Newsbriefs

Aid for typhoon victims

DAVAO CITY — The city government is sending P5-million worth of assistance to areas devastated by Supertyphoon “Lawin” (international name: “Haima”) in northern Luzon. The Davao City council, through a resolution, authorized Mayor Sara Duterte to draw the money from the city’s calamity fund. The financial aid will be sent to the provincial governments of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, La Union, Mountain Province, and Kalinga. Councilor Diosdado Mahipus said the Local Government Code allows the city government to use its calamity fund to help other local governments hit by disaster. — JUDY QUIROS

Probe on prosecutor’s slay

TAGUM CITY — Police created a special task force to investigate Wednesday’s murder of the city prosecutor of Mati in Davao Oriental province. Senior Supt. Harry Espela, acting Davao Oriental police chief, said the Special Investigation Task Group Acido was formed to hasten the probe behind the slaying of Mati City prosecutor Rolando Acido. Police have yet to name any suspect or establish any motive in the attack as investigators look into Acido’s case load, which included drug-related
cases. — FRINSTON LIM

Retain Negros region

BACOLOD CITY — At least 160 officials in Negros Island have appealed to President Duterte to retain the newly created Negros Island Region (NIR). The appeal was approved in a forum presided by Local Government Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo in Bacolod City on Monday. Among those present in the forum were Governors Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental and Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental, as well as representatives, board members and mayors of the two provinces. Local officials said they were alarmed by a statement of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno that the President may repeal the executive order creating NIR. “We believe that the continued existence of NIR will not incur additional cost to the national government … [W]e assure the President that we will be able to effectively function with the status quo on the budget,” they said. — CARLA P. GOMEZ