News Briefs: March 7, 2019

Negros Oriental official acquitted

The Sandiganbayan first division has acquitted former mayor and now incumbent Vice Mayor Lawrence Solis Teves of Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.

Teves faced graft charges at the Sandiganbayan in connection with his involvement in the allegedly anomalous procurement of construction materials in 2011.

In a 30-page decision penned by Associate Justice Edgardo Caldona and concurred with by Associate Justices Efren dela Cruz and Geraldine Faith Econg, the court acquitted Teves for failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

While Teves was acquitted, his coaccused Denver Bokingkito and Bogard Colina had earlier pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of fraud against public treasury and similar offenses.

The two had to pay P40,000 each as well as P280,876.34 by way of damages in favor of the local government. —Patricia Denise M. Chiu

Cancellation of inmate privileges ‘temporary’

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said that the cancellation of inmate privileges for over 45,000 prisoners around the country was only “temporary,” as the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) “intensifies its campaign to rid our prison facilities of illegal drug activities.”

Guevarra had ordered the National Bureau of Investigation and the BuCor to investigate how inmate Rustico Ygot was able to access the internet from his cell in Bilibid, that allowed him to run his multimillion-peso drug operation in Cebu through his girlfriend, Jocelyn Encila.

Cebu police nabbed Encila and seized 28 kilograms of “shabu” valued at P190.4 million. —Dona Z. Pazzibugan

Navy beefs up patrol with 5 repaired ships

The Philippine Navy beefed up its maritime patrol operations, and distributed five of its newly repaired ships to different commands.

An official send-off was given on Monday to coastal patrol crafts BRP Manuel Gomez and BRP Heracleo Alano; landing craft utility BRP Tausug and BRP Subanon, as well as logistics support ship BRP Bacolod City.

According to Philippine fleet commander Rear Adm. Danilo Rodelas, the deployment of the additional five ships plays a “very crucial role in the Navy’s effective conduct of maritime patrol operations, internal security operations and logistics support missions.”

The five vessels were deployed from the Capt. Moya Boat Landing at the Naval Base in Sangley Point, Cavite City. —Jeannette I. Andrade

Register websites, Comelec tells candidates

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday reminded political parties and candidates to immediately register all websites and social media pages that they are using in their campaign for the May 13 midterm elections.

In a statement, the poll body said political parties and candidates must register with its Education and Information Department all the website name and addresses, official blog and/or social media pages that they are using for their campaign.

To date, the Comelec said that only 13 out of the 62 senatorial bets, and 23 out of 134 party-list organizations have complied.

“Any other blog or social media page which, when taken as a whole, has for its primary purpose the endorsement of a candidate, whether or not directly maintained or administered by the candidate or their official representatives, shall be considered additional official blogs or social media pages of the said candidate,” the Comelec said.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said social media firms involved in election campaign would also be required to submit records of their transactions. —Tina G. Santos