NEWS BRIEFS

APAS, RALLOS COURT GETS NEW JUDGE

It’s a big challenge ahead for the new judge who will preside over high-profile cases in Cebu City like the Apas land dispute and the P133-million money claim of the Rallos family against City Hall.

Judge Alexander Acosta took his oath of office yesterday as presiding judge of Regional Trial Court branch 9 in Cebu City.

With his wife and two daughters as witnesses, Acosta took his oath before Court of Appeals Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles.

“I will try my best to be impartial. I will firmly render justice and not delay any case,” Acosta told reporters after the ceremony at the Palace of Justice.

Acosta first has to undergo a two-month immersion and seminar to prepare for his new role.

In an interview, Jusitce Ingles said Acosta must uphold justice and truth at all times and maintain the integrity of the judiciary.

He also advised members of Acosta’s family not to frequent the court so they won’t be approached by litigants who want to influence the outcome of a case. /Ador Vincent S. Mayol

GWEN NEEDS NOD OF ERAP, ENRILE

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she still has to get the nod of former president Joseph Estrada who heads the Partido ng Masang Pilipino and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to ensure her slot in the Senate lineup of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Garcia was already endorsed by UNA top leader Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Garcia said she was happy to get the support of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and religious sect leader Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ movement when she was “warmly received” in Davao City recently.

She said the lady mayor of Davao city invited her to visit Davao for the Kadayawan Festival on August. /Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos

MAYOR: EXPLAIN LATE SALARIES

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the head of the Squatters Prevention and Elimination Division (Speed) to explain why 12 job order workers were hired even if there is no budget for their honoraria.

Rama said that if Speed chief Noel Artes made a mistake in the hiring, he could be asked to pay for their uncollected salary for July to December 2011.

But the unpaid salaries may be a result of the “budget cuts”of the City Council in the 2012 executive budget.

The 12 job order workers wrote Rama on May 8 to appeal for the release of their salaries because their children had to be enrolled in school.

Artes said their pay for July to December 2011 was not release because the outlay for their honorarium was used to pay the honorarium of personnel who are tasked to regulate the operation of ambulant vendors. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac