News Briefs

DETAINEE WISHES FREEDOM ON BIRTHDAY

BEHIND bars for more than three years, political detainee Ramon Patriarca marked his 48th birthday yesterday with a visit from family and supporters.

Patriarca’s sister visited him in  his cell in the military’s Central Command (Centcom) in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City.  She  arrived from Manila and brought him a cake.

In an interview, Patriarca said he hopes that  one day the rebellion charges against him will be dropped so he can continue to help the poor and contribute to peace talks between the government and the communist rebels.

Patriarca was moved to a military detention cell last January  on orders of  Regional Trial Court (RTC)  in Danao City.

Outside  the Centcom gate,  members of Karapatan Central Visayas and the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) held a prayer rally  calling for the release of Patriarca and all other political detainees.

A short liturgy was  led by Fr. Rey Gelloagan. Some rallyists wanted to see Patriarca but they were barred from doing so.  Centcom spokesman  Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus cited security reasons. He said the military won’t  allow just anyone to get near Patriarca without prior information from his lawyer.

“If anything happens to him, we would be held liable,” he said. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

COLOR-CODED STICKERS FOR LAPU TRAFFIC

COLOR-coded stickers were given to five drivers of passenger jeepneys plying the Cordova to Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) routes last Friday as part of Lapu-Lapu City’s traffic rerouting scheme.

Frank Brazil, chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System (CTMS), said drivers and operators have to present an official receipt, certificate of registration, franchise and CTMS ID to their office to receive the stickers for free.

The rerouting scheme diverts the Cordova-MEPZ route jeepneys from the public market to make  a detour to A. Tumulak Street, Hoops Dome, Maximo Patalinjug Avenue and M.L. Quezon Highway and vice versa.

Operators and drivers complained that the new route  reduced their income.

But Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza asked them to cooperate and give the scheme a one-month trial run. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

OFF-SITE REGISTRATION FOR 2013

The  Cebu City Council last Wednesday asked  the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to hold off-site voters registration in the mountain barangays.

There are thousands  of new voters who haven’t signed up yet, said Councilor Michael Rallota. Youth groups managed to draw interest among young voters to register for the 2013  elections.

Due to Comelec’s limited resources, Rallota said the off-site registration should only be limited to barangays identified by Comelec and the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).

Comelec Resolution No. 9149 authorized the resumption of voter registration, transfer and reactivation of registration records from April 11 to Oct. 31.

New registrants have to personally appear before  the Comelec office or its designated registration area. They  have to present a valid identification card with photo  and fill up three copies of the application form. They also have to undergo a biometrics exam.  Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

SOFTBALL, BASEBALL FIELDS FOR SRP

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama wants softball and baseball fields built in part of the South Road Properties (SRP).

A vacant lot near the Mambaling access road and at the back of the SRP welcome sign would be good venues, he said.

Sports Commissioner Edward Hayco earlier sought the mayor’s permission to set up a baseball and softball field at the SRP.

He said they target 20,000 participants from the barangay for the  summer sports training program.

Rama said the sports commission would have to tap private sector support due to the city’s limited resources.  Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac