NOT GUILTY PLEA
ONE of the men who allegedly robbed Cebu Provincial Board Member Julian Daan entered a plea of “not guilty” during his arraignment yesterday.
Rameses Abatayo denied the robbery charges lodged against him before Regional Trial Court Soliver Peras of Branch 10.
Before the proceedings, Abatayo told reporters he was willing to admit his participation in the crime for a lesser penalty.
Abatayo, who has three children, said he was also willing to apologize to Daan.
However, he changed his mind when the judge told him he faced imprisonment of eight to 15 years and a fine for a guilty plea.
The accused tried to negotiate with the court for a lesser penalty.
However, the judge was firm in his decision.
“This is not a market where you can make negotiations. Had I become the President of this country, I would have cut off the hands of robbers,” Peras said.
Daan and his wife Yolanda were presented during the proceedings. They were represented by Assistant City Prosecutor Floralil Lucero-Albert of Talisay City.
In an interview, they welcomed the decision of Abatayo although they were expecting him to enter a guilty plea.
A total of P1,928,230 in assorted jewelry were taken by robbers who barged into the residence of Daan in Talisay City last May 16.
Abatayo and alleged companion Julius Racaza were accused of the crime. Racaza, who is out on bail, failed to attend the arraignment yesterday.
The court scheduled Racaza’s arraignment and the preliminary conference of the case on July 25. /Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol
PANTAWID PASADA CARDS
THE Department of Energy encouraged the transport sector to avail of their Pantawid Pasada cards amid the continuous rollback of fuel prices.
The department also announced that any member of a driver’s family may now claim the cards as long as they present a driver’s license, franchise number and vehicle registration.
“Through this, the drivers won’t need to stop their operation just to claim the cards,” said Ahmed Cuizon, regional director of the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas.
Each Pantawid Pasada card has a value of P1,050. The drivers can avail of their fuel subsidy from 47 retail gasoline outlets in Metro Cebu. Signages have been placed in the designated fuel outlets.
LTO distributed the cards early this month but these were loaded only two weeks ago. At least 2,155 of 10,831 cards were claimed so far. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya
RELOCATION COMPULSORY
AN official of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) central office reminded Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to always make sure that relocation is made available before enforcing any demolition.
Lawyer Jesus Doque, director of the DILG Manila, said urban poor families are protected by the Urban Housing and Development Act passed in 1992.
In his June 15 letter to Rama, Doque quoted section 29 of the UDHA that states that “local government units, in coordination with the National Housing Authority, shall implement the relocation and resettlement of persons living in danger areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, waterways, and in other public places such as sidewalks, roads, parks and playgrounds.”
“The Local Government Units, in coordination with the National Housing Authority, shall provide relocation or resettlement sites with basic services and facilities and access to employment and livelihood opportunities sufficient to meet the basic needs of the affected families,” read Doque’s letter.
Although he has yet to receive a copy of the letter, Rama said that he was well aware of the provisions of the UDHA.
“They (DILG) need not have to do it (remind me of the provisions of the UDHA). We are very mush aware (of it). We are following it,” he said.
Doque wrote to Rama to seek his comment on a City Council resolution and a report by councilor Alvin Dizon, chairman of the council’s housing committee, which mentioned that the mayor was “not inclined to provide relocation or financial assistance” to families affected by the clearing of the Mahiga Creek. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac