News Briefs

Charges dismissed

ADMINISTRATIVE and criminal charges were dismissed against the former regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) accused of falsifying a public document.

In its ruling, the anti-graft office found no sufficient evidence to convict Romulo Bernaldez and records officer Reynaldo Elnar.

The complaint was filed by Mayo Perez, the manager of the Holiday Taxi franchise operating in Cebu.

Perez said he was furnished a copy of a certification which showed the list of Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) under “Taxi Aircon denomination” that have expired that was signed by Bernaldez.

The complainant said the list included one franchise issued to Holiday Transport Service Corp.

Perez said the taxi union was still operating and not abandoned.

Perez said the respondents issued a document containing false narration of facts.

The document was prepared by Elnar. The respondents denied falsifying the list.

The anti-graft office said the false entries in the public document being questioned don’t constitute falsification since there was no evidence to prove that it was made with malice or deliberate intent. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

’K+12 to equip students for work’

THE K+12 program will better prepare high school students for work because it will help them master the basics that will qualify them for employment, education officials said over the weekend.

“We should not feel that all Filipinos need to go to college for better employment,” said Dr. Patricia Licuanan, chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) during a pre-summit conference at the Eco-Tech Center in barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Last week’s summit was attended by teachers, non-government organizations, parents and local leaders in the Visayas region.

Licuanan said once the program takes effect, college courses will be reduced for at least a year.

The CHED official said the curriculum for general education will be included in the high school level. Licuanan said most college programs don’t match the country’s employment requirements.

She said the country needs more graduates in agriculture, fisheries and science and technology rather than tourism, nursing and engineering which she referred to as the “popular courses.”

The Department of Education (DepEd) will implement the grade 7 level next school year, which will be considered as the “new first year high school.” Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya

Cebu backs Corona – Gwen

Cebu won’t support the impeachment of Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato Corona, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said last week.

Garcia said a signature campaign launched by a consumer group doesn’t reflect the actual sentiments of the Cebuanos towards the Chief Justice.

“Let’s not be presumptious. We have only the highest respect for the SC and Chief Justice Renato Corona,” she said.

The Consumer Rights and Economic Welfare (CREW) group launched last week a signature campaign in Fuente Osmeña calling for Corona’s impeachment.

The signatures will be sent to House Speaker Jose Belmonte fo consideration. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus