Agusan on the instructions of the President to personally oversee the negotiations.

“The cooperation of the local government leaders and the community, the National Government, and the media was instrumental in obtaining the release of the hostages,” Carandang said.

Tighten security

In a separate interview, Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Sonny Coloma said authorities will tighten security in areas prone to kidnapping incident.

He said this directive came from President Benigno Aquino III following the involvement of innocent children in the kidnapping.

He stressed the need for the government to intensify campaign against kidnapping, especially in Mindanao.

On Friday, 13 school officials and two students, who came from graduation ceremonies in three schools in Prosperidad town, were snatched at gunpoint and taken to a forested area of the town.

Armed tribesmen earlier freed a 12-year-old boy and Agusan del Sur Division Superintendent Hipolito Lastimado and Diosdado Cabantac.

Earlier, police identified the five hostage-takers as Ken-Ken Perez, Rejoy Brital, Rolando Perez, Alejandro Navarro Brital, and Allan Perez.

The hostage-takers have demanded the release of tribal leader Ondo Perez, who was jailed with three other tribesmen for taking 79 people hostage in 2009 over a long-running clan feud.

Oliva told members of the City Council in an executive session yesterday that the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), which she heads, was just following the orders of City Mayor Michael Rama.

The CTO made the transaction with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Plaza Branch, in which the P5.1 million check that did not contain the city accountant’s advice was encashed.

No shortcuts

Oliva vowed to never make a shortcut of the process again but stressed that there was nothing illegal about the cash advance.

Department heads at City Hall and representatives from LBP were called to the executive meeting.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said even if Oliva did not say she was “pressured” by the mayor, the cash advance was made on his orders.

“Nanawag na si mayor: Asa na ang lights? Sa ato pa, na-pressure siya (Oliva). (The mayor may have called asking about the lights. So she was under pressure). We have to wield our power responsibly, we have to think where this would lead,” said Young.

Rama did not comment on whether he pressured Oliva. But he said the most important thing is that a lesson is learned and that, as much as possible, it should not happen again.

Justifiable

If it will, the mayor said, the move should be justified.

But Young pointed out that Christmas lights do not make for a justifiable reason.

“It was not for salaries, not because of a disaster. It was because of Christmas lights; it's not that urgent. No one will die, so what's the difference between one more week that the City will not be decorated?” asked Young.

Last December, City Hall tasked its departments to decorate street center islands. The CTO reportedly made the cash advance for the purpose.

But as deliberations on the P5.1-million cash advance continue, department heads no longer want to be involved in decorating the streets again.

Decorations

The project meant City Hall employees had to leave their jobs to decorate the streets.

Department heads, said Young, were unanimous in saying they want the Parks and Playgrounds committee to handle Christmas street decorations.

Young also wants bara-ngays to take on the task.

LBP, on the other hand, admitted it has made accommodations with City Hall as it is one of the big government clients.

“We do accommodate encashments on a case-to-case basis, especially that Cebu City is one of our top government accounts. We did some accommodations before but the accountant's advice was submitted immediately. This (encashment without the accountant's advice) happened only now,” said LBP Plaza Branch manager Dexter Campos Ruiz.

Checks

City Accountant Arlene Rentuza confirmed there were checks sent to LBP to be encashed initially without her advice. But on those occasions, pertinent documents were in order so she was immediately able to send her advice.

In the case of the P5.1- million cash advance, Rentuza had to send the documents to pre-audit with the Commission on Audit (COA) because the check and the voucher were not attached when these were forwarded to her.

Young said the incident should be a warning so that others will not follow the fate of acting city assessor Eustaquio Cesa, former city administrator Alan Gaviola and the late city accountant Edna Jaca, who were found guilty of approving the unliquidated cash advance of former pay officer Rosalina Badana worth P18.5 million.

Young said it was not their fault but their signatures were found on the documents.

The vice mayor felt sorry for CTO executive secretary Julieta Mariquita, who is the accountable officer.

Oliva said Mariquita was the only one in CTO without a cash advance, so the P5.1
million was made under her name.

“In our desire to help expedite a valid, proper and legal transaction, we didn't know we (CTO) would end up this way. I called a staff meeting to craft safety measures and mechanics so this won't happen again,” said Oliva.

When asked if the council would craft a resolution to correct the problem, Young said: “There is no legislation for common sense.” (Sun Star)

Binay, in a television interview, said that Sally Ordinario, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain had undergone lethal injection before Wednesday noon.

Credo and Ordinario-Villanueva were executed in Xiamen while Batain in Shenzhen.

Meanwhile, in a statement of Presidential Edwin Lacierda read by deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, the Philippine government expressed sympathies to the families of the three Filipino drug mules, noting the incident should serve as a lesson to every overseas Filipino worker to be vigilant and not let themselves be victimized by illegal drug trafficking.

