News briefs

Young tells court, ‘Rama unauthorized’

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said he will write the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City to inform it that  Mayor Michael Rama has no legal personality to file a civil action against Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

Young said he is certain the case will be returned to the city government  if it is known that the mayor did not have authorization from the City Council.

City Hall filed last week a petition for declaratory relief questioning the validity of Purisima’s appointment of Emma Villarete to replace City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva.

City Hall lawyers said in its petition that Purisima may have “acted with grave abuse of discretion” when it did not act on the City Hall’s earlier motion for reconsideration to the February 2012 order of the Finance Department to replace Oliva with Tessie Camarillo./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Mild earthquake hits Bogo

A 3.3 magnitude earthquake hit Bogo City in northern Cebu on  Tuesday dawn.

The Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in the Visayas recorded the earthquake near the coast of barangay Siokon in Bogo City.

Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez said  the earthquake did not cause any damage in his city./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

Capitol hands-off on Apas-Lahug rift

The Cebu provincial government urged barangays Apas and  Lahug to settle their  boundary dispute with the Cebu City Government.

Provincial Attorney Marino Martinquilla said that although the lot formerly occupied by Hope Center is owned by the Cebu provincial government, the issue of boundaries is not in their jurisdiction.

Lahug barangay captain Jovito Taborada Jr. is asking  Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to recall the permission given to  barangay Apas to use the vacant room of Hope Center which he insists is located in barangay Lahug

“The province has allowed the lot to be used for the benefit of the children since it is idle,” Martinquilla told reporters./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

Lapu brgy captain snubs garbage case

A barangay captain in Lapu-Lapu City may be hailed to court for snubbing the city prosecutors office over alleged violation of the  Solid Waste Management Law.

Punta Engaño barangay captain Lourdes Ibag failed to appear before city prosecutor Evangeline Gicale last June 14  to answer a charge of  violating the  Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and City Ordinance 484-97.

This is the third violation of Ibag. She was fined P5,000 in April 2011 and P6,000 in Nov.  4,  2011  for the same offense.

Early this year, Poblacion barangay captain Allen Dimataga was issued  a warrant of arrest by  Lapu-Lapu City MTCC  Judge Allen Garciano for similar violations.

Mayor Paz Radaza said the fact that her allies are facing  charges of violation of garbage laws is  proof that her administration is serious in addressing the city’s garbage problems./Correspondent Norman V. M Endoza