News Briefs

RETAIN ASST OMBUDSMAN POSITION

Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella, who used to be the director of the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas, said the position of assistant ombudsman should retained.

“In case of absence of the deputy ombudsman, the assistant ombudsman is there,” Labella said, adding that the role of assisting was important.

His comment came after the retirement last Monday of  Virginia Palanca-Santiago as assistant ombudsman.

Her superior Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said he would seek the abolition of the position and not fill up the vacancy because it would only cause a “conflict”.

Labella said he disagreed./Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol

BAKUD STILL TO SKIP GWEN’S SOPA

An invitation arrived for Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s State of the Province Address on Friday but Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale yesterday said she still would not be attending it.

She said there was no change in the decision of her party the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) to skip the event because  it may turn into a political rally of the One Cebu party and pose an “embarrassment”  to Bakud and its new allies in the Liberal Party.

At least four Durano clan members of Bakud in the Provincial Board will not be attending as well.

Magpale said she already has a full schedule on Friday but would cancel her meetings if  Bakud, led by its chairman Rep. Red Durano, change its mind.

Garcia plans to run for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay in 2013./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus