News briefs
Demolition of piggeries affect barangay captain
The barangay captain of Centro Mandaue is one of the owners of 20 piggeries set to demolished for violating sanitation and zoning laws.
Tony Maquilan, according to owners and workers in piggeries, claimed to Cebu Daily News that he also owns pig pens in sitio Ihawan, barangay Mantuyong.
Maquilan however said he doesn’t own a piggery there but partners with some piggery owners where he sells lives pigs.
He has been in the business for 30 years already.
If the demolition pushes through, Maquilan said he may have to quit his business since the proposed alternative for them is to transfer in barangay Labogon where the city owns a slaughterhouse.
“We cannot do anything about it, I won’t continue selling pigs,” he said while pointing out that the area going to the slaughter house is crime prone.
Mandaue City Administrator James Abadia, city said they are currently reviewing the matter carefully taking into account legal, environmental, sanitation, social and economic reasons.
“The city will uphold the interest of the public regardless of whoever will be affected be they private or public individuals. We urge all directly affected to heed the rule of law for the benefit of the greater good,” he said./Correspondent Jucell Marie P. Cuyos
STC case to be tried by regular court
The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the re-raffling of the case filed against St. Theresa’s College (STC) who earlier barred its five students from attending their high school graduation rites.
This time, the case shall be assigned to a regular court.
In a memorandum, Deputy Court Administrator Antonio Eugenio Jr. affirmed the decision of Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel Patalinghug of Branch 22 to let go of the case since the family court he is handling has no jurisdiction over the case.
“The rights of children are only incidental to the main issue,” Eugenio said.
He said the STC case should be handled by a court of general jurisdiction.
Lawyer Cornelio Mercado, counsel of the students, said they are nonetheless happy with the recent development.
“Good to hear that development. Trial can then start,” Mercado said.
Five STC graduating seniors were barred from attending their commencement rites as punishment for “serious” violations of the Student Handbook, after they posted photos of them clad in bikinis in their Facebook accounts.
Four girls and their parents and guardian sued the school, but the main petitioner and another girl later withdrew after an amicable settlement was reached last month./Reporter Ador Vincent S. Mayol
Lapu mayor dares barangay captain in garbage row to resign
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza urged a barangay captain of Basak to quit his post if he can’t collect the barangay’s garbage.
“Don’t put your barangay in harm’s way. If you cannot collect your garbage, better quit as barangay captain,”Radaza said.
The mayor issued the statement in response to barangay Basak captain, Isabelo Darnayla’s claim that the Lapu-Lapu City government is responsible for collecting garbage in national roads.
Radaza said the city government is ready to help their constituents especially when their garbage trucks were under repair.
But they have to collect their garbage stipulated in the law, Radaza said in reference to section10 of Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as the Solid Waste Management Act.
Garbage in either the interior or major thoroughfares needs to be collected by the barangay garbage collectors, the mayor said./Correspondent Jucell Marie P. Cuyos
