Newsbriefs

CEBU CITY

Sinulog frenzy masks theft

The frenzy over Sinulog provided a perfect cover for the theft of at least P1.6 million in cash at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) that was discovered a few hours after a parade that was joined by millions of people on Monday.

Police tagged a suspect, security guard Joselyndo Jabagat, 40. Senior Supt. Ramon Melvin Buenafe, Cebu City police chief, said Jabagat has been taken into custody.

The missing funds include P880,000in refunds from the city government to the Sinulog Foundation Inc, P750,000 left for safekeeping by choreographer Victor Cuenco, P8,000 in ticket sales for the Sinulog parade, P10,000 in petty cash of the CCSC, P11,000 in donations for victims of Tropical Storm “Sendong,” P7,000 in bonus for a CCSC employee and a camera worth P9,000.

Senior Supt. Buenafe said guard Jabagat was tagged a suspect because of his inconsistent statements.

Jabagat denied a role in the theft. He initially said he was watching TV all the time but told reporters later he had fallen asleep.

Buenafe said there was no sign of forced entry into the room where the cash and valuables were being kept. The key to the room was in the care of Jabagat. Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas

Grenade kills boy who found it

A 10-year-old boy died hours after he suffered injuries from the explosion of a rifle grenade that he had been playing with in Danao City.

Albert James Lawas, 10, of Barangay Poblacion, died past 6 p.m. at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center from injuries he suffered in the explosion, according to hospital spokesman Nonoy Mongaya.

Chief Insp. Ricky Delelis, Danao City police chief, said the boy picked up the grenade on a road in the village near the house of his grandmother, Simeona Almeres.

Police quoted Almeres as saying she was doing the laundry when she heard an explosion. When Almeres checked, she saw her grandson crawling and shouting for help, according to SPO4 Edgar Gomez, of the Danao City police. Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas

DAVAO CITY

Davao water rates to increase

Consumers here will start paying 10 percent more per year for their water consumption starting February until 2014, the Davao City Water District (DCWD) announced on Tuesday.

Edwin Regalado, DCWD acting manager, said in February, the flat rate for consumption of 10 cubic meters or less will become P114.40.

He said the rate will increase to P125.80 this year and P138.40 in 2014, Regalado said.

He said the increase was not new and part of a 60-percent increase in rates that DCWD applied for in 2005. Judy Quiros, Inquirer Mindanao