"Our government had taken every available opportunity to appeal to the authorities of China for clemency in their cases, to which the Chinese government responded with a postponement of the execution. In the end, however, the sentence was imposed," the statement said.

"The nation sympathized with the families of the condemned, sharing their sense of looming loss. We sympathize with these families now. Their deaths are a vivid lesson in the tragic toll the drug trade takes on entire families."

"We are resolved to ensure that the chain of victimization, as pushers entrap and destroy lives in pursuit of their trade, will be broken. Those who traffic in illegal drugs respect no laws, no boundaries, and have no scruples about destroying lives. Our response must be relentless, with the government and the citizenry working together must be relentless, with government and citizenry working together to ensure vigilance and mutual support to prevent our countrymen from being used by drug pushers as sacrificial pawns, whether at home or abroad," it added.

Valte said the government will be giving assistance to the families of the three.

Ramon Credo, 42, was arrested at the Gaoji International Airport in Xiamen for carrying 4,113 grams of heroin; Elizabeth Batain, 38, was apprehended at the Shenzhen Airport with 6,800 grams of the same substance; and Sally Villanueva, 32, was nabbed for carrying some 4,410 grams of the prohibited substance.

03/12/2011 - MAYOR Valdemar Chiong of the City of Naga yesterday criticized the Kepco-SPC Power Corp. for failing to contain the dust emitted by coal being delivered to its newly built coal-fired power plants.

City residents have complained of black particles settling on their clothes, cars and furniture inside their houses.

Gerardo “Radi” Panilag, 51, who lives a kilometer away from the Kepco-SPC power plants, said the clothes that he had just washed turned black after some time.

“Grabe kung udto. Di makita ang karsada (At noon, you cannot see the road),” he said.

Punish

Sun.Star went inside the Kepco-SPC compound to get the reaction of Neal Quiones, reportedly the plants’ safety officer. Although allowed to enter the compound, Sun.Star could not interview Quiones as he has yet to confer with his superiors.

“I want all those who violated the law, especially the Clean Air Act, punished. They (should not) ignore our request for them to stop polluting our community,” Chiong said.

Chiong also accused Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 officer-in-charge of being arrogant in dealing with the local government unit (LGU).

Concerned about the effect of pollution on the health of residents, Chiong said, he requested Arranguez to consult the local government unit before issuing an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) to the power plants, which have a combined capacity of 200 megawatts.

But the EMB official, he said, told him that under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Memorandum Circular 001, a written endorsement from the local government is not a requirement in issuing an ECC.

Consultation

“Even if LGU endorsement is not mandatory, Arranguez should have the courtesy of consulting us, especially since the people are complaining of pollution. Will DENR assign a director other than Arranguez who is arrogant?” Chiong asked.

Chiong said the DENR should consult local officials and residents in areas like Naga, where coal-fired power plants are located, before issuing the ECC.

The mayor noted that he has the authority to issue or revoke business permits to all establishments in the city.

But he said he will call for a meeting with Kepco-SPC officials on Monday to discuss ways to avoid the generation and spread of dust during delivery of coal.

He observed that the coal yard of Kepco-SPC is just along the highway so the wind could blow away the coal.

Environmentalists have been opposing the operation of the coal-fired power plants in Cebu.

(Sun Star)

03/12/2011 - THE most critical hours passed last night with no unusually large waves spotted near Philippine shores, after a huge earthquake and a tsunami hit Japan yesterday.

But government warn-ed coastal residents the first waves may not always be the largest and “these may continue for hours,” so they should avoid the coast and head inland.

Seismologists warned that waves of up to three feet could hit between 5:00 and 7:00 last night in 19 of the country’s 79 provinces.

President Benigno Aquino III took an earlier flight than scheduled from Singapore, to oversee government’s efforts to deal with the tsunami scare.

“We haven’t received reports that a Filipino died in the earthquake,” Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez said in a television interview.

An estimated 300,000 Filipinos work in Japan.

Both countries sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

About 20 earthquakes hit the Philippines every day but only a few are felt. The worst such disaster to hit the country was in August 1976, when a magnitude 7.9 tremor killed more than 5,000 people in the coastal communities in Sulu, Cotabato and
Zamboanga City.

Responding to reports from Japan yesterday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued this bulletin: “People whose houses are very near coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean are strongly advised to go farther inland.”

Nineteen provinces made the list, with the Batanes Islands, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Isabela in the north expected to be the first hit.

Tsunami alert level 2 was also raised over the following provinces: Quezon, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur.

People living between 10 and 40 meters from the shoreline must leave immediately, Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said.

The Coast Guard warned ships and small seacraft not to sail until the alert level is lifted.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development alerted its regional directors to prepare supplies and personnel for possible relief efforts.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is closely monitoring situation of Filipinos in affected areas in Japan.

The tsunami damaged properties along its path in Japan’s northeastern coast, with dozens of cars, ships and some buildings being washed ashore.

“The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the entire Filipino nation join me in expressing both our most profound condolences and sympathies, as well as our solidarity with Your Excellency and the people of Japan, as you strive to cope with this tragedy whose devastation, it pains us, is still unfolding,” President Aquino
said in a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

The Embassy in Tokyo said they were exerting efforts to get in touch with Philippine Honorary Consulates in Sapporo, Morioka and Nagoya, and members of the Filipino community for initial reports of any injury or casualty.

In Cebu City, officials said the City Government may send a delegation of doctors and nurses to Japan.

Acting Mayor Joy Augustus Young and Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) said they will organize a rescue team that will be composed of at least 20 doctors and nurses.

“I want to make clear that they (Japan) have not yet asked us to help but we want to make an effort that if they need us, we are here, we are ready to help,” said Osmeña.

“I will personally lead the delegation myself because I’m very grateful for the support they have given us. They made Cebu globally competitive. Cebu was their favorite so we should make an effort,” he said.

Among other projects, the Japanese Government helped the City with the South Road Properties and the Cebu South Coastal Road Project.

In an emergency news conference yesterday, Young asked the public, particularly those living near the coastline, to temporarily evacuate until the tsunami alert is lifted.

Young said they have placed the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council on alert to help neighboring provinces that might be hit by a tsunami. (AFP) with Princes Dawn Felicitas

(Sun Star)

While the City allocated funds to repair the facility, Department of Public Services (DPS) chief Engr. Dionisio Gualiza said the treatment plant has not improved.

The deterioration of the STP is also caused by the absence of a manual on how to effectively manage and run the facility, he said.

The management of the SM City Cebu then complained to City Hall about the stench near the facility, which came from wastewater that had been left untreated because of the defective equipment.
The City then allocated at least P3 million to buy replacement parts of the equipment.

“But sad to say, the facility is not in a good condition to operate anymore,” said Gualiza.

After the facility was damaged, Gualiza said that the City encountered problems in disposing of septic waste.

There are at least three private haulers, which he refused to name, who are dumping their waste anywhere in the city.

In 2009, the City’s Solid Waste Management Board recommended to allow the three private haulers to dump their septic waste at the landfill.
While it was supposed to be temporary, Gualiza said that these private haulers are still currently dumping at the existing landfill, with only minor treatment since the landfill has no sewage treatment facility.

“Ug dili kaayo ni welcome nga move sa DENR (This will not be welcomed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources),” he said.

Gualiza said that in an inspection, DENR found out the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of the landfill’s water discharge has reached 3,000, which is way above the standard level of 150 to 200.

The BOD is a measure of the quantity of oxygen used by microorganisms. A low BOD indicates a good quality, while a high BOD means the water is polluted.

Sven Erik Berger and Karen Esdrelon were freed after the Provincial Prosecutor's Office dismissed Monday the special complex crime of kidnapping with homicide charges filed against them by the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

The two were arrested last February 12 while they were about to board a flight to Hong Kong at the Mactan Cebu International Airport. Police, based on witnesses' accounts, tagged them as suspects in the murder of Ellah Joy Pique.

The arrest was conducted without a warrant.

In dyLA radio interview Monday, Esdrelon said they are confident from the "very start" that the case will be dismissed.

Assistant Provincial Prosecutors Marlon Atillo and Marvin dela Peña, in their joint resolution, said the complaint lacked probable cause.

According to witnesses, Ellah Joy, 6, was abducted from outside a public school in Minglanilla, Cebu past 4 p.m. of February 8. The town lies more than 15 kilometers south of this city.

The couple said it was impossible for them to kidnap the girl in the afternoon of February 8 in Calajo-an, Minglanilla because their "movement was only confined" at the Norwegian School and the Waterfront Hotel in this city when the alleged crime was committed.

Berger and Esdrelon earlier presented to authorities documents to prove their innocence.

At least 14 photographs, captured from the footage of the Waterfront Hotel's security cameras, were submitted to Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The first two photos show the couple entering the hotel at 4:44 p.m. last February 8, bringing their bags. At 4:45 p.m., they were registering at the front desk. Each photo bears a date and time stamp.

The two also outlined in their counter-affidavit their itinerary from February 7, the day Berger arrived at the Mactan Cebu International Airport, until the afternoon of February 9, when they reportedly went to Esdrelon's house in Tuburan, Cebu. They attached in their affidavits certifications from the Norwegian School and the Waterfront Hotel.

National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas Director Edward Villarta earlier said that the police were under pressure to file complaint because they could not hold the suspects beyond 36 hours without doing so.