Newsbriefs

GWEN MEETS WITH LAWYERS IN GRAFT CASES

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia had a closed-door meeting with the lawyers handling her Sandiganbayan cases.

Present were her daughter and lead counsel Christina Frasco, her younger brother Cebu 3rd district Rep. Pablo John Garcia and two lawyers from the Mabanta-Romulo Law Firm.

Governor Garcia admitted they indeed discussed her case but refused to elaborate.

The meeting took more than two hours and ended at past 1 p.m.

Last week, Garcia asked for a permit to travel abroad from the Sandiganbayan so she could attend a business forum in China next month and the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in Rome in October.

A hold departure order was issued to Garcia and other co-respondents in the Balili case where she was charged with two counts of graft and one count of illegal misuse of public funds.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol earlier explained that the respondents won’t be allowed to leave the country unless they are arraigned to ensure that the court acquires jurisdiction over them.

An arraignment however could also mean the graft court will issue a preventive suspension on the governor./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

RAMA’S HABAGAT AID STILL PENDING

The P5 million relief promised by Mayor Michael Rama for the flood victims in Metro Manila is still pending approval by the City Council.

The City Council referred the proposal to allocate P5 million from the calamity fund to aid flood victims in Manila made by Councilor Joey Daluz III to the committee on budget and finance chaired by Councilor Margot Osmeña.

Rama said in his regular press conference that the city needs to respond because other LGUs are also helping out.

Rama said if the members of the local legislature have “Christian hearts” they would have approve the proposed relief aid to help the flood victims in Luzon.

Under the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010, local government units (LGU) can give assistance to other LGUs in times of calamities. The allocation however needs authorization from the local legislature./Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao

MANDAUE TURNS 43

Motorists going through Mandaue City today may experience heavy traffic as the city celebrates its 43rd founding anniversary.

The Charter Day celebraton will kick off with a foot and float parade starting at 2 p.m. at the Sports Complex.

Traffic Enforcement and Managem,ent (TEAM) director Major Erwn Ermac said that although there will be no rerouting to be implemented today, traffic congestion will be felt during the start of parade. Motorists were advised to follow the direction signs./Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

Helmet registation goes off-site

Despite the deferment of the implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act until January next year, the Dept. of Trade and Industry is continuing registration of motorcycle helmets.

As of August 29, 2012, the DTI has already issued 15,969 Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers to motorcycle owners.

Zaide Bation of the DTI Cebu Provincial Office said they set up off-site helmet stickering stations on Saturdays in ABS-CBN, Cebu Normal University, GMA, Veco, Mandaue City police, MEPZ 2 and the Philippine Air Force and in the Land Transportation Office. By Sept. 1, they would also have an off-site stickering station in MEPZ 1./Correspondent Joy Cherry Quito