NEWS BRIEFS

CITY INFO OFFICE

THE Cebu City Council is calling the city’s Information Officer to appear in its regular session on Wednesday to explain suspicions that his office is being used in the black propaganda of Mayor Michael Rama.

Councilor Alvin Dizon said that the Public Information Office may no longer be a good source of information if it is true that it is being used by the mayor for his propaganda against the city council especially on the slashing of his proposed P11.8-billion budget.

But Public Information Officer Carlo Dugaduga said he has not received a formal invitation yet.

He also needs to consult the mayor if he should heed the council’s invitation as part of protocol.

Councilor Noel Wenceslao noticed that during the recent press briefings, the heads of the Department of Manpower Development and Placement (DMDP), City Health Office and the Department of Public Services (DPS) all discussed about the council’s refusal to pass their proposed budget.

Dugaduga explained that press briefings with city hall department heads were organized when Rama became mayor to allow them to report their accomplishments.

Dugaduga said his office only facilitates the press briefing and they have nothing to do with how it would go. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

INHIBIT FROM PROBE

LAPU-LAPU City Rep. Arturo Radaza wants Deputy Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago to inhibit from the investigation on the overpriced Asean lampposts and overpriced computers distributed to the different schools in Lapu-Lapu City.

Radaza told reporters yesterday that Santigao is biased against him as shown in the decisions on the cases filed against him before the Visayas Ombudsman.

Radaza will be consulting his lawyers on the filing of the petition for inhibition against Santiago at the Ombudsman head office in Manila.

“I’m hopeful that with Conchita Carpio-Morales as the new Ombudsman, the investigation of the two cases will go well,” Radaza told reporters.

“Bias si Palanca (Santiago), even sa mga computers, iya baliktaron ang tanan,” Radaza added. /Correspondent Fe Marie D. Dumaboc