NEWS BRIEFS

FAMILY COURT TOLD TO HANDLE STC CASE

Executive Judge Sylvestre Maamo of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Cebu City ordered the RTC Clerk of Court not to reraffle the Injunction case filed against the St. Theresa’s College (STC) and to return the files of the case to family court Judge Manuel Patalinghug.

STC prohibited five students from attending their high school graduation rites last March 30 as punishment for “serious” violations of the Student Handbook, including posting “lewd” bikini photos in their Facebook accounts.

Two of the four complainants backed off from the case after they entered into a compromise agreement with STC./Reporter by Ador Vincent Mayol

SC SUSPENDS BOGO COURT EMPLOYEE

The clerk of court of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in Bogo City, north Cebu, was found liable for being remiss in collecting and remitting judiciary funds.

The Supreme Court (SC) found Estrella Nini guilty of gross neglect of duty and was ordered suspended for six months.

Nini, clerk of court II of the MTCC, was also asked to pay a P5,000 fine for delayed remittances of Fiduciary Fund collections and failure to collect the required Sheriff’s Trust Fund (STF) for civil cases.

She was warned that a repetition of the same or similar offense shall be dealt with more severely.

The High Court also ordered MTCC Bogo Judge Dante Manreal to designate an acting clerk of court to collect court filing fees and to open an account with the Land Bank of the Philippines. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol

CENTCOM TO SOLDIERS IN APAS ROW: ‘RESPECT RULE OF LAW’

The Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines advised active and retired members in military service affected in a pending demolition in sitio San Miguel, barangay Apas, Cebu City, to respect the rule of law.

Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, Centcom spokesperson, said there are active soldiers among the affected residents in Apas.

Tampus said the Centcom will limit its role to maintaining peace and order if requested by police during the demolition.

The Civil Disturbance Management unit, however, is on standby at Camp Sotero Cabahug and ready to respond anytime if the demolition will push through.

Tampus said it’s not only 168 families that are affected by the pending demolition. He disclosed the7th Regional Community Defense Group and the office of Army Recruitment Center (ARC) are within the 4.7-hectare land owned by Mariano Godinez.

Tampus said if the demolition will happen, they have already reserved a vacant lot where active soldiers and their families can temporarily stay./Correspondent Chito O. Aragon